320 



wcatlior, so as to be no longer attractive to it. Thoy ntilize 

 not only the larger branches and trunks l)nt they may be 

 fonnd in the branchlets no more than an eighth of an inch in 

 diameter. They feed first in the bark and sap wood and then 

 make their final borings and pupal chambers deep in the wood 

 where they close themselves in with the finely counninuted 

 wood, as is not uncommon with Cerambycidae. Besides the 

 Lagocheirus and the Neodytarlm, the immigrant Profioplus 

 hanhii (Fabricius) also attacks the Euphorhiae wood and eom- 

 })etes with the N eodyta.rlus for its food The finer branchlets, 

 too small for them to use, are utilized by two or three small 

 Scolytid beetles of the genus Hypothcnemus or its allies. 



The size of the beetles varies greatly, individmils 1)ro('(ling 

 out from tlie main stem and branches being usually larger 

 than those from the branclilets.- Apparently they are also 

 smaller where tlic wood fed u])on has been dried than where it 

 is moister. 



The adults mate soon after euLerging, within 24 hours, 

 and oviposition begins at once Ma!ing is frequently repeated, 

 the female ovipositing wliile accompanied l)y the male and 

 very frequent mating takes place Isetween the acts of ovipo- 

 sition. One female observed mated more frequently than she 

 deposited eggs and was almost constantly surmounted l)y one 

 of several males. She was very much avei'se to leaving the 

 Euphorbia Avood in projX'r condition iilaced with them and 

 when not in copulation was constantly feeling about with the 

 end of her abdomen in search of suitable crevices in which to 

 oviposit. She was observed to ovi])osit iu a ])atcli of shredded 

 wood formed by the larva of Prosupliis und on examination 

 three eggs were found. These were fusiform, dull white, ap- 

 proximately .742 mm. long by 31 S uim. wide, the end by 

 which they were attached being a little more elongate than the 

 other. The distal end is strongly reticulate, the rest smooth. 

 Apparently the eggs are held in place by some slight ceutenting 

 material. 



In mating the male grasps the female with his front legs, 

 which usually hold her near the middle loos, and walks when 



