TOMICIJS DISPAR. 



259 



at the apex on either side of the suture. Antennal club as in 

 the preceding species, but produced into a blunt angle on the 

 inner side of the apex. 



b. Life-history, etc. 



Similar to that of T. lineatus ; but less important on account 

 of its breeding chiefly in stumps and windfalls. It attacks not 

 conifers but broadleaved trees, 

 chiefly beech, oak and birch, 

 also lime. 



The mother-galleries do not 

 branch as a rule, but run verti- 

 cally into the wood for two or 

 more inches. This insect is 

 not uncommon in large wood- 

 lands in Britain. If it injures 

 commercially valuable timber, 

 the forest should be cleared 

 of material containing the 

 insects ; spring felling is 

 desirable. 



T. quercus, Eichh., is still 



more like T. lineatus, Oliv., in appearance, but is distinguished 

 by having the antennal club angulate at the apex, as in 

 T. domesticus. In habits it resembles the latter species, but 

 is much less common in Britain, being almost entirely confined 

 to the neighbourhood of Sherwood Forest. 



118. Radial galleries of T. 

 ticus, L., in beech-wood. 

 (Natural size.) 



10. Tomicus dispar, Fabr. 

 a. Descriptwn. 



Beetle $ 2 mm. $ 3 mm. long. Pitch-black, the antennae 

 and legs testaceous-red. $ short, convex, ovoid and very 

 hairy, with the thorax granular in front, punctured towards 

 the base, with a smooth median line. The ? cylindrical, its 

 thorax in front strongly asperate. Elytra strongly arched at 

 the declivity, with rows of deep punctures, and raised 

 tuberculate interstices between them. 



s2 



