126 ORDER COLEOPTERA. 



Rhacidm lineatum ( Oliv.). .^v^-I - 



Antenasc short. Thorax narrow, cylindrical before and behind : middle of the thorax is 

 furnished with a pointed wart on each side. Elytra wide at the shoulders, and taper- 

 ing, convex above, with punctures between the smooth elevated lines, and ornamented 

 with black and reddish ash colors, the former arranged in transverse bands. Under- 

 side variegated with dull red, gray and black. 

 The grubs of this beetle burrow under the bark of the pitch pine ; in conscr]uencc of 

 which, it is loosened, and falls off, when the tree dies. The grubs are often numerous : 

 when about to become pupa;, each one forms for itself an oval ring of woody fibres. The 

 beetle is matured before the close of winter, but remains till the spring opens (HAHsie, 

 Injurious Insects of Massachusetts, pp. 92 - 93). 



I have found the larva imder the bark of the yellow pine and white pine, where it is 

 readily recognized by forming, at the period of its transformation, an oval cavity, the 

 border of which is made of woody fibres. The habits of the European Bhogium indagctcr 

 ( Fabr.), are similar. This insect is usually about seven-tenths of an inch long, although 

 it is sometimes found no longer than four-tenths. Its color is gray, marked with black : 

 the surface is somewhat downy ; the antennae are short ; the elytra wide at the base, and 

 having several raised lines ; and the prothorax has a tubercle on each side. The perfect 

 Insect appears in May ( Haldeman, MS. Notes). 



PoRPURicENus HUMEaALis (Fab.). (Plate xvi, fig. 4.) 



Block. Elytra marked with a rightangled triangular scarlet spot situated upon the base of 

 ^ the elytron, the hypothenuse passing by the side of the scutel. Thorax, neck sculp- 

 tured and rugose, and furnished with a lateral pointed tubercle and two elevated 

 roughened ridges or eminences on the median line. Length variable : female, six- 

 tenths of an inch ; male, less than half an inch. 

 This insect seems to be rare in the vicinity of Albany, as not more than three op four 

 specimens have been taken in the last three or four years. 



Genus LEPTURA. 



Antennse elongate, basal joint robust, second minute ; eyes narrowed above. Head ex- 

 serted : thorax convex, unarmed. Insect narrowed behind from the base of the elytra 

 to the extremity of the abdomen : legs elongate, slender. 



LiPTtJHA viTTATA ( OHv.). ( Plate viii, fig. 13.) 



Oolor black or very dark brown : head, thorax and legs black : elytra punctured black, 



and marked with a rufous stripe extending from their base to two-thirds of their 



length, and occupying the middle of the elytrum. Beneath, the insect is clothed with 



•hort gray appressed hairs. 



