ASH BARK-BEETLE. 



273 



The injury which its breeding causes is greater than that of 

 H. pinipcrda, as the circulation of the sap is more endangered 

 by these horizontal galleries. It is not therefore surprising 

 that quite sound trees are killed by it, or at any rate become 

 stag-headed. 



The larval galleries are short, not very numerous, and 

 terminate in a deeply-cut pupal chamber. This beetle, unlike 

 the preceding species, is said not to confine itself to the borders 

 of a pine-wood, but to be found deeper in its interior. 



M. minor also bores into the pith of young pine shoots in 

 the same way as M. pinipenla. 



d. Protective Rides. 



As for .V. piiiipcrda, but the trap-trees must have thin, 

 smooth bark. 



5. Hi/h'sinus fraxini, Fabr. {Ash Bark-heetle). 

 a. Description. 



Beetle 2 to 3 mm. long, short and thickset ; pitchy-brown 

 or reddish, variegated with short, close- 

 lying, ashy and fuscous scales, forming a 

 series of irregular transverse bands on 

 the elytra. Prothorax transverse, finely 

 granulate ; elytra with fine but distinct 

 punctured striae ; legs piceous with the 

 tarsi reddish, antennae ferruginous. 



— ^ 



',. 132. — Ilyksimis 

 fraxini, Fabr. 



b. Life-historij. 



Flif/ht period at the end of April and 

 beginning of May. 



The eggs are laid on the branches and 

 stems of healthy ash trees, as well as on 

 dead and felled trees. The larvae hatch in May, and develop 

 in July to the perfect insects, which pass the winter in irregular 

 borings in the bark. 



Generation usually single, but has been observed double in 

 Elsass, the second flight from end of August. Common and 

 generally distributed throughout the British Isles. 



F.P. T 



