92 
the red and white currants that grew in their immediate vicin- 
ity. 
i LEPIDOPTEROUS' BORERS. 
Borers are very destructive insects, and in most cases are 
not easily combatted. For instance, if they bore into the trees, 
we can not apply the remedy of pruning, but have to resort to 
other means. As a general rule itis easy to detect the pres- 
ence of borers in trees, either by the discoloration of the bark, 
or by the frass that is pushed out 
through small holes. In other cases 
the tree secretes certain sticky sub- 
Stances to cover the wounds, and 
/ these indicate the locality where the 
borer is hiding and at work. Many 
reports were received in which com- 
plaints were made about such borers, 
and these show that a number of 
these insects are found in Minnesota. 
In some sections of the state the soft 
maple suffers greatly by the Maple- 
tree borer,a beautiful insect of about 
the same size as our currant-borer but 
much more brightly marked with red 
mw and yellow, (Fig. 46). It seems that 
Fig.46—Maple-tree borer; a, lar-whenever a tree-box has injured the 
ve; d, pupa: c, moth; b, cocoons. 
Attar Riley: ‘bark of young trees a breeding-place 
for this borer has been started, and the insects breed year 
after year in such places until the tree succumbs. Maple tree 
borers are almost invariably found in this situation, and this 
being the case the remedy is simple. The pruning-knife 
should be freely used; all the caterpillars and their burrows 
should be cut out, and the whole infected place should be cov- 
ered with some pruning wax and bandages. If such wounded 
spots on maple trees are coated every spring with soap, in 
which a little lime and Paris green is mixed, the female moth 
would not be attracted. In fact, a coating of soap is an excel- 
lent prevention against all borers, and trees thus protected — 
will escape while others suffer. It is best for this purpose to 
scrape off all loose bark, and besides washing the trunk and 
larger branches with a thick solution of common soap, it is 
well to leave a piece of hard soap in the crotch of the tree, so 














