Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-08-20
For the Freeman.
A Chat with Farmers.
BY AGRICOLA.
ABOUT NOXToUs INSECTS.

We have another class of beetles which
have been described by the adjective Sa1U,
horned, because the tips of the joints of
their antennU project ike the teeth of "A
saw. This class have short legs and feet
suited TO standing rather than running
The fifth Joint is armed with two claws.
They walk slowly on the trunks and limbs
If trees, and if they apprehend danger
they fold themselves up and drop to the
ground. They fly with swiftness, produr-
ing II whzzng sound During the day
they are in motion, and during the night
they sleep, like all sensible people.
The larvH of these beetles are wood
eaters or wood borers. They attack our
| orchards and our forests, after the trees
have passed their prime. In the trunks
and upon the limbs Of these trees the
| transformation of these insects takes place
Some of these beetles eat leaves and flow
ers, but they are not half so destructive in
he beetle state as before their transforms
ton. Their life is long continued, and
they usually do u large amount of dortn1
in the trees they occupy. Pines and frs
are more likely TO suffer from their attacks,
but the forest and fruit trees are also much
injured by them.
The woodpecker is the natural ally OF
he gardener and nurseryman in destroy
ing these troublesome insects. He assaiIs
them in their retreat al drags them forth
for his hearty meal. he largest of these
beetles in the United States measures more
than an inch in length. They make their
appearance toward the end of Nav, and
may be seen on pine trees and fences dur
ing the month of June. The wild cherry
tree, the garden cherry and the peach tree
suffer severely from the attack of class
iof copper colored borers which differ
somewhat from those last described
These beetles may be seen during the
months of June, July and August, summing
themselves upon the limbs of their favor,
lite tree. There are seven species of this
class called borers, which differ somewhat
from each other, and still are much alike
in their general character and habits.
These are well known to the naturalist.
and have been fully described. Numer-
Gus other species in New England are less
known and less perfectly described.
The concealed situation of these beetles
renders it difficult to either discover or
dislodge them. When trees are found to
be infested by them and are going to de-
cay, it is well to cut them down and cast
them into the fire before the 5orers have
completed their transformation and es-
capped, to commence their work of destruc-
ton upon other trees.
Nearly related to the beetles last
described, are the spring beetles, SO call
ed from their habits of throwing them
selves upward with jerk, when laid on
their backs. This is evidently special
arrangement by way of compensation to
provide against danger and death The
legs of this beetle are so short that once
on his back, he could never recover him.
self, but for the power to spring into the
air, expecting doubtless to fall on his feet
the next time. If he fails to do this, he
jerks again and still again, until he finds
himself right side up! The body of this
beetle is very hard and is quite narrow
and tapering behind. The Larvae live on
wood and ROOTS and are often injurious to
vegetation. In England they are called
wire-worms on account of their slender
ness and uncommon hlrdness. The Amer
lean wire worm is different animal, and
is not properly called an insect. This
European kind live in larvae state, not
less than five years, and they eat all this
time the roots of wheat. rye, oats and
grass, sometimes destroying whole crops
They are injurious to gardens which have
been made from open pasture lands, where
they are found in great abundance. -