COLEOPTERA SCOLYTI 1 ). 1 :. 



127 



neither be too fresh nor too dry. She bores into the tree for an inch 

 or more, and at about half an inch from the entrance commences to 

 deposit her eggs. The larva) soon hatch, and bore at right angles 

 to the tunnel of the parent, but in the longitudinal direction of the 

 stem, either upwards or downwards ; but the larvae eat only a small 

 portion of the timber, about twice the length of their own bodies, 

 and they pupate in the recess thus formed. The perfect insect eats, 

 or rather makes, its way out at the hole in the stem made by the 

 entrance of the female. Fig. 123 shows the workings of this 

 beetle. 



The beetle (fig. 124) is about 3 to 4 mm. long, and cylindrical in 

 form. The head is generally buried, as it Avere, in the thorax, 

 which is blackish in colour. The 

 elytra are yellowish-brown, with 

 irregular black bands running 

 along them. These bands are not 

 always complete, but they are the 

 salient feature distinguishing this 

 from the species next mentioned. 



I have found this species in 

 two districts in Northumberland 

 viz., at Lyham, near Belford, 

 in spruce, and in Scots pine, at 

 Countess Park, North Tyne ; but 

 it is by no means common in the 

 county. 



Trtpodexdrox domestic oj u 

 (Linn.) 



Fig. 125. Markings of Trypodendron domes- 

 ticum in oak timber. 



a, cross section of wood ; 6, longitudinal 

 section. 



This species bores in oak, beech, 

 and birch, selecting the large 

 limbs of trees which have been 



felled the previous year and left lying on the ground. Its presence 

 may be very easily recognised by the amount of bore-dust lying on 

 the surface. It should be looked for about the end of May or 

 beginning of June, when many specimens may be found, as whilst at 

 work it often appears on the surface of the trunk. Fig. 125 shows 

 the workings of this beetle. In size it is about the same as the 

 preceding species ; but the prothorax is entirely black, and the elytra 



