420 NOTES ON NEW AND RARE LOCAL BEETLES. 



specimens were actually found in the Trypodendron burrows ; 

 and as the larvae of certain beetles {Homalia) closely related 

 to Acnilia are known to prey upon other Scolytid larvae, 

 it is most probable that the species in question lives on 

 the grubs of its hypothetical host Trypodendron. Of this 

 species Ganglbauer {^Die Kafer von Mitteleiiropd) says " North 

 and Central Europe, under tree bark and in damp rotten 

 wood ; tolerably rare," whilst Canon Fowler (Brit. Col., vol. ii., 

 p. 424, pi. lx,x., fig. 2) records it " under bark ; very rare ; 

 Northumberland district, Ravensworth woods (J. Hardy) ; 

 Scotland, very rare, Tay and Tee districts ; a very few speci- 

 mens have been taken, for one of which I am indebted to 

 Mr. J. J. King, of Glasgow, who kindly gave me one of his 

 only pair." In June, 1890 (Ento. Mon. Mag., vol. xxvi., p. 90), 

 the late Mr. Blatch records taking four Acrulia inflata from 

 under the loose bark of an elm lying in a wet place near 

 Ludlow, this being our only southern record ; whilst Mr. Black 

 writes of taking two examples in June, 1903, near Newton- 

 more, Inverness-shire, from beneath the bark of a fallen 

 Scotch fir, and the beetles in question appeared to be burrow- 

 ing into the wood, which was in a very damp condition*. 

 These two notes do not appear to confirm the idea of a 

 relationship existing between Acridia and Trypodendron, but 

 it is significant that the Scotch specimens were found on the 

 tree exclusively attacked by the Scotch Trypodendron {T. 

 lineatutn), and mayhaps in both cases Ttypodendron was 

 somewhere in the immediate neighbourhood. So, until we 

 learn to the contrary, we are inclined to believe that this 

 species as well as Epnrcea angusiula is parasitic on certain 

 species of Trypodendron. 



* It is only fair to report finding a single Acrulia this evening (7. ix. 06) from 

 under the bark of a birch in a rather damp condition, and not attacked by 

 Trypodendron; but on further search I found a 7'/-y;)f)rfenrfro7i-infested tree not far 

 away from which I took both the Epur(fa and Acridia. 



