OAK-BORERS. 73 



times interrupted in its middle. Often, also, there is a blackish spot between the 

 anterior ends of these stripes, extending from the centre of the thorax to its forward 

 end. The scutel is ash-gray in its middle and black upon each side. The wing-cov- 

 ers almost always show a large oblique and irregular triangular spot of black on their 

 outer side forward of the middle, and always behind the middle is an irregular black 

 oblique band, which seldom reaches to the suture, and which has a notch in the mid- 

 dle of its anterior side, and opposite to this on its hind side a large angular projection 

 extending backward. Immediately back of this band is an irregular spot of a 

 paler black color, which is sometimes confluent with the band; and there is also a 

 small blackish spot on the outer side of the tips. The tips are cut ofi", sometimes 

 transversely in a straight line, but usually concavely, and sometimes presenting a 

 slight tooth-like projection on each side. The legs are ash-gray, the thighs with two 

 black spots on their upper side, and the shanks with a black band at their base and 

 another at their tip, these bands being more broad on the hind pair. 



On elevating the loose bark of fallen trees the forepart of June, these insects will 

 be found therein, lying in the cavities already mentioned, some of them being still in 

 their pupa state, while others are changed to their perfect form, ready with the stout 

 jaws and sharp teeth with which they are furnished to gnaw their way through the 

 bark and come abroad. 



This species occurs throughout the United States and Canada. Different specimens 

 of it, however, vary greatly in their aspect. Even when newly born, among the in- 

 dividuals in the bark of the same tree, considerable diversities in size and markings 

 may be noticed. And the beetles found in this situation have their colors so much 

 brighter and their spots and bands so much more distinct and clearly defined that I 

 supposed them to be a different species from /ascw^Hs for several years and until spec- 

 imens came to hand showing a gradual transition from these to the older individuals 

 which we usually capture abroad, and meet with preserved in cabinets, in which the 

 colors have become faded and dim and the marks obscure and partially obliterated. 

 In the shape of some of its parts, also, different specimens are liable to vary. (Fitch.) 



12. The oak liopus. 



Liopus qtierci Fitch. 



Order Coleoptera; Family CERAMBYCiDiE. 



Probably boring in the red and white oak, the beetle occurring on the leaves early 

 in July. 



A very small, long-horned beetle, which I am unable to refer to any 

 of the described species, I am assured lives at the expense of the red 

 and white oak, from meeting with it upon those trees standing apart 

 from others in fields. As the larvas of kindred species burrow in the 

 bark of trees, this will probably be found in the same situation in oaks. 

 The beetle is met with upon the leaves of these trees early in July. It 

 is very closely related to the Facetious Liopus. (Fitch.) 



The beetle. — It 180.20 inch long, and black, with ash-gray wing-covers, which are punc- 

 tured and marked with a large black spot on the base of their suture in the form of a 

 cross, and a broad black baud slightly back of their middle, which is angfRated, some- 

 what resembling an inverted letter W, this band often having a small ash-gray spot 

 placed in it near its outer ends. Forward of this band are two black dots or short lines 

 on each wing-cover, and sometimes a third dot back of it. There is also a dusky spot, 

 usually on the tips of the wing covers, and their deflected outer margin is black. The 

 wing-covers are rounded at their tips. The thorax sometimes shows three faint gray 

 stripes above. It is narrowed anteriorly, and on each side slightly forward of the 



