466 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Fig. 11^ Xyphidria prova 

 larva, enlarged (original) 



liilicrcle. The dorsum of the anal plate is deeply furrowed along the 

 median line. 



The burrows of this larva are conhned 

 ver)' lar;j;-ely to the heartwood of decaying 

 birch, and are invariably tilled with the bor- 

 ings, except a short, curved portion through 

 which the adult makes its way to the surface 

 This species has been recorded from Canada, White mountains, New 

 Ham.pshire, and Massachusetts, and Professor Cresson considers it closely 

 allied to X. a 1 b i c o r n i s Marris. 



The writer has succeeded in rearing a number of small parasites from 

 this borer, which were kindly described by Dr Ashmead as Pammegis- 

 c h i a .\ i \) h y d r i a e . 



Slender birch horntail 



Koiunc'ia attoiiiata Nort. 



A horntail borer making moderately large cylindric burrows in decaying birch, 

 very likely belongs to this species. 



This insect has been reared from dead black birch by Mr Patton, who 

 also obtained therefrom a parasite, Rhyssa humida Say, which in all 

 probability preys on this borer in the same way as the lunate long sting, 

 T h a 1 e s s a 1 u n a t o r Fabr., attacks the pigeon tremex, T r e m e x 

 columba Linn. This species can hardly be considered of much 

 economic importance, as it appears to infest only decaying birch. 



Description. The adult has been described by Mr Norton as follows : 



Male. Pale honey yellow ; antennae i6 jointed, blackish, two or three 

 basal articles yellowish ; a spot inclosing ocelli, tip of mandibles, sides of 

 neck, of meso- and metathorax blackish, tergum irregularly dark, pectus 

 brown piceous ; body beneath and legs whitish; wings hyaline, nervures 

 and stigma pale ; umler wings with two middle cells. 



Tliis species has been recorded from Connecticut, New Jersey and 



PennsyKania. 



