296 INSECTS 



Tenebrio molitor, Linn. Meal Worm 

 This cosmopolitan species has long been in New Zealand. It 

 was recorded in the Index in 1903. Mr W. W. Smith reports it as 

 very common in Taranaki (19 19); while Mr A. H. Cockayne says it 

 is very abundant in imported meals and artificial foods, and is 

 constantly being introduced. 



Gnathocerus cornutus, Fabr. 

 Recorded in the Index (1903). 



Tribolium ferrugineum, Fabr. 

 A cosmopolitan beetle, also recorded in the Index (1903) 



Family Anthicid^ 



Anthicus floralis, Linn. 



Recorded in the Index in (1903). 



Mr W. W. Smith reports this as common in Taranaki, on flower 

 stalks, etc. (April, 1919). 



Family (Edemerid^ 



Nacerdes melanura, Schmidt. Wharf-borer 



In the report of the Agricultural Department for 1902, Captain 

 Broun recorded this species as occurring in hardwood, imported into 

 Auckland from Australia and Tasmania. 



Family Bruchid^ 

 Bruchus rufimanus. Boh. Pea Weevil 



This beetle is commonly imported into the country from Britain 

 with peas and beans. A bag of specially selected peas imported from 

 a London seedsman was submitted to the in 1906 ; every pea contained 

 a weevil. Dr Hilgendorf says that in Canterbury it lays eggs in beans 

 as they develop in the field, but fortunately they are not very common. 



In Britain it is frequently found in springtime on the blossoms 

 of gorse and broom. 



Very common in Taranaki (April, 1919). 



Family Chrysomelid^ 



Paropsis sp. 



Mr Drummond reports (November, 1916) that an Australian 

 species was found in the bright sunshine on granite (?) rocks on 

 Cooper's Knob near Lyttelton at a height of i8cx3 ft. This beetle 

 feeds on Eucalyptus. 



