408 RnYNCHOPiiORA. [Scolytus. 



which is peculiar to the species ; * abdomen with the segments 

 simple. 



In stumps of birch trees ; rare; Scotland, Tay district, Rannoeh, Perthshire; the 

 species occurs in Northern, Eastern and Central Europe and in the western part of 

 Central Asia; it is often common and very destructive in East Central Europe and in 

 Russia ; it is, apparently, confined exclusively to the birch. 



This species is closely allied to S. destructor, but may be distinguished 

 by its larger size, deep shining black colour, narrower thorax, more 

 parallel elytra, which have a single row of punctures on the inter- 

 stices, the comparatively naked head of the female, the great length of 

 the pubescence on that of the male, the more deeply emarginate 

 clypeus, and especially by the structure and puncturing of the abdomen 

 for in /S'. destructor the third and fourth segments have a minute tooth 

 on their anterior margin in both sexes, and the punctures, although fine, 

 are deep and close, particularly on the fifth segment (Vide Ent. Annual, 

 1856, 88-89). 



S. destructor, 01. (scolytus, F., Geqffroyi, Goeze,-f- Ratzeluryi, 

 Thorns.). Black, shining, with the elytra more or less rufescent, usually 

 more or less suffused with fuscous, the dark colour sometimes taking the 

 form of a cross and dividing off four more or less distinctly marked 

 reddish patches ; in ordinary specimens, however, the colour is not 

 distinctly divided ; head black, longitudinally rugose ; thorax large, 

 longer than broad, with the sides scarcely rounded and gently 

 narrowed in front, diffusely and very finely punctured on disc, 

 more strongly punctured in front and at sides; sutural region of 

 elytra thickly punctured behind scutellum which is much depressed ; 

 elytra with distinct punctured strife, interstices plainly and diffusely 

 punctured (the rows being usually double) ; antennae and legs ferrugin- 

 ous, femora pitchy in middle ; third and fourth segments in both sexes 

 furnished, as a rule, -with a small tubercle. L. 4-5 mm. 



Male with the forehead clothed with short and thick pale villose 

 pubescence, and the abdomen sparingly villose ; last segment with two 

 tufts of reddish hairs. 



Female with the forehead dull, and the abdomen closely punctured. 



In elms ; common and generally distributed from the north Midland districts 

 southwards ; more local and less common further north ; it has not been recorded 

 from Scotland, nor have I any record from Ireland, but it most probably occurs in 

 the latter country ; it is found as far north as the Northumberland and Durham 

 district. 



S. pruni, Ratz. This species at first sight much resembles the pre- 



* This character will distinguish the species from S. pruni and S. destructor, 

 with which small females may be confounded. 



t The name S. G-eoffroyi, Goeze (1777), is adopted by several writers; Bedel 

 adopts & scolytus, F. (1775), which has the priority, but the repetition is very 

 awkward; I have thought it best to retain the ordinary name S. destructor, Ol. 

 (1795). 



