October, '21] rurke: notes ox desmocerus 451 



D. palliatus Forst.^ — Eastern states; both males and females blue 

 except for basal third of elytra which is yellow; larva mines stem.s of 

 comm-on eastern elder (Sambucus canadensis) ; does not always kill the 

 stem mined. At Brookland, D. C. a large larv^a was found in the pith 

 at the base of a large stem, on Februarys 19, 1910, and an adult in a pupa] 

 cell in a similar position on May 19, 1913. 



D. crihripennis Horn. — Washington, Oregon, California; both males and 

 fem.ales dark green above, elytra with narrow orange m.argins; larva 

 m.ines stem.s of the western red-berried elder (S. callicarpa), usually does 

 not kill the stem.s mined; eggs are laid in crevices in the bark. The 

 young lan.'a upon hatching m.ines through the wood into the pith and up 

 the pith until full grown. At irregular intervals lateral mines are m.ade 

 from the pith through the M'ood to the surface for throwing out borings, 

 etc. When growth is completed the lar\^a m.ines through t.he wood to the 

 surface and then retreats back into the pith plugging the mine as it goes 

 with shredded borings. After pupation and transformation take place 

 the adult emerges through this m.ine. At Pialschie, King Co., Wash., 

 pupation takes place in the spring and the adults em.erge during April 

 and May. Sometimes the young larvae will eat a large hole in the outer 

 wood before entering the pith. Several larvae may live in one stem. The 

 life cycle is two years. 



D. calif orniciis Horn. — California; male elytra bluish or purplish with 

 distinct orange margins, fem.ale elytra velvety black or slaty with slight 

 orange m.argins; larva m.ines stems of the blue berried elder(S. glauca) 

 at lower elevations in the central coast regions of California ; usually does 

 not kill the stem.s m.ined ; the adult feeds on the fohage. Common around 

 Los Gatos, Palo Alto and Guadaloupe in Santa Clara County. Egg is 

 3.om.m..long, 1.25mm-. in dia., white when first laid, turning to brownish 

 white and reddish brown; oblong, pointed at both ends, points termi- 

 nating in knobs ; surface marked by heavy, longitudinal wavy ridges which 

 do not always extend from, end to end, connected by lighter transverse 

 ridges which are m.ore prominent toward the ends; surface between 

 ridges marked by large pits. 



The eggs are laid in the crevices of the bark, tucked under the bark 

 at scars or in the wood where small branches have been broken off. 

 They are fastened on with a shellac like substance. Upon hatching the 

 larva enters the bark near the shell or wanders for some distance before 

 entering. Usually it m.ines through wood and into the pith as soon as 

 possible but sometimes when in large trunks it remains in the wood until 

 growth is completed. As the mine proceeds the larva makes lateral 

 mines to the surface at irregular intervals for the purpose of throwing out 



