HYMENOPTERA 283 



It attacks many species of insects, and is especially destructive to 

 the pear-leech or sawfly (Eriocampa limacind). 



Family FORMICIDJE 

 Prenolepis longicornis, Fabr. (Europe and Asia) 



Mr W. W. Smith states that this so-called " Sugar- Ant" is a great 

 nuisance in some houses in Nelson and New Plymouth, and is com- 

 mon in both localities. It is also common in the Auckland Province, 

 and is probably very widespread, especially in the North Island 1 . 



Order V. COLEOPTERA 



LAMELLICORNIA 



Family SCARAB/EID/E 



In the Index Fauna Nov<e-Zealandiee y pp. 349-54, a list of intro- 

 duced species of insects is given. Among those named, especially 

 among the Coleoptera, are many regarding which no information is 

 now available, for Captain Hutton, who compiled the list, died several 

 years ago, and Major Broun, who made a great number of the identi- 

 fications, died recently (1919). He was unable, during the last few 

 years of his life, to supply me with the information which I sought. 

 Hence several species are recorded, regarding which no details can 

 now be given. Mr W. W. Smith informs me that he used to send 

 up numerous specimens of introduced insects to Major Broun, but 

 it is not possible to say whether any records of these were kept, 

 or if so, where they are now. 



Aphodius granarius, Linn. 



Mr Wakefield found this European beetle in Canterbury in 1872. 

 He then stated it to be scarce, but it was plentiful in the following 

 year. In 1887 Mr G. V. Hudson reported it as taken in horse-dung 

 in Wellington. Mr W. W. Smith informed me (in April, 1919) that 

 the species was common in Taranaki. A favourite location for it is 

 on the stems of tree-ferns, among the scales and hairs 2 . 



Trox sp. 

 In the Index it is stated: "Reported by Dr Swale." 



1 Mr G. Howes collected an Australian (?) ant at Titahi Bay near Wellington. 

 In connection with the introduction of a lace-wing fly from the Cook Island to 



help to suppress aphides in New Zealand (date?), it was stated that one breeding- 

 cage was found to contain a number of ants, which had got in and destroyed all 

 the flies. I have no means of ascertaining what species of ant was thus introduced. 



2 Pascoe in 1875 recorded an Aphodius "like A. pusillus," and an Onthophagus 

 "apparently identical with the Australian O.fulvolineatus, Bl." from New Zealand, 

 but, he adds, "there could have been no pabulum for such insects formerly." 



