THE SOUTHERX PINK SAWYER. 



51 



HABITS. 



Prpparatorv to hiyin*^ tlio o<;<:;s, tlio foinalo dii^s with lior mamliblos 

 quite a coniipicuous c<^<r, pit in the bark (figs. IS, a, and 21, c). This 

 pit is more or less funnel shapetl, though sometimes it is merely a 

 transverse slit, and roaches as far as tlie outermost layer of soft, sappy 

 bark. The female, while digging the egg pit, is generally accompanied 

 by the male, who clasps the posterior end of her body with his fore- 

 legs, and frequently fertiHzes her while she is digging the pit. In 

 one instance where the operation was noted, the female did not ilis- 

 continue digging while copulation took place. Many combats take 



S 



Fig. 18.— The pine sawyer: a, Egg pit; b, eggs in position in which they were placed by female, the 

 outer bark being removed. About one-half natural size. (Original. ) 



place between males for the possession of a female during oviposition. 

 The ovipositor is thrust into the egg pit and in between the soft, 

 sappy bark and the first layer of outer hard bark, and the eggs are 

 deposited in a circle around tlie bottom of the egg pit, the egg (or 

 the end of the egg nearest the pit) being placed from one-eighth to 

 one-quarter of an inch away from the egg pit (see fig. IS, b). As 

 many as nine eggs Jiave been found deposited through a singl(> ])it 

 opening. 



In about five days these eggs hatch, and the small lanw issuing 

 therefrom begin feeding upon the soft inner bark, and soon work iUo'iv 

 way through it, but do not enter the wood until they Jiave attained 

 considerable growth. During this period they make irregidar gal- 

 leries through the iimer bark just next to the wood, deriving tiieir 

 entire sustenance from the bark and making no marks or cuttings 

 upon the wood. In from eighteen to thirty-two days after hatching 

 the larvir mine into the sapwood (lig. 1!)). A few days ])r(>vi()us 

 to this they are to be found cutting rather broad, irregular paths u])on 

 the surface of the sapwood with their nian<lil)les (fig. 19, (/). This 

 process is called "scoring." After making the entrance* iiUo the 

 wood the lars'ae come out again to feetl upon the inner bark, evidently 



