Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-28
REPORT ON FOREST
ENTOMOLOGY MADE
BY COM'R VIOLETTE

The annual report OF the WOrk OF
Forest Entomology now being carr
ried on by the State Department OF
Forestry was given today to Cover
nor Ralph o. Brewster by Commits
sioner Neil l.. Violette.
The report In part reads as fol-
lows:
4, 1.-THE increasingly large number
of inquiries which are received in
regard to trouble from insects to for
est, forest products, and shade trees,
denotes the interest that people are
taking in regard to natural resources
and their protection. The protec-
ton OF the forests from insect pests
should go hand in hand with their
protection from fire. Both are pos
sible and both depend largely upon
an early attack by man before the
destructive agent becomes wide
spread. For several years the west
ern states have been fighting forest
insect pests with great success, but IT
is only very recently that the larger
forest states of the East have been
making forest insect control an in
tegral part of their forest protec-
ton program.
Many Requests for Aid
1.-THE requests for aid are very va
KASQ anu lllClGQC iddAy AAlSi oSt1iS
records, such as insects working in
the timbers of roofs, floors and walls
OF houses. and in one case even in
the furniture. Trees throughout
their entire life are threatened by
insect enemies. Taking for exam
pie the life Of White Pine as It was
affected by insects reported this last
season. First came the white grubs
attacking the roots Of the seedlings
in forest nurseries; then the Pales
Weevil chewing off the bark and
girdling the young trees: at approx
imately the same time we find Wee
wills working in the base Of the trees
and another specie destroying the
terminal shoots; the mound build
ing ants girdle young trees up to
three inches in diameter; then
come plant lice and woody aphids
feeding on the needles and thin bark
of the tree; new insect was found
this year that feeds in the needle
sheath causing the needles to dry
up and fall off. Several species of
= caterpillars and sawf1ies defoliate
the larger trees. Then there are
the hosts Of minute bark beetles
that bore beneath the bark girdling
the trees. A large outbreak of cone
and seed weevils destroyed vast
quantities Of seed In one section of
the State. The weakened, dying and
dead trees are quickly attacked by
the round and flat-headed borers
and by carpenter ants. Even after
the trees are cut we find the logs
invaded by beetles of many kinds.
and in one case even sawed lumber
was attacked"
It appears from the above that
the poor White Pine has pretty
tough battle for continued existence,
and the report goes on to state:
Tho same story might be told OF
extent even of hardwood trees. II
Is continual silent battle for sur
vtval and unless man steps in on
the side of the forest, the insect
hosts will win out. Man has upset
the natural balance in the forest
through seiective cutting and fires
and something must be done to re.
store the present unequal condi.
TONS"
A brief outline Of the work now
being done to combat the various
forms of insect pests Is included in
the report. the first part relating
to research work.
The Major Problem
1.-THE major problem in Maine has
been to find a feasible method OF
preventing further losses from the
spruce bud worm. Studies made
during the last five years have
shown that budworm outbreaks In
variably start UP in areas where
there is a high percentage of FIR
and that If located in time the out
break can be stamped out by clean
J>4 yv,fA VIC
are. however, areas where 1t still Is
not onnSidered asihla To nut In q