LARV^ OF THE PEIONIN^. 15 



Gill, of the Bureau of Entomology, who found it working in the heart- 

 wood of Hving willow from Mississippi. 



Range: From Virginia through the southern United States west 

 into Arizona. 



Specimens have been taken from willow, oak, and box elder. 

 Packard records it as injurious to oak roots. 



A number of specimens of Mallodon have been reared which have 

 not yet been definitely determined. One other distinct form of 

 larva is at hand in which the body texture is dull and the inter- 

 segmental skin coarsely rugose. The lateral zone of the prothorax 

 bears a long, fleshy, teatlike projection which is densely pubescent. 

 (Hopk. U. S. collection Nos. 12239a, 12680.) 



Mallodon melanopus L. 



General form and characteristics as in Mallodon dasystomus. The 

 labrum is distinctly broader in front, and covered with hairs nearly 

 to base, while in dasystomus these are sparse, except on anterior 

 margin. Joints of palpi more robust, shorter, and broader, last 

 labial in thickness more than one-half length of last joint of antennae. 

 Anal lobes finely and densely pubescent on inner faces. 



Described from specimens in the United States National Museum 

 collected by H. G. Hubbard at Crescent City, Fla. 



Packard ^ gives a description of this larva, but it is not specific 

 enough to distinguish it from dasystomus. H. G. Hubbard ^ records 

 this insect as boring in the living roots of oak, causing a large gall 

 and often killing the trees or causing a stunted growth. E. A. 

 Schwarz records it in the heartwood of hackberry {Celtis). 



Stenodontes Serv. 



A few specimens in the United States National Museum collection 

 labeled as belonging to the genus Stenodontes Serv. can not be 

 generically separated from Mallodon. The form is slightly more 

 robust and distinctly more pubescent, and the antennal and palpal 

 joints are more contracted and broader than in 21. melanopus. 



Orthosoma brunneum Forst. 



Form cylindric, slightly tapering; texture smooth, shining; body 

 of yellowish or lemon tinge. 



Epistoma shghtly projecting over clypeus at extremities; front 

 projecting in two broad dentate plates of varying prominence. 

 Mandibles short, broadly triangular; cutting edge oblique, truncate, 



1 Packard, A. S. Fifth report of the U. S. Entomological Commission, being a revised and enlarged edi- 

 tion of Bulletin No. 7, on Insects injurious to forest and shade trees. Washington, 1890. pi. 35, fig. 1. The 

 live-oak root-borer, Mallodon melanopus Linn., p. 50-52. 



2 Riley, C. V. Report of the entomologist. In Ann. Rpt. U. S, Coror. Agr. for 1SS4, p. 265-418, pis. 10. 

 Washington, 1884. Dwarfing of oaks by Mallodon melanopxts, p. 410-411. 



