494 SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



Pytho aincricanns Kirby. 



This species is frequently associated with the preceding form and appears to 

 prefer bark tissues in a more advanced stage of decay. It was met with by the 

 writer rather commonly in various localities associated with the Ribbed Rhagium. 



Description. The beetle is much flattened and is about y'i an inch long, with the 

 head and thorax black, and the striated wing covers dark bluish green. The 

 powerful jaws are rufous, tipped with black, and the antennae, legs and abdomen are 

 similarly colored. The form of the insect is represented on plate ii, figure 2. 



The pupa is whitish, more slender than that of Rhagium, and may readily be 

 recognized by its occurring in cells with walls composed entirely of nearly rotten 

 particles of bark. Plate ii, figure 3. 



The pupal cell is nearly circular, about ?4 of an inch in diameter, and is con- 

 structed between the bark and the wood. There is no excavation in the wood and 

 the walls arc composed only of partly rotten borings, plate 11, figures 5, 6, 9. 

 The difference between the cells of Rliagiuui and Pytho is well brought out in the 

 illustration. 



Life History. The larva evidently becomes full grown the latter part of the 

 season and transforms to the pupa and then to the beetle before the approach of 

 cold weather. This species probably hibernates very largely in the pupal cells or 

 else under the bark. 



PINE SAWYER. 



MonoJiamuius confusor Kirby. 



The grub of this large beetle is frequently associated with the preceding species 

 in the work of reducing the inne>- bark to characterless dust. The galleries of this 

 giant grub arc larger than the preceding forms and not infrequently score the sap 

 wood, leaving large white splinters which are very characteristic of its work. This 

 borer not only operates in the inner bark and sap wood of dying trees but under 

 certain conditions it appears to attack healthy tissues. It also bores into the heart 

 wood of trees and forms very irregular galleries in the timber, thus reducing its 

 value materially for most commercial purposes. The coarse white chips made by 

 this grub ma\- frequently be met with in small piles under logs lying in mill yards 

 and the operations of the borer itself may be heard in the stillness of the night. 



The parent insect, plate 10, figure I, is a magnificent beetle, about ]'> of an inch 

 long and \\ith tremendous antenme which may measure as much as 3 inches in 

 lens/th. 



