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 On the Habits of Phlceophagus and Stenoscelis. 



BY FRANK H. CHITTENDEN. 



Our two native species of Phlceophagus live in the dead wood 

 of various deciduous trees, sometimes occurring together and fre- 

 quently also in company with a closely related species, Stenoscelis 

 brevis Boh. My observations would indicate that the three species 

 are of nearly identical habits. The mature insects pass a considerable 

 portion of their existence in the mines which they excavate in wood, 

 seldom appearing abroad or on the wing, and it is owing to their 

 habits that these somewhat common beetles are seldom taken by 

 collectors in any numbers. 



Small round holes resembling pin-holes made by the adult 

 PhlcEophagi in their egress from their living quarters may frequently 

 be seen thickly scattered over the dead, bare portions of a variety 

 of trees. The similar, larger holes oi Stenoscelis brvis are usually to 

 be found in the same situations. It may be worth while to mention 

 that I have always observed these species in the dead portions of 

 living trees, or in the upright trunks of dead trees and only in parts 

 that had been denuded of bark. I have never taken them from logs 

 or the smaller branches of trees, and have never known an instance 

 of their boring through or living under bark. 



The larvae occur with the imagines, and though the two genera 

 occur together, it is not difficult to separate them. The pupal stage 

 is doubtless, of brief duration, as I have never succeeded in securing 

 a single specimen. 



Phlceophagus apionides Horn was observed on a dead birch tree 

 in July, and both larvae and beetles occurred in April in a stump of 

 wild black cherry (Prunus serotina). 



P. viinor Horn I have found in greater abundance than the 

 above. It was taken from birch, willow and elm wood in July and 

 November. Both species have been cut from ash by Mr. William 

 Jiilich (Ent. Amer. vol. iv, p. 35). 



P. spadix Hbst., an imported species, was found on the sea- 

 beach by Mr. Jiilich (1. c.) in water-soaked pine drift wood. 



Stenoscelis brevis Boh. is more common than any of the above. 

 I have observed it on the following trees: basswood, beech, birch, 

 butternut, elm, maple, sycamore, willow and European linden. 

 Specimens were taken from the wood in October, November, De- 

 cember, January, May and July, and were found abroad in the last 

 two months crawliny: about on the infested trees. 



