LYMEXYLONIDAfi. 21 5 



haemorrhoidalis, Fabr., beech-mast, acorns, hazel-nuts, and 

 seeds of hornbeam. Some species also attack the young 

 shoots of trees, in order to extract the sap. Lacon murinus, L., 

 has been known to injure the oak in a similar way to Tele- 

 phonts ohscurus, L., and certain species of Corymbites do 

 similar damage, so that the shoots become black, dry and 

 break off. 



Protective rules. — The conspicuous brown larvae should be 

 collected and destroyed when nursery-beds are dug up, and 

 turf in which they are noticed may be burned. It is imprac- 

 ticable to collect the beetles.* Nursery-land full of wire- 

 worms may be dressed with gas-lime, which should be well 

 dug in, and the land left without further cultivation for 

 6 months. The methods of destroying them are very expen- 

 sive, requiring 1,000 lb. of liquid bisulphide of carbon per 

 acre, or 10 tons of salt. Eooks, starlings and plovers devour 

 them greedily. 



Family IV. — Lymexylonidae. 

 Description of Family. 



Imaf/os cylindrical, long and slender. Elytra not curved 

 downwards and slightly gaping at the apex. Antennae thread- 

 like, somewhat thickened in the middle, or serrate, 11-jointed. 

 Fore and middle coxae cylindrical or spheroidal. Tarsi 5- 

 jointed. Abdomen of 5 — 6 segments. 



Generation annual. 



Larvae long, cylindrical, soft-skinned, white, free from hair, 

 and 6-legged. They are generally found in logs of timber in 

 depots and dockyards, or in stems of trees. The beetles fly 

 round the trees and timber in June and July, and lay their 

 eggs in 'cracks in the bark. Chiefly dangerous to broad- 

 leaved trees. 



Lymexylon n a vale, L. 

 (a) iJescriptio)!. — S 8 to 10 mm. long, black ; elytra, abdo- 

 men, and legs yellowish-brown. ? 12 — 15 mm. long, 



• For an accouut of protective treatment against wireworms, rido Miss 

 Ormerod 02>. cif., ed. ii., pp. Ill to 11.^. 



