Not. 17,1993 
Oak Sapling Borer 
3i7 
NATURAL ENEMIES 
No insects predacious or parasitic upon the oak sapling borer have been 
discovered. Woodpeckers destroy many of the larvae and pupae by drill¬ 
ing through the wood and removing them from their burrows (PI. 3, C). 
The species of bird responsible for the destruction of the borers was not 
determined, but the marks made in removing the insects were noticed 
frequently in woods where both the hairy woodpecker, Dryobates villosus 
villosus (L.), and the downy woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens medianus 
(Swains.), were abundant. 
CONTROL 
Control measures against this insect will occasionally be called for where 
chestnut trees planted for nut production and oak and chestnut trees 
planted for shade, park, and reforestation purposes are attacked. For¬ 
tunately the borer in the tree makes its presence known by ejecting cast¬ 
ings from its burrow before great injury has been done. Wherever fresh 
castings are being thrown out the borers can be located and killed without 
much difficulty by the use of a knife or chisel and a short piece of wire. 
A little cutting of the bark and outer wood is usually sufficient to expose 
the burrow so that the wire can be inserted and the borer killed. 
60378 — 24—4 
