The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-08-14
SHADE TREES IN UNION CITY
Cause Of Destruction and dSuggested
Methods Of Combating It.

ures are promptly taken to save thos,
infected, undoubtedly many more will
be destroyed. Investigation leads to tht
conclusion that the flat, headed apple
tree borer is responsible. This insect
not only attacks orchard trees, such as
apple, pear, peach, and plum. but shade
and forrest trees as well, including oak,
maple, mountain ash, box-elder, hick-
ory, chestnut, sycamore, horse-chest-
nut, linden, willow and cultivated red
bud, and probably cherry, beech, and
white birch. The oak is fayorite nat
ural host. 1t seldom attacks strong and
vigorous trees, but prefers those that
are newly transplanted, or weakened by
such causes as careless pruning, or in
sufficient nourishment due to poor soil
or drouth. When weakened trees do
not exist in sufficient quantities to sat
isfy its appetite for destruction, there is
plenty Of evidence that it doesn't hesi-
tate to attack those that are perfectly
sound.
An opinion seems to exist that the
trees are dying from sun scald." There
is little doubt but that the injury known
under this name is due to the work of
this borer, it being essentially sun low
ing specie. 1t deposits its eggs almost
exclusively on the sunny side Of trees,
and the larva, which is the most de-
structiye state, usually burrows on the
same side. 1t inhabits all parts OF d
tree from the base OF the trunk to the
limbs.
The adult insect is about half an inch
long and bears some resemblance to the
swapping beetle. The upper surface OF
the body is dark metallic brown, and
fresh specimens are coated here and
there with powdery gray substance
which is easily rubbed off. The larva
is about one inch long, slightly more
than an eighth Of an inch wide, OF
light yellow color, and consists OF a
number OF segments. The second thor
acic segment, which is close to the head
and liable to be mistaken for the head,
is fiat and about twice as broad as the
other segments. The name 'fat-head-
I'd is derived from this peculiar fiat ex-
pansion. It habitually rests in cres-
cent position. Practically all OF the
iamage is done by the larva. The pupa
shows the form OF the future beetle and
s Of the same yellow color as the larya.
The beetles make their appearance early
n May and continue through July and
possibly even into September. The fe-
male deposits her eggs in cracks and
md grooves, or under bark scales upon
be trunk or branches Of trees, which |
ater become the food OF the larvae. |
lost frequently several eggs are de-
osited together. They are yellow, ir-
egularly ribbed, and about one-fitieth
an inch long. The eggs probably I
atch in two or three weeks. The larva |
evelops in one year; pupation occurs :
! the spring shortly before the appear i
nee Of the beetles. AS soon as the Q
ggs hatch the larva excayates through 6
le bark, living for the most part just
eneath it, where it excayates broad, :
at and very irregular channels; some y
mes 1t burrows into the sap. 1t will {
ten girdle tree, single individual ,
sing capable Of killing small tree in lt
lis manner. These channels are filed \
i the most part with the borings, which
sembIes partly decomposed fine saw Q
ist, except in the immediate neighbor- q
,od Of the Iarva, where it is the same q
lor as the wood OF the tree. BY a y
ose inspection of the bark it will be y
served that it is dead and discolored u
er the channels. AS the larya APP to
caches maturity it generally eats into
9 solid heart wood, making an obIong
lie about an eighth Of an inch wide
d three-eighths Of an inch long. In
9 spring, just before the transforma- !,
ID, it works back into the bark and =
ere constructs the pupal chamber. 1t = Y,
mains ia the pupa state about three =
eks, when the beetle cuts its way out. -
and ants are natural enc =
es. AT this season Of the year the Y
va il busy with its destructive work. "
ere is little likelihood Of eggs being
posted during August, although they
" be.
Asis always the case, prevention would
ve been not only easier but much bet "
than cure, but the time for preYen- e. q
. has passed, and now active intelIi- II,
i work Is necessary to save the trees