THE GENUS PISSODES. 59 



Subsection b5. 



(Species Nos. 18 to 24.) 



18. Pissodes fiskei n. sp. 



(Plate III, fig. 18; Plate XII.) 



The type specimen is labeled ''Type No. 7438, U.S.N.M.;" name; 

 ''type of drawing; Picea; Franconia, N. H., Oct. 16, '07; W. F. 

 Fiske, collector; $ 1; Hopk. U. S. 3309." It was reared with other 

 specimens from a section of a small spruce tree scorched by fire, 

 collected October 16, 1907. 



Distinctive characters. — This is a very distinct species, and may be 

 known from its nearest ally, P. nigrse, by the strongly elevated third 

 and fifth elytral interspaces, and the larger yellow posterior spot of 

 densely placed scales, with no trace of an anterior spot. It is at once 

 distinguished from P. similis, wliich may be associated with both 

 species in the bark of the same tree, by its large size, short pronotum, 

 and long beak. 



Variations. — There is not much variation in size, the length 

 ranging from 4.2 to 5.2 mm., nor in other characters. Eight speci- 

 mens of adults and work were examined. 



Host trees.- — Picea rubens and Picea mariana, in thick bark on logs 

 and trunks of small standing trees. 



Distrihution (Plate XXI, fig. 18).— (Hopk. U. S.) New Hamp- 

 shire: Rye. 



Bibliography and Synonymy. 



Pissodes strobi (not of Peck) Packard, 1890, pp. 829-830. (Probably P. fiskei Hopk.— 

 A. D. H.) 



19. Pissodes nigrae n. sp. 



The type specimen is labeled "Type No. 7458, U.S.N.M.;" 

 name; "Picea nigra; Webster, N. H. ; W. F. Fiske, collector; Hopk, 

 U. S. 3725a." It was taken from a section of the trunk of a small 

 dead tree, collected May 3, 1906. 



Distinctive characters. — This species is distinguished from P. fiskei 

 by the much less elevated and less rugose interspaces, longer beak, 

 and small to obscure anterior white spot on the elytra. From P. 

 puncticoUis it is distinguished by its darker color, stout pronotum, 

 and less distinctly elevated elytral interspaces. It is at once distin- 

 guished from P. similis by its long beak. 



Variations. — The length varies from 4.4 to 6.6 mm. There is very 

 little variation in the color. The anterior spots are obscure in some 

 specimens and the posterior ones vary from yellowish to white. 



Host tree. — Picea mariana. 



Distrihution (Plate XXI, fig. 19).— (Hopk. U. S.) New Hamp- 

 shire: Webster. 



