Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-14
United States Department of Agriculture,


Division OF Entomology.
Washington, ID. c., May ., 1888.
Colonel w. j.. Cutshaw, City Engineer,
Richmond, Va:
Dear Sr.-I have your letter Of May
2jth and the accompanying package by
express. ! am very much Obliged 10 You
for this good material, which, in the first
place, shows me that the imported elm
leaf beetle galeruca xanthomelaena, &C.
ours at Richmond. Your note that 1t
has been known in Richmond for twenty
years Is of much interest. We are having
good success with the same remedy Which
YOU seem TO be using, namely, Paris green
spray. The borer seems TO be the com
mon elm-leaf borer, saperda tridentata,
although we are unable TO determine IL
absolutely from the larva ana pupa alone.
The sections of trunks you send will
be kept in the effort 10 rear the beetle.
With the saperda larvae were some wire
worms 0aryae of alans oculatus) which
had apparently entered the burrows OF
the saperda to hide during the day. II
will be almost impossible TO protect your
trees against the borer. The beetles, ac-
cording to the best accounts, begin 10
issue as early as the beginning OF May,
and continue TO issue irreguIarly until
August. l should think. however, that
a whitewash, with considerable amount
with advantage to the trunks of trees
liable TO be affected. 1t Is possible that
I'm this way the larvae Matching from
the eggs, would get enough Paris green
in boring through the bark TO XIII them
The insect was investigated some years
ago by Professor S. A. Forbes, in Cham
paign, Normal, and Bloomington. Ill. The
only remedial idea that Professor FORBES
was able TO gain by his study resulted
,.l.tf -. no
affected trees in autumn and winter
before the beetles have a chance 10
emerge from the trunks In
towns, he says, this measure
should usually be taken by the
authorities, since individual action could
not be depended upon TO more than
palliate the difficulty. If every elm which
is in an unhealthy condition, which you
know from your experience is Attributable
TO borers, be cut down In the autumn
and burned before spring, the multiple
cation OF the beetles might be effec.ually
checked. But II destruction be postponed
until the beetles lay. part OF the beetles
which mature each year Will escape 70
carry destruction elsewhere. or course,
there will always be more or less migra-
ton of the beetles from the surrounding
country forests TO the city shade-trees,
and perhaps It might be found advan-
tageous TO keep the trunks or trees which
1t Is desired To protect washed with soft
soap reduced TO the consistency or thick
paint by the addition OF a strong solution
OF washing soda in water. To be enec-
tive this wash should be kept on the trees
certainly during May and June. and
probably part of July. | regret that i
cannot advise you Of a cheaper and more
practical remedy. Rearing the adult
beetles may possibly show the species to
be something else than saperda trldentata,
In which case Will advise you.
Yours truly. Ia .. HOWARD.
Entomologist
Richmond. Va. July 2. 1895.
Colonel ". Z. Cutshaw, City Engineer,
Richmond, Va:
Dear Stat your request. and with
your assistance. l have examined quite
carefully the elm trees in Reservoir
Park, with the view of rendering such
assistance as / may be able TO give In
regard to the injury OF the same by in
sects. This matter was first brought
to my attention one year ago by speci-
mems OF damaged limbs, and the insects
causing the same being furnished me
through your department. / have not.
however. had an opportunity to make u
personal inspection OF the damage being
done until to-day As soon as the mat
ter was brought to my attention / re-
allied that 1t was an attack Of very
serious nature. and also quite unique
In that no similar attack on the white
elm IL recorded In American literature
on economic entomology. The specimens
first sent me were placed In breeding
cages. and l have been enabled TO study
somewhat the life history through these
and other ymaterial recently sent me.
Concerning the name Of the insect do
Ing the injury. am not yet certain.