120 LONG HORNED BEETLES. 



mon in our state, where it infests the ash. It is very destructive 

 when at all numerous. 



A large number of smaller but equally beautiful beetles be- 

 long to this family. All are more or less injurious, but not to 

 fruit-producing plants, being most abundant in evergreen forests. 



Some few other longicorn beetles also belong here, which 

 are more or less injurious to wild plants. In places where the 

 elderberries are utilized a most beautiful beetle is sometimes 

 injurious, because its larva bores and feeds in the pith of these 

 plants. The beetle is quite common in June and July, and is 

 found resting upon the foliage, but is wide awake and ready 

 to seek safety in flight. 



The Elderberry Beetle, (Desinoccnis palliatits Forst.), is 

 dark blue with greenish reflections. The basal half of the wing- 

 covers is orange-yellow, and in strong contrast with the rest of the 

 body. The black feelers have the middle joints thickened at che 

 outer ends, so that they look like a series of knots, for which 

 reason the beetle is sometimes called "Knotty Horn". It is shown 

 in Fig. 124, Plate VI. 



There is another large series of very beautiful longicorn -bus- 

 tles which are frequently observed, as they are visitors to our flov. - 

 ers, in which, covered with pollen, they are sometimes bareh- visi- 

 ble. On account of this they are certainly beneficial, even if their 

 larvae burrow into the wood of trees. The wild chestnults in 

 more southern regions would not produce so many nuts if their 

 flowers were not so profusely scented, thus attracting beetles of 

 this kind, which arc not slow to accept such invitations. 



To show how at least one of these beetles looks, the des- 

 cription of Gaitrotcs cyanipcnnis Say- an insect living in the wood 

 of butternut, is given. The beetle is black, tinged with copper; 

 the feelers and legs are reddish-brown, and the elytra are of a 

 most beautiful violet, blue or blueish green color, and are highly 

 polished. It is shown in Fig. 125, Plate IV, and a member of the 

 genus Strangalin in Fig. 126. 



Among the Lamiid Longicorns (Laiuiinae) we also have 

 a large number of fine beetles, some of which are decidedlv 



