THE LOXG-IIORXED WOOD-BORING BEETLES. 1075 



finely punctured, the apical third almost without punctures; or often coarse- 

 ly, with apical third distinctly, punctured (var. cinereits Lee.). Length 

 5-7 mm. 



Throughout the State, frequent; more so in the northern coun- 

 ties. May 12- July 8. Breeds in apple, hickory and locust. This 

 species and the preceding are very closely related. Say in his origi 1 

 nal description of alpha says: "Elytra irregularly punctured with 

 a few black dots consisting of tufts of hairs, chiefly along the su- 

 ture; region of the scutel dusky; a blackish marginal abbreviated, 

 line from the humerus ;" all of which is true of fascicularis as above 

 described. 



1987 (6431). LIOPUS PUNCTATUS Hald., Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc., X, 1847,49. 



Smaller than alpha and distinguished chiefly by the absence of the an- 

 gular black line of the elytra, which is replaced by an obscure transverse 

 band of gray. The black dots are also fewer in number and smaller. Length 

 4r-5 mm. 



Throughout the State; rather frequent in the northern counties. 

 June 5- August 9. 



LIX. DECTES Lee. 1852. (Gr., "given to biting.") 



To this genus belongs a single species ranging from New Eng- 

 land to New Mexico and Colorado. 



1988 (6433). DECTES SPINOSUS Say, Jouru. Phil. Arad. Nat. Sci., V, 182G, 



271 ; ibid. II, 330. 



Elongate, cylindrical. Piceous, densely clothed throughout with short, 

 prostrate, ash-gray hairs; antenna? longer than body, the joints black at 

 tips. Thorax with an acute spine each side near base ; surface finely and 

 rather closely punctate. Elytra finely and rather sparsely punctate, each 

 puncture bearing a short, suberect, blackish hair, these plainly visible only 

 when viewed from the side. Female with a short, black, exserted ovipositor. 

 Length 8-10 mm. 



Warren, Marion, Vigo and Posey counties, frequent; probably 

 throughout the State. June 10- July 28. Breeds in the greater 

 horseweed and common ragweed. Ambrosia trifida L. and A. arte- 

 misicefolia L., in the stems of which the larva? hibernate. On the 

 horseweed the beetle is usually to be found resting in the angles be- 

 tween the leaves and stem. 



LX. LEPTURGES Bates. 1863. (Gr., "slender + to make.") 



Small somewhat flattened species, having the sides of thorax 

 angulate near or close to the base; antenna? fringed beneath with 



