1923 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 43 



the head; segment 1 pale yellow; segment 2 light brown, dusky, sometimes yellowish as base, 

 symmetrical in outline, without bristle bearing hump and no bristles markedly enlarged; seg- 

 ment 3, light brown or dusky at apex, light yellow in basal half (the longest joint of the antennae); 

 segments 4 and 5, dusky, brown, light yellow in basal half, 4 about \}/2 times longer than the 

 5th joint; segment 6, brown, about equal in length to 4; segments 7 and 8 (style) brown, the 

 last segment nearly twice the length of the 7th; spines in segments 2-5 usually stout and con- 

 spicuous. 



Prothorax: three-fourths as long as broad, slightly longer than the head, normal; wings, 

 slightly shaded, costa bearing 26-28 evenly placed spines, fore vein 20-22, hind vein 15-18, scale 

 5, interior 1 ; legs concolourous with body, usually pale yellow or slightly shaded light brown, 

 a pair of stout spines at extremity of each tibia, spines on inside of hind tibiae rather weak. 



Abdomen: Normal in shape, in the darker forms there is usually a brown stripe on anterior 

 edges of segments 2-7, dorsal plates also more or less brown, tip of abdomen slightly darker than 

 other segments, without any pale areas on abdominal sternites, spines prominent and shaded 

 brown on lighter coloured portions of the abdominal segments. 



It is well to point out, however, that the species is very variable in colour, 

 as is to be expected in one with such a wide distribution with so many different 

 types of habitat. There are some very complex relationships to F. occidentalis 

 Pergande and F. californica Moulton, which will only be properly settled by an 

 exact morphological study or by breeding. 



SOME NOTES ON THE BIOLOGY OF TWO BUPRESTIDS INFESTING 

 BLACKBERRY AND HAZEL 



Agrilus ruficollis and A. politus. 



C. B. Hutchings, Entomological Branch, Department 

 of Agriculture, Ottawa 



During the past summer we had an opportunity of observing the activities 

 of Agrilus ruficollis upon Blackberry (Rubus villosus), and Agrilus politus on 

 Hazel (Corylus rostrata Ait). In a plot adjoining our field laboratory at Queen's 

 Park, Aylmer, were scattered thick clumps of brambles and hazel shrubbery 

 upon which the beetles were discovered in considerable numbers. A study of 

 these was begun and the notes taken have been embodied in this paper. 



I am indebted to my field assistant, Mr. Reginald Balch, for his help in 

 this connection. 



Agrilus ruficollis Fab. The adults were first seen about the third week in 

 June feeding freely upon the upper leaf surfaces of blackberries and raspberries, 

 and also, sparingly, upon the purple flowering raspberry, Rubus odoratus; a 

 decided preference being shown for blackberries. When approached cautiously 

 the beetles could be taken easily by hand, but if one failed to catch them then 

 they would promptly feign death, or dodge beneath the underside of the foliage, 

 or quickly seek other feeding grounds by short rapid flights. While an occa- 

 sional beetle might be seen on the bushes almost at any time of a bright day, 

 the noon hours and early afternoon when the sun was brightest and hottest, 

 favoured their appearance in large numbers. The method of feeding was for 

 the most part upon the central areas of the leaf surfaces, where holes irregular 

 in size and outline were made, but the edges of the leaves were also well eaten 

 into. The presence of the small, dark, dry excrement pellets upon the leaves 

 were always good indications of the presence of ruficollis. Mating began soon 

 after emergence and pairs were constantly found in copula. 



The adult is somewhat cylindric in outline, and rather active, buprestid, 

 measuring from 7 to 8 mm. long and about 1.75 mm. broad across the wing 

 covers. A striking characteristic of this species is the dull coppery bronze 



