THE GENUS PISSODES. 49 



Bibliography and Synonymy. 



Rhynchsenus strobi Peck, 1817, p. 2, pi. 2. Harris, 1841, pp. 63-64. 



Pissodes strobi (Peck) Say, 1831, p. 14 (in part). Fitch, 1858, pp. 732-736, pi. 3, fig. 

 1. Say, 1859, p. 277 (in part). Walsh and Riley, 1869, p. 26, fig. 22. Gem- 

 minger and Harold, 1871, p. 2432. Le Baron, 1874, p. 139, fig. 63. Thomas, 

 1876, pp. 133-134 (in part). Le Conte, 1876, pp. 142-143 (in part). Fuller, 

 1880, pp. 5-6, fig. 2. Saunders, 1883, p. 55, fig. 23 (in part). Packard, 1886, 

 pp. 322-325, pi. 9 (in part). Lintner, 1888, p. 24, figs. 6, 7. Packard, 1890, pp. 

 734-741 (in part). Riley and Howard, 1890, p. 348 (parasite); 1891, p. 468 (in 

 part). Lintner, 1893, pp. 344-345, fig. 22 (in part). Hopkins, 1893, p. 205, No. 

 219 (in part); 1899, pp. 259-260, 345, 441 (in part). Chittenden, 1899, pp. 58-59, 

 figs. 11, 12 (in part). Felt, 1906, pp. 397-401 (in part). Hopkins, 1906, pp. 

 252-253, figs. 61, 62; 1907, pp. 1-7, figs. 1-6; 1909, pp. 11, 16, 17, figs. 8, 9. 



7. Pissodes approximatus n. sp. 



(Plate VI, flg. 7; Plate XV, figs. A , B.) 



The type specimen is labeled ''Type No. 7430, U.S.N.M.;" name; 

 '^Pinus strohus; Lynn Woods, Mass.; A. D. Hopkins, June 11, '06, 

 bred; 9 ; Hopk. U. S. 6332." This specimen was reared from larvse 

 in bark from base of white pine sapling defoliated by the gipsy moth. 

 The type series is represented by a male labeled the same as the 

 type, one labeled "Camb.; Coll. Hubbard & Schwarz; S ," and 2 

 males labeled "Marquette, Mich., 27.6; Coll. Hubbard & Schwarz." 



Distinctive characters. — This species has been commonly confused 

 with P. strobi in collections and literature, but is distinguished from 

 it by the average large size, elongate body, the sides of the elytra 

 more distinctly narrowed posteriorly. The beak is longer, and the 

 spots of the elytra are uniformly smaller, the posterior ones rarely 

 connected. It is also definitely separated by its marked difference 

 in habits. It is distinguished from P. nemorensis, to which it is 

 more closely allied, by its average smaller size, shorter beak, and 

 larger posterior brown spot of the elytra, and, exce])t in regions 

 where the two species may overlap, it may be at once distinguished by 

 its distribution. It is distinguished from its closest ally, P. scTtwarzi, 

 by the moderately coarse pronotal punctures. 



Variations. — There is much variation in size, the length ranging 

 from 4.3 to 6.7 mm., but extremes are rare. The color ranges from 

 dark brown, nearly black, to brown, but the prevailing color is dark. 

 There is considerable variation in the structure of the pronotum 

 and elytra and in the punctures, spots, etc., but the spots of scales, 

 while variable in size and color, are commonly small, and never as 

 large as in the average P. strohi. More than 140 specimens were 

 exarnined, including all stages and work. 



Host trees. — Pinus strohus, Pinus rigida, Pinus echinata, Pinus 

 resinosa, Pinus virginiana, and Pinus pungens, occurring in thick 

 bark on trunks of trees and base of saplings; sometimes injurious to 

 the saplings. 



