INTRODUCTION . cxxvii 



Tenebrionidae. — The seven genera recorded are of little interest, most of the 

 species being certainly importations, but four Epitragus diremptus, Platydema obscurum, 

 Opatrum seriatum, and Sciophagtis pandanicola are possibly natural immigrants. The 

 latter now seems to be rarely or never found. There are a few other Tenebrionids 

 now present, of quite recent introduction. Alphitobius lateralis appeared on Oahu 

 about 20 years ago, and has since spread and become one of the commonest of insects. 

 The larva of Opatrum is not infrequently found in the soil beneath the droppings of 

 cattle, and is probably predaceous on the Diptera so abundant in these. 



CioiDAE. — The 42 species representing this family have been placed in two genera, 

 the apodemic genus Cis having 29, and the endemic Apterocis 13 species. They are a 

 varied assemblage of forms, and will probably at some time be split into more numerous 

 genera. Cis paci/iats is a very commonplace species, as compared with its congeners, 

 and resembles foreign forms. It is very common in foreign fungi growing on trees that 

 are not endemic, and I suspect it will itself prove to be foreign or an importation. One 

 or two other species are likewise doubtfully native. Very few of the Hawaiian Cis are 

 found in the larger fungi that grow out from the trunks of trees, but Cis roridus and 

 bimaatlatics are found in these, though not confined to them. Most of the species live 

 beneath bark of trees, feeding on the smaller or microscopic fungi that grow in this 

 situation. Cis laetiailns we have found, both mature and larval, on dead fallen leaves of 

 Freycinetia, the larvae no doubt feeding on the fungi growing on these. Many of the 

 species are widely distributed throughout the islands and very numerous in individuals, 

 and they also exhibit much variability. Some of the species of Cis, as also all of those 

 belonging to Apterocis, are flightless. With regard to the former it is not certain whether 

 some may not have fully-winged and flightless individuals as well. One or two of the 

 species referred by me to Apterocis, I believe, from more recent examination, to be fully- 

 winged and they should be transferred to Cis. The Hawaiian forms are a very interest- 

 ing series and particularly require close observation in the field and need still more to 

 be bred in captivity, in order that the limits of variation of the species may be correctly 

 determined. Some of the wingless Bethylids {^Scleroderma) are sometimes bred from 

 wood containing these beetles, but it is not certain whether they are parasitic on 

 them, or on other insects (especially caterpillars) found in the same wood. The minute 

 Braconid, Ecliphylopsts nigra, is also obtained from wood in which these and other 

 small endemic Coleoptera are breeding. The abundance of the beetles and the com- 

 paratively great rarity of these parasites show that, if parasitic on Cis, the latter are of 

 little effect in reducing the numbers of the former. 



BosTRiCHiDAE. — The six species, each belonging to a different genus, are all intro- 

 ductions by man. They are none of them forest insects. Some of the species are very 

 injurious to felled timber, whether destined for fire-wood or for other purposes, reducing 



