260 



NOTES ON THE HABITS OF SOME CALIFORNIA COLEOPTERA. 



By D. W. COQUILLETT, Los AlU/rlrfi, Cdl. 



Tritoma californiea. — Found several larvie in lamella' of tww^i on a 

 rotten willow stump February 24, Beetles issued April 29. 



Anthaxia ameof/asfer. — Found tliis beetle iu a burrow beneath tliebark 

 of a dead and dry branch of Jugl an s calif ornkn February 6. In a sim- 

 ilar situation was a nearly grown larva, evidently of this species. 



A second beetle was in its burrow in a dead and dry branch of Jufj- 

 lans calif ornica March 9; it was in the solid wood, and its burrow was 

 next to and at right angles with the surface. 



Hydnocera scahra. — Two larvie were found beneath loose bark on an 

 apple tree infested with Woolly Aphis January 16. I i)laced in its cage 

 two Tiueid larvse, which it attacked and extracted their juices. Spun 

 in bottom of box a thin white cocoon, through which the pupa is plainly 

 seen. Pupated May 10 ; beetle May 30. Found a pupa among dead 

 leaves in crotch of orange tree June 4, and tlie beetle issued June 13. 

 One in cocoon of Carpocapsa 2)omoHella , beneath loose bark on an apple 

 tree, March 24. 



Hedohia granosa. — Found a tough gray elliptical cocoon 3 by 5""" 

 long, beneath loosened bark of a dead, dry branch of Jughois californiea^ 

 February 7; the beetle issued March 8 through a large irregular hole 

 on one side, just before the end. 



Vrilleta cxpanm. — Found many larvfe in dead and dry wood of Qiier- 

 CKS agrifolia Septeml)er 22. Two living beetles were found in the 

 breeding can February 21, and twelve more March 20. 



^Sinoxylon declive. — Two beetles of this species were in the can con- 

 taining orange wood July 20 (the same wood as that from which Lyctus 

 striatus mentioned below were bred) ; five more July 26, three of them 

 in their burrows in the wood; tbese burrows usually extend lengthwise 

 with the grain, are cylindrical, and packed firmly with gnawed wood. 

 In these burrows I found larva" which agree closely with those of Psoa 

 maculata. 



Mr. Edwin C. Van Dyke informs me that he has bred this species 

 from dead Acacia wood and also from ZTmhellularia californiea. The 

 pupa is similar to that of Psoa maculata. 



Before pupating the larva gnaws a burrow to the surface nearly at 

 right angles to its regular burrow and takes up a iiositiou about three- 

 fourths of an inch from its mouth, packing it firndy on either side, and 

 pupating in the cell tlius formed. In the burrow the lar\a presses the 

 hind half of its body against the under side of the front half, pressing the 

 legs forward. I found the pupa in the orange wood July 27. Mr. Com- 

 pere, of Los Angeles, informs me that these beetles sometimes bore 

 into the pith of rather large sized rose bushes that have been cut ofl' 



