296 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Pityophthorus sp. 

 A dead piece of black birch was found by the writer Aug. 5, 1900, 

 which showed the worl; of this interesting species. The central chamber, 

 as in the case of some allied species, opens into primary or egg galleries 

 which run in the sapwood across the grain and are directly opposite each 

 other. The specimen in hand, a twig about i y^ inches in diameter, was 

 half girdled by one pair of these galleries which are less than ' ',2 inch in 

 diameter. The larval galleries are near together, dilate gradually, are 

 somewhat tortuous, follow the grain of the wood, and may attain a length 

 of 1 14 inches. The)- lie largely in the inner bark toward their e.xtremity 

 and the wood is scored st)mewhat. 



Powder post beetle 



Lvchis iiiiipuiicfadts Herbst. 

 Fine, white dustlike borings ;nul numerous minute holes in well dried hard woods 

 are good indications of the ])rfseni:e of this little brown insect % inch long. 



This species is well known as destructive to seasoned woods and occa- 

 sionally it makes its appearance in very unexpected localities. The writer's 

 attention was called to this beetle in June, 1899, on account of its 

 operations in some boards forming jnirt of a carriage. Prof. 

 S-f^ G. C. Davis, formerly connected witli the Agricultural College 

 '^ of Michigan, records this insect as infesting floorings in the col- 

 lege hall which had been laid two years before. He states that 

 the beetles issued from the sapwood only and were probably 

 Fig. 56 Powder in it at the time the lumber was sawed, and Dr J. B. Smith has 

 m°uch en'iurged notcd au iustauceof this species emerging from a seasoned man^ 

 (original) ^^^ whlch luid beeu varnished. This insect is much better 



known as a pest of such well seasoned articles as wheel spokes and tool 

 handles. The beetle has been bred from the branches of several species of 

 oaks and from hickory, and Dr Hagen records it as injuring supple jack, a 

 vine imported from Jamaica. Dr J. B. Smith states that it occurs in dry 

 wood often after the latter has been manufactured into furniture or trim- 



