46 
EASTERN SHADE TREE CONFERENCE 
Hurricanes in the south Atlantic states are usually followed by a 
great increase in the numbers of several borers, particularly the bark 
borers of the genus Dendroctonus which work under the bark in various 
species of the southern hard pines. In fact, in the case of these southern 
hard pines, the number of trees succumbing to the beetles may be much 
greater than the original number killed by the storm. A somewhat simi¬ 
lar development may take place in the pines of New England unless the 
fallen timber is cleaned up this winter, through increase in the number 
of related bark beetles and there are also likely to be great numbers of 
long horned borers which produce the large grubs known as Sawyers so 
commonly found in pine logs. In fact, down pine timber may be 
rendered valueless by insect attack if not salvaged before the first of June. 
The weakening from storm injury may be expected to produce condi¬ 
tions analagous to fire damage and there may be a considerable invasion 
of sugar maple, flowering dogwood and other hard woods by fiat-headed 
borers which ordinarily attack these trees in great numbers when they 
have been weakened by fire. 
Another type of storm damage in the area where the wind blew directly 
from the sea was that produced by salt spray. The high wind carried 
water laden with salt to a distance of 50 miles or so from the coast sud¬ 
denly turning green foliage to a scorched brown. While this may not be 
serious in the case of broad leaved trees, especially as the high winds 
were followed by considerable rain and as the normal dropping of the 
leaves was close at hand, in the case of many evergreens enough salt 
was deposited to severely burn the needles. Many white pines and 
others have shed their foliage and will be in a weakened condition for a 
year or two as a result of this type of damage. This means a likelihood 
of invasion by such insects as the pine trunk weevil and the pine root 
weevil. 
The considerable reduction in the number of trees in many country 
and urban areas means in the case of the elm leaf beetle more insects to 
attack the surviving trees another season. This is also likely to be the 
case in areas where the Japanese beetle and canker worms are numerous. 
While the evidence of the damage caused by the hurricane is fading 
into the past, the full effects so far as shade tree insects are concerned 
are yet to be felt. The situation calls for more extensive shade tree care 
and for a realization of the possibility of increased damage by insects 
and the application of proper methods of controlling or limiting these 
destructive factors. 
