3922 MISC. PUBLICATION 657, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
Species of the genus Leperisinus differ from most other bark beetles 
in their possession of a variegated coloration. The color markings are 
produced by spots or bands of light-colored scales alternating with 
areas of dark scales, producing a rather definite color pattern for each 
species. The body form is rather stout, with the elytra gradually 
descending behind, and 
the antenna has a seven- 
jointed funicle, with the 
club elongate, fusiform, 
and compressed. Appar- 
ently all the eastern spe- 
cles of Leperisinus breed 
by preference in various 
species of ash, and are 
known as ash bark bee- 
tles. They are all true 
bark beetles, construct- 
ing their regular, trans- 
verse, forked burrows 
between the bark and 
sapwood, and grooving 
the latter rather deeply. 
The engravings in ash 
are very similar in ap- 
pearance to those of 
Phthorophloeus frontalis 
in mulberry (p. 315), ex- 
cept that they are larger 
and coarser, especially 
the larger species, such as 
the very common JZ. 
aculeatus Say (fig. 64). 
The species have been 
discussed by Blackman 
is 
5 
vi , Tene (8). 
FIGURE 64—Tunnels of the adults and larval The ash bark beetles 
galleries of Leperisinus aculeatus beneath the ld iat : 
bark of ash. (Natural size.) seldom or never do any 
real damage. They do 
enter trees already weakened by mechanical injury, disease, or fire, 
and they certainly hasten the death of such trees, but no cases have 
been observed where vigorous trees were attacked. The adults often 
pass the winter in the inner part of the outer bark of the trunk of living 
ash trees. The favorite breeding places are in recently cut or br oken 
ash trees, in which both trunk and limbs are attacked. In wood in- 
tended for rustic work the bark will become loosened; however, if the 
logs are evenly attacked, and the bark is later removed, the result may 
be pleasing, evenly engraved material, which can be utilized in very 
attractive rustic pieces. 
Usually the ash bark beetles are kept down to moderate numbers by 
the combined effects of various natural factors, among which may be 
mentioned both parasitic and predaceous insects. The clerid Z’no- 
clerus quadriguttatus Oliv. and others are often seen in considerable 
