The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-16

It Is easy to recognize badly in- fested trees. The foliage is scanty, frequently yellowish or brown and beneath the trees ar many fallen leaves. There are on the trunks numerous, blackish, yellow marked grubs little over half an inch long, and in the crevices of the bark and at the base of the trees one may nd thousands of these grubs and many brilliant oval, yell Jewish pupae. The grubs have turn ed to pupae, and the beetles will appear about week later. The growth of new foliage provides very attractive feeding for the beetles, and we may expect a very consid- erable second brood which, if al- lowed to develop unchecked, may destroy most if not all of the new their leaves. A second stripping in foliage, especially on the trees which have lost practically all of a summer makes 1t impossible for the trees to regain lost ground the present season and will very like ly result in a great deal of dead wood and in some cases the prac- tical ruination of trees. There Is serious damage by the elm leaf 'S't'O aipbS tHc loo5 LoH-NcW K and the New York Albany Post roads, and many other automobile routes The beetle is local in habit and is especially likely to be abun- dant on trees near sheds and the older type of buildings. The in jury is more general in areas where the elm Is the prevailing tree. The elms of Danbury, Connecticut, have gIlHarad QaUarnlty pra tna or the trees in some sections of the city have lost or are destined to lose all of their leaves. The elm leaf beetle outbreak is more or less gen. eral in southern New England and much of New York state.
 It is inadvisa be to spray now trees which have lost most of their leaves, because the grubs have practically ceased feeding and llttle benefit would result. Those who desire may kill many of the grubs and the beetles a. the base or the tree by wetting them with a contact insectide or even boiling water There Is little to be gained, however, aside from the satisfac- non or killing a few thousand, possibly more, in an army running Into millions. It is doubtful If this pays.
 The new foliage appearing or soon to appear on badly infested trees should be protested by spray lng with poison the very last of this month or early in August. the serious defoliation now in prog and thus prevent the repetition of ress.
 There are trees with foliage green and with numerous, partly grown grubs. These latter may be abundant enough 10 dcstroy all of the remaining leaves, and the spraying of such trees immedlatel, with arsenate of lead is advisable. Leaves are essential to tree growth. The destruction of leaves affects the roots and weskens the trees. Many of these clns are ir dire need of feeding as we'll a. spraying. Give them something te stimulate growth.
 | The areas of serious infestatior this season are likely to be greatly damaged another year. Now is the l time to note the sections where the insect is most numerous and tt make plans for the control of tho i pest next summer. There Is noth, ing better than thorough spraying with poison in May or June. Il is gratifying to note that sprayed trees have escaped injury. Many
 localities lost literally thousands of magnificent trees in earlier years. The obvious remedy is to provide for annual protection oi shade trees. unless one would risk serious injury or loss of highl, prized elms.