Asemum striatum mid Crioccphalus ferns. 175 



them still active. I succeeded in breeding with one pair, 

 and have at present some of their offspring in a piece of 

 bark. 



I have on two or three different occasions observed them 

 flying about in their natural habitat, and noted that the 

 time at which they appeared was the same as in the case 

 of specimens in captivity. 



The eggs look exceedingly like those of the common 

 blow-fly and are thrust deep down between the lamina? of 

 the bark to which they are cemented. A female does not 

 deposit many more thao fifty or sixty eggs. 



During the daytime the insect is perfectly inert, almost 

 to the point of feigning death. It may be said to be at 

 large from the middle of August till the middle of 

 September, although I have specimens which did not cast 

 their pupal skins till September. 



I consider that the following considerations are re- 

 sponsible for this insect not having been observed 

 previously : — 



i. The comparative rarity of suitable habitats. 



ii. The great difficulty in securing the perfect insect 



(though the habitat may be known) on account 



of its nocturnal habits and its great resemblance 



to the bark among which it hides, 

 iii. The difficulty in securing the larva? owing to the 



very hard wood into which they bore, 

 iv. The unusual lateness in the season at which it 



appears. 

 v. Its probable confinement to one spot for a great 



number of years. 

 vi. The fact that pine woods in S. England have till 



lately been almost entirely ignored as unproductive 



by Coleopterists. 



Most of the above considerations are doubtless respon- 

 sible for the fact that Asemum up till 1902 was almost 

 unknown as an inhabitant of Great Britain south of the 

 Border. But as it does not appear "out of season" as 

 Criocephalus does, and is so very much more common than 

 that insect, it is indeed remarkable that it has not been 

 better known by British collectors before. 



Before bringing these notes on the habits of these two 

 interesting insects to a close I must take this opportunity 



