Page:The Olive Its Culture in Theory and Practice.djvu/129

Rh of the eggs and rearing the young, follows, as has been heretofore described.

The offspring of this second generation appear about the last of August and first of September, and prepare a nest as did their predecessors, in the bearing boughs of the tree, where they pass the autumn and winter preparing for reproduction in the coming spring.

The damage from the Phloetribus is considerable. Those of the first generation destroy the blossoms; and those of the second destroy the fruit, as they always attack bearing branches. The drying up of the leaves and fruit on the tree may usually be traced to these insects. Since they are reproduced only in the dry branches or those which are perishing, the best method to impede or diminish their propagation consists in keeping the trees perfectly free from decayed limbs. As soon as a limb shows signs of languor it should be removed and burned.

This injurious insect is designated by various names in as many localities. In organization and habits it bears a close resemblance to the Phloetribus. Indeed the egg, larva, chrysalis and insect are nearly identical in form and size. (Fig. 4, 5, 6, 7.)

The larva in this case being a trifle larger and the antennaeantennæ [sic] of the insect having eleven joints instead of nine. The fundamental color of the insect is lighter than that of its thorax. The body is a twelfth of an inch in length. Before the middle of July the Hylesinus has reached its perfect development, and from this time on, its methods are precisely those of the Phloetribus, and its treatment should be the same.

This insect is the common twig borer of California, and similar to that found on the oak tree. It attacks the olive early in April,