INSECTS AFFECTING PARK AND WOODLAND TREES 48 1 



destroyed by an unknown Tachinid parasite and another small ilipterous 



larva is sometimes found feedinjr in considerable numbers on the larva or 



pupa. 



Bibliography 



1904 Felt, E. P. & Joutel, L. H. N. V. State Mus. Bui. 74, p. 18-20 



Liopus alpha Say 



.K small, legless grub boring irregularly in dead sumac and other twigs, may be the 

 young of this beetle. 



This species occurs rather abundantly in dead sumac twigs at Clinton 

 Heights. The infested twigs were gathered and many of the beetles bred 

 therefrom the latter part of May. 



The beetle is about '4. inch long, rather stout, and remarkable for the 

 long, delicate antennae, which have the enlarged distal portion of each 

 joint dark brown or nearly black. It is rather prettily V _/ 



marked with silvery graj', light and dark brown, the 

 irregular oblique stripe just behind the middle of 

 each wing cover being the most conspicuous, the two 

 forming a V with its point toward the head. Accord- 

 ding to Messrs Leng and Hamilton, this species is 

 ([uite variable and difficult to separate from allied 

 forms. They describe five variations in markings 

 and state that it may be separated from its ally, 

 L. c i n e r e u s Lee, bv the finely punctured surface, 



■' ^ ^ Fig. 121 Liopus alpha, cn- 



behind the band almost impunctured. larg-^iKoriginao 



The full grown larvae are about ^ inch long, and present no unusual 



characters. Unfortunately specimens were not preserved and a detailed 



description is impossible. 



The working of this larva is limited very largely to the central portion 



of the twig, and the gallery of one borer may have a length of 2 or 3 



inches. The exit hole is ov-al and a little over y^ inch in diameter. 



Distribution. .Say states that this species is not rare in Pennsylvania 



and that he has obtained it from the Northwest Territory, and LeConte 



