The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-07-31
The Fruit Tree Bark-BeetIe.
COLLEGE PARK, Nd, July %, 1908.

| COLLEGE PARK, Nd, July %, 1908.
| To THE EDITOR Many complaints have come
to this Office of late of injury to fruttrees by
small boring insect, the fruit-tree bark-beetle,
Scotytus ru9ulOses.
1t does its injury by boring into the trunk and
branches, and if there is no effort made to check
its ravages the bark of the infested tree will soon
be found to be thickly "peppered" with holes as
by fine bird shot. These the exit holes OF the
beetles that have in their larval state mined and
developed under the bark.
| Early in the spring the beetles make their an
pearance and may then commence their work by
boring through the bark. After reaching the sap
wood. feeding as she goes, the female constructs a
brood chamber and along the sides of this at very
short intervals, gnaws little pockets in which she
| deposits her eggs. According to Dr. J. f. Smith
| the eggs hatch within three days and the larya
attans maturity lin about twenty days. at which
time it changes to the pupa, this period last
ing about seven days. 1t now energies as an
adult beetle, passing its life cycle in four to six
weeks. Prof +. Ii Chttenden Department of
Agriculture, states i'll his Circular No 49, The
Fruit-Tree Bark Beetle that he is led to believe
that there are three generations in this latitude
Uutil recently it was thought by some that this
insect would only attack diseased trees, but
Professor ChittendeD states that he has seen tn g
insect working in perfectly healthy trees and the
writer has witnessed the same many times this
year. Therefore there is no debut that the insect
will infest healthy trees, but it may prefer
| diseased or dying wood
In giving remedies to employ against this pest
the writer realizes that borels are at best very
hard insects deal WITH and especially is it so in
this case as the beetles are extremely small and
numerous, and also the fact that they attack any
portion of the trunk and branches of a tree
Owing to the insects habit of breeding in diseased
or dying trees, tits of prime importance that all
brush.wood and other remnants of orchards
should always be burned. Where a tree is seen
to be badly infested. it is best to cut down and
burn to prevent infestaton to sound ones How
ever, tree may recover from slight attacks and
in this case always cut out and burn the dying or
dead growth as soon as detected For this as well
as other insects, orchards should always be kept
in vigorous condition so they will. more readily
be able to withstand insect injury.
Many washes have been employed as deterrents
against this pest. Whale oil soap ut the rate OF
two pounds to the gallon of water, applied with n
brush ON the trunk and larger branches nav
prevent the beetles from entering the bark to
some extent. Also wash composed of one pint
of crude carboiic acid and one gallon of soft soap
diluted with eight gallons of water, has been
recommended. Much good may come by touch
ing lightly infested spots from which gum or sap
| has begun to ooze With small sponge or br,.sh
| saturated with kerosene. If this is done on tie
outset of attack many beetles may be killed and
thereby much consequent damage prevented.
| THOMAS b. SYMoNS
Associate State EntOmologist.
| The Maryland State horticultural Department