Shade Tree Insects in 1929

Abstract

The Norway maple leaf stem miner, Nepticula sericopeza Zell., is somewhat generally distributed in southeastern New York and southwestern New England. Spraying with a nicotine molasses soap combination in May apparently gives excellent control. The red cedar aphis, Lachnus sabinae Gill., provided an excellent outdoor demonstration of injuries earlier associated provisionally with this species. The hackberry nipple gall, Pachypsylla mamma Riley, and the hackberry bud gall, Pachypsylla gemma Riley, are both common on hackberry. The former is readily controlled with a nicotine molasses spray applied about the middle of May and the latter with the same materials applied about June 10th. The insecticide kills many adults and apparently destroys the eggs. The knotty oak galls, Andricus punctatus Bass, A. cornigerus O. S., and A. clavigerus Ashm. are common on the red oak, pin oak and willow oak respectively, in some instances causing serious injury. The alternate generation of the former two develops in a small blister leaf gall. The hackberry leaf aphid, Myzocallis fumipennellus Fitch, is responsible for a very general yellowish spotting and browning of hickory leaves in early fall, in some cases, most of the leaves being killed. The bronze birch borer, Agrilus anxius Gory, and the two-lined chestnut borer, Agrilus bilineatus Weber, are generally distributed pests. Available data show that feeding of birches frequently enables the trees to outgrow somewhat serious infestations. Work by the two-lined chestnut borer is very frequent on trees indirectly injured by grading or building operations. The filbert bud mite, Eriophyes avell.anae Nal., produces greatly enlarged buds on European filberts and has been associated with some severe injury. A paste of calcium cyanide and castor oil applied to areas infested by the linden borer, Saperda vestita Say, have given very encouraging results.