172 MISC. PUBLICATION 273, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



mmmmmm m 



Figure 79. — The flatheaded fir borer (Melcmophila drummondi) : A, Inner 

 bark showing larvae and concentric circles of frass-packed channels, 

 natural size; B, adults, X 2. 



times attack and kill apparently healthy trees. The adults are from 

 % to y 2 inch long and are metallic bronze or black with an iri- 

 descent sheen. Some of the beetles have bright golden spots on 

 the wing covers. M. pi?ii-edulis Burke works in dying or dead 

 pinyon in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. 



Certain small, flat, nearly black metallic beetles, called firebugs 

 are well known to fire fighters in the pine region on account of 

 their prevalence around forest fires, where they gather in large 

 numbers on the men's backs or bite them on the neck, arms, and 

 hands (102). They appear to be strongly attracted by the smoke 

 of forest fires ; and during conflagrations, owing to some peculiar 

 instinct, they try frantically to lay their eggs on the still smolder- 

 ing trees. Several species of Melanophila have this habit (6), the 

 most common offenders being M. acuminata DeG. and M. consputa 

 Lee, which attack badly fire-scorched or weakened pines, spruces, 

 firs, and other conifers, and even some hardwoods. The larvae feed 

 in the inner bark. 



There are many other species of flatheaded borers that feed in 



