IN TROD UC riON cxxxi 



and no beetles are raised. They are, however, easily reared in the forest region and 

 until this has been extensively done, the species are likely to remain uncertain. The 

 adults are usually found beneath the bark of trees, or, when just freshly emerged, in logs 

 or the dead stems of growing trees, where the larvae have fed. Some like D. perkinsi 

 can bore into the hardest wood, others like D. obscitrns have been found in the wettest 

 and softest of rotten logs. Some occur in the moss on tree trunks, and a few species 

 are, but very rarely, taken on the wing in the sunshine. Some of the species are wing- 

 less. They are not partial to flowers, like Eopenthes. Acacia koa is a favourite tree 

 with this genus, and a number of species are attached to it. On old koa trees great 

 quantities of the remains of these beetles are often seen beneath the bark, probably in 

 evidence of many generations having bred therein. 



BuPKESTiDAE. — Unrepresented in the native fauna, but with three imported species 

 established. Two of these are common North American species of Biiprestes and 

 appear not to thrive in the islands. Perhaps they are not really established, but are 

 brought in from time to time with the heavy shipments of lumber. An obscure 

 Agrilus attacking leguminous trees, probably more or less unhealthy, was so abundant 

 in 1900, as to appear to be an injurious insect near Honolulu. 



ScARABEiDAE. — Trox scaber, Aphodius lividus, three species of Ataenius and 

 Saprosites pygniaeus, an undetermined Psaitmiobius and Adorettis temdmaculatus, all 

 imported by man, alone represent this large family. The latter, introduced from Japan 

 about 1896, is an injurious insect, and for a time defoliated many ornamental plants, 

 and threatened to destroy some of the forest trees. Afterwards becoming attacked by 

 a fungous disease, and this being artificially spread, it ceased to become so serious 

 a pest, though always numerous. Subsequent to its introduction, we have found the 

 larva abundantly in soil contained in boxes of plants brought from Japan, when inspect- 

 ing introduced plants just landed from a steamer from Yokohama. 



LuCANiDAE. — Represented only by the endemic genus Apterocycltis, found only on 

 Kauai, where seven forms have been distinguished. All these forms were collected 

 within an area of a few square miles and their specific distinction seems uncertain. 

 The larva has been found in and beneath rotten wood, and a newly emerged beetle was 

 once taken in a rounded cavity in the soil beneath cow-dung in an open place away 

 from trees or fallen wood. 



Dermestidae. — The allied genera Labrocerus with 18, Argocerus with two, and 

 Eocenes with a single known species are all endemic and of considerable interest. 

 Some of the species are quite common and we have always found them in places 

 frequented by, and usually in company with, Anobiidae, and there is probably some real 



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