PSYCHE 



VOL. XXVII DECEMBER 1920 No. 6 



NOTES ON THE FUNGUS-BEETLE, CIS VITULA MANN. 

 By Harry B. Weiss, 

 New Brunswick, N. J. 



The following notes are the results of observations made on Cis 

 vitula Mann.,^ collected in Polyporus versicolor L., at Alma, Calif., 

 during January by Mr. Hartman and forwarded to me together 

 with a large quantity of the fungus by Mr. H. E. Burke. Poly- 

 porus versicolor is a common and widely distributed polypore and 

 in this particular instance, it was taken on dead almond (Prunus 

 amygdalus). 



At the time of the receipt of the infested fungus, only adults were 

 found. Several months later, however, after having been kept in a 

 warm room, larvae and pupae were secured. The larvae work in the 

 context of the fungus especially in the thickest parts at the base, 

 riddling it in all directions. Pupation also takes place in the basal 

 context. The beetles range over the entire polypore consuming all 

 parts of it. On account of the hairiness of the larvae, they become 

 covered with particles of excrement and borings found in their 

 channels, but on account of the dryness of these materials few par- 

 ticles adhere to a larva after it has been removed from the fungus. 



Fidl-groivn larva. Length, 3.5 to 4 mm. Width, 0.8 mm. 

 Whitish, sometimes slightly creamy, except for mouth parts, tarsal 

 claws, dorsal abdominal plates of the eighth and ninth segments and 

 posterior hooks which are browTiish to browTiish black; elongate 

 subcylindrical, tapering slightly at anterior and posterior ends; 

 body flattened beneath. Dorsal surfaces of head and body covered 

 with minute, fine hairs. Head and each body segment also bear 

 several, comparatively long, fine hairs. Ventral surface bears 

 only a few, long, fine hairs. Head narrower than posterior edge of 

 pro thorax. Dorsal surface of eighth abdominal segment bears a 

 slightly chitinized, somewhat brownish plate with a few minute 

 tubercles. Dorsal surface of ninth abdominal segment bears a 



I Kindly identified by Mr. Charles Dury. 



