THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



29 



ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 



THE CYLINDRICAL ORTHOSOMA—Orthosomacylindricum^rtx. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



This formidable looking, long-horned beetle, fig. 4, is very common 

 in most portions of Ontario during the month of July. It flies at night 

 with a rapid and noisy flight, entering the open 

 windows of lighted rooms during the evenings, 

 often to the great alarm of nervous inmates. 

 This beetle measures an inch and a quarter, or 

 even more in length, and is about one-third of 

 an inch in width. Its body is long and narrow 

 and of a light brown color, which assumes a 

 darker shade on the head and antennae. The 

 thorax is furnished with three sharp teeth on 

 each side, and each wing case has three slightly 

 raised ribs or lines. 



The larva of this insect inhabits decaying 

 pine wood, especially pine stumps, and is sup- 

 poseed to be several years in completing its growth ; it closely resembles 

 the larva of its near relative, Primus laticollis, shown in fig. 5 (after 

 Riley.) This latter, however, differs somewhat in its habits and appetite, 



Fig. 5. 



seeming to prefer boring into and feeding on living roots, such as those 

 of the Lombardy Poplar, Balm of Gilead, Apple, Pear, and especially 

 roots of the Grape-vine, in the latter case frequently causing the sudden 

 death of the vines attacked. 



