PINE WEEVIL. 139 



signify * long-beaked,' and is given to the family 

 because their beaks are of considerable length, nearly 

 as long indeed as the thorax. The first pair of legs 

 are set very close to each other. 



IN the accompanying woodcut is seen a magnified 

 representation of Beetle belonging to this family. Its 

 name is Pissodes pini. This genus has the beak quite 

 as long as the thorax, and the body is egg-shaped, 

 but long in proportion to its diameter. The species 

 which is represented in the illustration is a northern 

 insect, and is found in Scotland, where it is plentiful 

 among fir-trees. It is a handsome Beetle, its colour 

 being rich red-brown, variegated with golden spots. 



Mr. Rye describes the habits of this insect in the 

 following words : ' Pissodes . . . frequents pine 

 forests, one species, Pissodes pini, 

 abounding in many parts of Scot- 

 land, where I have seen the female 

 with her rostrum deeply buried in 

 the soft part between the outer 

 bark and solid timber of fresh-cut 

 fir-trees. In the hole thus formed 

 an egg is deposited, the larva pro- 

 ceeding from which eats galleries 

 under the bark until it is full- 



... . Pissodes pini. 



grown, when it closes its retreat 

 with particles of wood, grass, &c., and changes to a 

 pupa. The perfect insects . . . cling very tightly to 

 the fingers when handled.' The name Pissodes is 

 formed from a Greek word signifying pitch, and is 

 given to these insects because they inhabit the fir-tree. 



