The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-05-10
rHF FLAT HEADED APPLE TREE
BoREH.
tchrysoboihris femofata fAb)
GA. Il. IOyett,
Assistant kntonol0giat. A. 4 NJ.
Cullege.l


Assistant Rntomologiat. A. 4 NJ.
College)
The flat headed apple tree b0fer ~
one of the worst insect pests Of the
apple we have In the state. IL attacks
also the pear. peach, plum and cherry
and certain OF tile shade and forest
trees.
The adult beetle measures about
one.half inch In length aud is flatten
ed abova The color is dark metallic
brown powdered here and there with
sray The larvae, from which the ln.
sect obtains it's name is ~ a yellow
ish color and with the second tho
racie segment peculiarly fiatiened.
life History.
This pest ig diurnAl IN habit, being
most active in the heat 81 the day
rle eggs at laid IN late April Or May
on the trunks ana larger branches OF
the tree, almost exclusively on the
southern or the southwestern aide
where the sunlight Is most intense.
As soon as the IarYa hatehes 1t bores
tA way into the inner growing bark
and sap wood Here II excayates shall
low chambers, broad 10 places and
barrow In others The presence and
general trend Of these burrows may
be determined by the disc0loratl0n Of
fhe outer bark Az the larvae ap
proaehes maturity it may bore deeper
into the wood. but will return 70 near
tie bark 10 transform 10 an adult
beetle II transforms TO pupa tie
following spring aud emerges AZ an
adult beetle 10 April ready to de
post eggs FOR another life cycle.
Ibis boFer attacks. BY preference.
diseased or dying trees, or trees weak.
sned By neglect, careless pruning or
poor soil Young transplanted trees
are especially liable 10 injury as in
feeding the larga ID very likely TO
sirdle the Tree
Remedial Measures.
Here as with most Of our insect
pests an ounce OF prevention II worth
q pound OF cure, and considerably
cheaper.
Cutting Out
When borers have once entered the
tree cutting them out with SHARP
knife or inserting a wire in the bur
row and killing the lalya liz the only
cure. AS one may often find sew
eral larvae In one small tree trunk
cutting out all OF them often results
ia the remedy being as bad as the
complaint. Go over the trees often
and cut out the borers as soon as de
tected With a little practice one
can locate them readily by the dis
colored bark Bridge graft the tree
lif the wounding Is severe. Paint the
scars with white lead.
Protective Washes.
These washes are to be used as a
repellant and should be applied to all
the trees during April TO prevent the
egg deposition in May, or, II eggs are
deposited, TO prevent their Matching.
The washes should be applied thor.
0ughiy not only to the tree trunk from
the base line up, but we'll mp the
main branches Renew whenever the
effectiveness OF the material seems
Impaired.
A good alkaline wash is prepared by
the use Of soft soap, whale oil soap OF
similar material reduced to the
consistency OF thick paint by the ad-
dition Of caustic potash or washing
soda In solution.
Government white wash Is also
good TO either OF these solutions
might be added one pint OF crude car
bolie acid to every ten gallons OF the
mixture.
Cultural Methods,
Keep the trees In thrifty growing
condition and but little need be feared
from the flat headed borers II eas
been stated that the beetles like sun
shine and that they prefer dying
wood Keep all piles OF timber o.
poles away rom about the orchard
Cut out all deal limbs or trees anC
remove.
Train the tree low, this VIII ayoit
much trouble. The high headed tre,
snnscalds on the southwestern side
aud offers ideal conditions for the at
faalx ~ fta hnr.. 1sha tNtg hA1Hal