FAMILY LEPTURID^. tj^ 



When the larva attains its full growth in the branch, which is about half an inch thick, 

 it cuts it off transversely from the inside, leaving the bark alone untouched ; and this 

 slender hold is severed by the storms of autumn, when the branch and larva fall together. 

 The larva does not leave its shelter until the next spring, when it appears as a perfect 

 insect in May and June. 



Elaphidion'? . ( Plate viii, fig. 9.) 



Head small : thorax somewhat flattened, dilated at the sides. Antennae ten-jointed : the 

 tenth longest ; the second, third, fourth and fifth spinous upon the inside. Thorax 

 marked by two sharp impressed lines : legs equal or subequal. Color of the body 

 luteous, from the close pressed hair or nap : thorax brownish, without tubercles or 

 armature : elytra luteous, mottled somewhat by darker spots, narrowed somewhat 

 behind, and terminated by two spines concealed in the hair. Beneath slightly 

 brownish, and clothed witli appressed hair, especially upon the breast. 

 I refer this insect to the Genus Elaphidion, though its generic character may not en- 

 tirely warrant it. 



Lepturidse. 



The insects under the name of Lepturid.s:, or Lepturians, constitute a third family of the 

 Capricorn beetles. The body is narrowed behind : eyes rounded, oval, and rather promi- 

 nent ; and the antenna are situated farther from them than in the other species, and are 

 implanted near the middle of the forehead : thorax widened behind : head connected 

 with the thorax by a narrow neck. Colors bright. 



Genus DESMOCERUS (Dej.). Cerambyx (Forster) ; Stenocorus (Fab.). 



Eyes lunated, surrounding the base of the antennae : head sloped before ; palpi terminated 

 by a large joint in the form of an elongated compressed cone : thorax subquadxate 

 or subcylindrical : antennae setaceous. 



Desmocehus palliatls. ( Plate xvi, fig. 6.) 



Color deep violet or prussian blue : nearly one half of the elytra orange yellow. 



The larvae live in the stem of the white elder, and feed upon its pith. This year (1853) 

 this insect has been very numerous in the vicinity of Albany. 



Gencs RHAGIUM (Fab.). Leptura ( Lin.). 

 ' Body broad, depressed : thorax with spines on each side ; antennae short' (West wood). 



