AprU, '17] 



CHITTENDEN: TWO-BANDED FUNGUS BEETLE 



283 



Since the writer's experiments on this species seem to establish it as 

 innoxious, its description will be limited to the original characterization 

 of the genus and of the species by Stephens and Say, respectively, 

 which are here transcribed. 



The Genus 

 Genus Alphitophagus Steph. 

 Antennae slightly elongate, and a little increasing in stoutness to the apex, 11" 

 jointed, basal joint robust, second minute, third and fourth of nearly equal length* 

 slightly elongate, fifth and sixth also equal, stouter and somewhat cup-shapedi 

 four following subquadrate, a Uttle produced within, 

 and thickened at the apex, terminal subglobose, 

 largest. Palpi short, with the terminal joint shghtly 

 thickened, somewhat triangular; mentmn subcordate; 

 head suborbiculate : thorax transverse, rounded in 

 front, convex: body oval, convex; elytra free; wings 

 ample: legs slender; tibiae simple, all similar; tarsi 

 heteromerous, with entire joints. (Stephens (2).) 



The Species 



Alphitophagus hifasciatus Say 



Body reddish-brown, punctured: head reddish- 

 black : eyes black : palpi whitish : thorax with a dusky 

 obsolete spot on the middle, and another on each 

 side; angles rounded; punctures very minute, dense: 

 elytra yellowish-fulvous, with punctured striae; abroad 

 band in the middle, another near the tip, and scuteUar 

 region, black: feet pale reddish-brown. (Say (1).) 



Synonymy 



Fig. 15. 

 hifasciatus. 



AlphitoTphagvA 

 (Original.) 



The following synonymy is recognized by Seidhtz: 

 Alphitophagus hifasciatus Say 



? Diaperis bifasciata Say (1), Journ. Ac. Phil., vol. Ill, p. 268, 1823. 



Diaperis picta Menetri6s (1), Cat. rais., p. 203, 1832. 



Alphitophagus quadripustulatus Stephens-IUus., Brit. Ent. Mand., vol. V, p. 12, 

 1832. 



Neomida picta Faldermann-Fauna Franscauc, vol. II, p. 65, 1837. 



Phylethus populi Redtenbacher (1), Fauna Austr., p. 589, 1849. 



Phylethus quadripustulatus Mulsant (1), Col. Fr,Xatig., p. 204, 1854. 



Alphitophagus hifasciatus Hamilton (1), Entomologica Americana, vol. VI, 1890. 



Biologic Notes 

 Aside from two notes published in Insect Life, (10), (12), the notes 

 in this Bureau are limited. In the writer's personal experience with 

 the species in and about the city of Washington, it has often been 

 found in spoiled cereals and sweepings from the floors of feed stores, 

 and in one instance the writer found specimens, April 29, in spillings 

 of bran and similar material that had fallen through the cracks of a 



