198 Report OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY OF THE 
INTRODUCTION. 
Attention has been called to the work of the poplar borer by 
complaints, from a number of nurserymen in western New 
York, of the extensive and continued injuries sustained in the 
growing of poplars and willows. In the year 1902 some blocks 
of poplars and willows near Rochester were so badly injured 
by this insect that some of the growers contemplated abandon- 
ing their culture. Since that time the annual loss in many 
nurseries has not been less than to per ct. of the trees. and 
occasionally the entire planting has been ruined. In many 
localities the native willows along swamps, streams and canals 
are badly attacked, the trees often being so severely affected 
that many of them will ultimately die as a result of the injury. 
The same is true of certain species of willows planted for orna- 
mental purposes. On account of the growing importance of 
this insect, an investigation was undertaken to determine its 
habits with special reference to discovering means for its con- 
trol in nursery plantations. 
HISTORICAL: 
GENERAL. 
The beetle was described by Linnaeus in 1763 in his “ Systema 
Naturae,” and mention is also made of this species in Turton’s 
Linnaeus.’ Kaltenbach? states that the adult feeds upon the 
dock, Rumcx hydrolapathum. Later Prof. Schwagerichen® states 
that in the year 1844, the larvae appeared in the young alders 
in the Saxon Oberlausitz. In 1863, Westwood reported a 
serious outbreak of the larvae of this curculio among the culti- 
vated willows in the County of Essex, England. Ratzberg in 
his “ Waldverderbniss,” * under the heading “ Erlanrusselkafer 7 
or alder snout beetle, gives a somewhat detailed account of the 
life history and habits of the insect, including reports from 
others who have observed its work. He states there is no 
record to show that the beetle has been seen sucking or chewing 
on the “dock Lapathum.” Forstmeister v. Kamptz observed 

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