REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 341 



Harrington, W. H. Royal society of Canada. Transactions. 

 Section 4. 1893. p. 139, 147, 148, 153 (description). 



Cooley, R. A. Psyche. 1S96. 7 : 397 (wing structure). 



This interesting insect is closely allied to U. albiconiis of a preceding 

 page, from which it differs mainly, in having the 10 basal joints of the 

 antennae black, and only the hind tibiae and tarsi white-banded. 



Description of the imago. At first glance, this insect, with its 

 wings folded upon its back, locjks not much unlike one of the large black 

 wasps {Fompiliiis), but on closer examination it is seen to be one of the 

 peculiar hymenopterous forms commonly known from their formidable 

 projecting ovipositor, as horn-tails It may be distinguished from its 

 allies by the apical eight or 10 segments of the antennae being 

 straw-white, except the tip of the terminal segment which is brown; the 

 others are brownish or black in color. A spot behind each eye is yellowish, 

 the thorax black, the wings smoky brown, and the abdomen above yel- 

 lowish brown, the terminal segments being darker. The base of both 

 tibiae and tarsi of the legs in the example before me are yellowish, there 

 being but little of it on the anterior two pairs. 



The following more detailed description is from Mr Norton: 



Female. Black; antennae 20-jointed, the 10 apical articles straw 

 white, the base of the nth and tip of the apical article brown; a rufous 

 spot (not defined at edges) back of each eye; the six basal segments of 

 the nl:)domen of a soft velvety violaceous brown; remaining segments 

 rufoi;s : cornu compressed at base, lance shaj^ed ; ovipositor not longer 

 than iaiuloinen and cornu together; legs black, the base of posterior 

 tibiae and of first joint of their tarsi white; remaining joints blackish; 

 all the claws red ; wmgs obscure brownish violaceous, nervures piceous ; 

 cross nervure of second brachial cell incomplete. 



This species is comparatively rare in this vicinity. Two interesting 

 varieties have been described, one from Albany, N. Y., and the other 

 from New Jersey (see citation). 



Life history and distribution. The larva, hatched from the egg, 

 when it approaches maturity, is able to excavate large burrows within 

 the trunk, to the serious injury of the tree that it infests. In its genera^ 

 appearance it is long, cylindric, with six legs, a small, rounded head, and 

 a pointed horny tail. When it attains its growth, it undergoes its trans- 

 formations within a cocoon of chips built at the end of the burrow and 

 spun together with silk. The length of time that it remains in its grub 

 state is not known. 



This insect has been recordeil from New York, New Jersey and Penn- 

 sylvania. Its rarity has probably prevented its being detected in many 

 localities where it occurs, although it is undoubtedly much less common 

 and with a more restricted range than U. albiconiis. 



