54 



PROCEEDINGS ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



NOTES ON SOME OF THE EUCNEMIDAE OF THE EAST- 

 ERN STATES. 



[Coleoptera, Eucnemidas.j 



(Plate IV.) 

 BY R. W. VAN HORN. 



The object of this paper is to record some observations on 

 the habits and life history of a family of Coleoptera that here- 

 tofore has been somewhat neglected by American entomolo- 

 gists. 



The writer wishes to acknowledge himself indebted to Mr. 

 E. A. Schwarz for the identification of some of the adult 



beetles, and to Dr. A. D. Hopkins 

 for suggestions in preparing this 

 paper for publication. The obser- 

 vations were made by the writer 

 whilst employed in the Branch of 

 Forest Insect Investigations, Bu- 

 reau of Entomology. 



One of the parasites of these 

 beetles is of some interest, as it 

 proves to be not only a new species, 

 but also appears to represent a new 

 family of the Hymenoptera. 



Species of the family Eucnemidse, 

 especially in their larval state, are 

 not only of scientific interest on 

 account of their appearance, but 

 several may prove of some eco- 

 nomic interest as well. Their oc- 

 currence in the East, with the ex- 

 ception of two or three species, 

 may be considered rare, though the 

 difficulty of collecting specimens 

 may account in some measure for the obscurity in which their 

 life history has been shrouded. Unless the collector is some- 

 what familiar with their mines and the condition and identity of 

 the host plants, the insects will generally be overlooked. It is 

 not possible at the present time to take up the family in specific 

 order, so that the object is more to give a general description 

 of the character of the galleries, the appearance and habits of 

 some of the most characteristic species, the host plants, and the 

 conditions under which the insects live and undergo their trans- 

 formations. 



FIG. 3. Adult male of Tharops 

 ruficornis Say. 



