

91 



This pretty species is perhaps our most efficient co-worker in de- 

 stroying the Colorado potato beetle. 



Family NITIDULIDJE. 



The species of this family are small, somewhat flattened beetles, 

 the thorax having a wide, thin margin, and the elytra are more or 

 less truncated or cut off, so as to expose the tip of the abdomen ; the 

 antennae are composed of ten or eleven joints, with the last three 

 joints enlarged and formed into a club or knob, the first joint is much 

 larger than the second or any of the intermediate joints. 



They general subsist upon decaying animal and vegetable sub- 

 stances and some are carniverous, feeding upon the soft, minute larvae 

 found under the bark of decaying trees; one only is known to be in- 

 jurious in this State. 



IPS 4 SIGNATUS. 



This little species, which is only about one-rifth of 

 an inch long, may be known by its flattened body, its 

 shining black color, which is varied by four yellow 

 spots on the wing cases, two on each, and the form of 

 the antennae, which have a knob or club at the 

 end. I have lateiy received, through the agricul- 

 tural editor of the Inter-Ocean, a specimen from 

 ips faciatus" Mr. J. E. Darb3 T , Dexter. Iowa, who states that it has 

 been troubling his apples this season, principally the early varieties. 

 They puncture the skin and eat their way toward the center, some- 

 times dozens of them being found in a single apple, always taking the 

 ripest and richest. The appearance of the fruit at first sight is that 

 of having been picked by birds. They have also been seen cutting 

 their way into a pear and eating the calyx. Although fcund in this 

 state it does not appear to have been troublesome at any time, and 

 as a rule it will be found eating into decayed fruit only. 



Proper care in removing decaying fruit and gathering carefully and 

 in due season that which is ripe, will probably prevent any injury by 

 this species if it should become troublesome, which is not likely. 



Spec. char. Imago. — Body oval, deep, shining black; antennae 11- 

 jointed with an oval club at the end composed of three joints ; the 

 first joint much larger than those which follow it ; body much de- 

 pressed or flattened; thorax nearly or quite as broad at the posterior 

 margin as the elytra; the joints of the tarsi except the terminal very 

 short. Each wing-case rounded at the tip so as to form between the 

 two a slight notch, leaving the extremity of the abdomen exposed. 

 Head and thorax marked with small regular punctures. Each wing- 

 case with two yellow spots which are sometimes slightly tinged with 

 red ; the one next the base is curved so as to entflose the black point 

 of the shoulder ; the posterior one is behind the middle, and is trans 

 versely oval. The underside black. 



Length about one-fifth of an inch. 



