COLEOPTERA. 7o 



stools of felled trees. This had the effect of destroying the breeding- 

 places. When the fires were in progress they were greatly augmented 

 by loose heather and other rubbish on the ground. This to some 

 extent had the effect of reducing the congenial conditions for the 

 hibernation of the prospective beetles during the coming winter ; and 

 finally, when the burning was completed, the land was temporarily 

 fenced and stocked for three or four years with sheep and 

 cattle. This had a remarkable effect, inasmuch as the bark was 

 removed from the roots, thus utterly destroying the breeding-ground 

 for the larvse, and altogether improving the soil for the future 

 planting. 



It is obvious, however, that this method can only be adopted where 

 fir woods are on a large scale. If, however, sudden replanting has to 

 be done with coniferous trees, where a mixture of pine-trees had formed 

 the previous crop, it would be well, if at all practicable, to uproot 

 the pines, or otherwise render the roots unfit for breeding-places. 

 Trenches might be made in the ground, and fresh sawdust scattered 

 in them ; or otherwise, lay pieces of fresh pulled bark on the ground, 

 rough bark upwards, to act as traps for catching the perfect beetles. 



Genus Pissodes. 



This genus is very closely allied to the foregoing. The genus 

 Pissodes contains two species in this country — viz., P. pini and P. 

 notatus ; but there are several species found on the Continent, and it 

 may therefore be some inducement for British workers to keep a 

 sharp look-out for additional species, together with their respective 

 injuries. 



So far as our present knowledge goes, it cannot be said that the 

 Pissodes can be compared with Ilylobius as regards forest injuries, 

 inasmuch as the former in the larval stage confine their attacks to 

 sickly trees, and in the perfect stage gnaw at the tips of young Scots 

 pine trees, but are not injurious in any appreciable sense. 



The structural details of the genus are well described by Dr Stewart 

 MacDougall : ^ — 



"The species belonging to this genus have a longish rostrum. Xear 

 the middle of the rostrum the elbowed antennae are inserted, their 



1 " The Biology of the Genus Pissodes.^' Proceedings of the Royal Society of 

 Edinburgh, vol. xxiii. 



