Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-07-26
NOW THE HACKMATACK.
New Insect Pest Threatens this valu-
able Tree.

New Insect Pest Threatens TINS Valu-
| able Tree.
Considerable attention has been
called to the browning of the larch
or tamarack (more commonly called
hackmatack or juniper, in Hancock
county, in Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox,
Waldo, Hancock and Washington
counties. In many localities large
stands of larch appeared as If fire
had swept through, whereas a few
weeks previous they had been green.
In places where the larch occurs In
large stands making up high per-
centage of the forest, whole hillsides
or valleys look brown.
The first thought was that the
larch sawfly was again sweeping over
the State. This insect destroyed
practically all of the larch in the
State in 1882 and has practically
made the larch tree extinct in some
OF the eastern states. Within the
last few years, however, large guam
titles of larch have again begun to fill
in on old pastures. The larch is an
extremely valuable tree, the wood
being very durable so that it is used
for the upper knees of small vessels,
telegraph poles, fence posts and rail-
road ties, besides being used in cabi-
net work and for interior finishing.
Examination of the stands of
larch has shown that the trees are
being attacked by comparatively
new insect to this region. 1t is
known as the "Larch Case Bearer"
and is very common throughout
Europe where it is serious pest. 1t
was first recorded in this country in
1886 where it had probably been
brought on European larch, tree
that is quite widely planted in the
Northeastern United States. At that
time it caused considerable injury to
a thirty-years-old stand of larch at
Northampton, Mass. 1t has been
known for a good many years at the
Arnold Arboretum at Boston and has
also been observed at Albany, New
York. At no time, however, was 1t
found in sufficient numbers to cause
any grave apprehension, as it appar-
emily did not multiply rapidly. At the
present time very little is known as
to the life history Of the insect. OBJ
servations are now being carried on
by the Maine Forestry in an effort to
determine whether the insect Is like
ly to prove serious or not.
There is apparently but one gen.
Grafton a year of the insects. The
small delicate gray moths started to
emerge from the small cigar-shaped
cocoons about June 20. The moths
which are only about 3-16 of an inch
in length lay their. eggs on the new
needles and the young larvae hatch
or mine within the needle, causing it
to turn yellow and then brown, start
ing from the tip. When very numer-
Gus practically all the needles on
tee may be injured and in many
cases destroyed, as in the present
outbreak.
AS soon as the mine is long
enough to form a case, portion of
the needle is cut off and the larva
proceeds with this protection to
another leaf When attacking a
needle the larva first cuts circular
hole through which its head and
later it's body may extend for feeding
purposes. The case, which at first is
whitish, gradually becomes gray
with age, and is lined by the larvae
with silk. Upon the approach of
cold weather the larva carrying its
case, retires to sheltered place on
the branches or beneath bark and
lichens on the main trunk. The larvae
again become active early in the
spring and continue feeding. Owing
to the fact that nearly all the feeding
is done within the leaf, it will prob
ably prove difficult insect to check.
There is at present every indication