368 >:E\V YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the l)ark of one tree Sep. 21, iqoi. The remainiiiL;' pupae wen; nearl\- 

 reach' to assume the adult form and the beetles were to be found mostl\- 

 within the ])Upal cells. Mciny of them had be<^'-un to burrow in an oblique 

 direction up ami out thniut^'h tlie Ijark. .Some had just started the work 

 l_)ut in many cases the beetles had nearly ix-netrated the thick bark, thoug'h 

 none had escapetl, so far as was obser\'ed. 



The L,nnibs of this species evidently become full i^-rown durini^' the latter 

 jjart of the summer, construct their pupal cells, and transform to beetles 

 befcire the approach o( cold weather. The adults winter \-ery largely in 

 the pupal cells or in the characteristic upward curving' exit burrows which 

 they begin soon after assuming the adult condition. 



Bibliography 

 1861 Rathvon, S. S. L'. S. I'atL-nt office Rep't, |). 6jo 

 1890 Packard, A. S. ['. s. luit. Coin, stli Kept, ]>. 704-6, 830, 862 

 1895 Hopkins, A. D. \\ . \'a. Ayric . Hxp. Sta. ]'.al. 32, p. 195 



1899 W. \'a. Agri( , l^xp. Sta. lUii. 56, p. 459 



1903 Felt, E. P. F(jr. Fish iV Crame Coin, ytii Rcp't, p. 492-93 



Pytho americanus l\irb\' 



A small beetle with a lilark head and thin d.itk liiuish tureen wing covers may be 

 met witli under dec aving pine bark the latter part nf the Mimmer. 



This s[)ecies, like its associate, R h a g i u ni 1 i n e a t u m Oliv., occurs 

 rather cornmonU' in moist deca)'ing jiine bark. The larx'ae, pu|)ae and 

 beetles of these two species may be found in large numbers under the bark 

 (jf the same tree. 



[his insect appears to j^refer the bark in an advanced state of decay 

 and, like its associate, can be regarded as injurious onh' so far as it hastens 

 the decay of dead trees, since it aids in loosening tlte bark arid iri e.xposing 

 tin; wood to the elenients. It has been recorded by Mr Harrington as 

 ocurring in ( )iitario, Caii., in shallow cells under the liark of oUl logs and 

 sliunps. I)r I lopkins states that in West X'irginia it commonly intesls 

 d\ing and dead bark in pine logs and stumps. He obtained adults in 

 February. 



