The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-08-05
ELM TREE BEETLE
BECOMING A PEST
IN BENNINGTON
Imported From Europe rs
Years Ago
ONLY RECENTLY SEEN Here
Frederick A. Burt Describes Habits
of Insect That is Doing consld-
cradle Damage.
ONLY RECENTLY SEEN Here

Editor Of the Banner: THE Euro
pean elm tree beetle, (Galerucella lu-
teola) an important shade tree insect
has, within the past few weeks be-
come a familiar pest upon many of
the elm trees of our village. A ma
tive of Europe 1t made its first APP
pearance in this country twenty or
twenty-five years ago, but not until
1905 did it develop to the extent of
becoming a pest.
In the fall the adult seeks out such
sheltered locations as are afforded
by empty attics and buildings, and
the under side of shingles and clap
boards. As soon as the elm leaves
appear in spring the beetles emerge,
and ascending the tree trunks, com.
mcnce feeding upon the softer green
portions of the leaf contained between
the veins, causing the leaves to ap-
pear coarsely perforated After
fortnight of feeding the females be-
gin laying their eggs upon the under
side of the leaves after which another
feeding period Is entered upon, the
feeding and laying periods alternating
over several weeks. The eggs close
ly resemble those of the common
potato beetle and hatch in about
weeks time These young forms or
larvae are. when fully grown, cater.
pillar-like forms from three-eighths to
one half inch in length, light yellow
in color, with black markings so ar
ranged as to form two conspicuous
stripes along the back. This larya al
so feeds upon the leaves which be-
come further perforated and take on
a brownish. sunburned appearance.
When fully grown, which is about the
middle or last of July, they reach the
ground, partly by crawling down the
trunk and partly by dropping from
overhanging branches. On the
ground or in the rough bark OF the
lower part of the tree they enter the
stage OF development known as the
pupae. These pupae are orange col
ored, quiescent forms a quarter OF an
inch in length and covered with scat.
tered tufts OF very short bristles.
From this pupae stage. which varies
In length from five to ten days. devel.
ops the adult. a six legged, hard she'll
ed beetle half an inch in length.
In the south two broods a year de.
velop but in this climate there IS or.
dinarlly but one A partial second
brood may however develop in a fav.
orable season.
The attacks OF these insects will
not usually kill the elms but their
destruction OF the foliage does sap
the trees vitality and render them
easy prey TO numerous other more
injurious pests. Some good NAV he
done at this date by applying boiling
water, soapsuds. or kerosene 'emul.
sion around the bases OF the trees
and to their trunks, and II all uer-
sons having infested elms upon their
property would take this precaltion
next years brood could be much dim.
inlshed In order to prevent this
falls brood from doing great damage
next spring and summer the elm tree
foliage should be sprayed next year
between the lst., and 18th. of June
'HNh ANA'NAAAfN VI AinHf ~ NNuluk 10
100 gallons OF water. This NAV be
done with n good barrel pump and a
hundred feet Of hose, spray poles aud
double Vermorel nozzles can be used
TO advantage While such an outfit
complete will cost $50 or $50 and
each tree must be climbed the result
is well worth the effort BY far the
most economical means OF fortifying
ourselves against future tree pests
lies In the purchase of high.power
engine sprayer. Such machine
costs from $3.50 to $1,000 but Ia servic.
able for from 10 to 70 years and by
its use spraying can be done very
rapidly and cheaply In 1907 with an
engine OF this type Il cost the CITY Of
Boston, for example, about twenty.
one cents per tree spraying.
Frederick A. Burt