The Genus Hylastes, Er. 145 
in Aberdeenshire. It shows a striking similarity in habits with the Pine 
Weevil, Hylobiuws, with which it is closely associated. Like Hylobius it 
breeds below soil level in the stumps and roots, and it also feeds on young 
newly planted conifers. 
Hylastes ater has considerable powers of flight, and during the period 
‘April to July may be seen flying in the sunshine, alighting on the road or 
on palings or telephone poles on its way to its breeding- or feeding-grounds. 
Swarming is not limited to a definite period. Like Myelophilus piniperda 
and Hylastes palliatus, H. ater is attracted to the sawn butts of felled pines 
where it is trapped by the exuding resin. 
Hylastes ater is a bast feeder. It bores in the bast and cambium layers, 
penetrating the bark in order to reach them. It may even enter from the 
sawn surface of the stump, boring vertically into the cambium until below 
soil level where it reaches the roots. It prefers the roots to the broader 
and more extensive areas of the stump, a fact which makes it the more 
difficult to find. 
Feeding-ground.—The feeding-ground of H. ater is recently formed 
coniferous plantations, where it attacks the young trees below soil level. 
I have found it on young conifers all the year round. | 
Young plants attacked by H. ater show a distinctly faded foliage, and 
if the attack is severe they die. Several individuals attack one plant. I 
have taken eleven beetles from a single Scots pine plant, the root-stem of 
which was less than $ inch in diameter. The beetles feed in ranks, as many 
as four occurring side by side. In examining plants for injury by JZ. ater, 
it is important that they should be lifted by means of a trowel, otherwise 
the stem is bared of the bark which shelters the beetles and which remains 
behind with them in the soil. In such instances an attacked plant looks as 
if it had been stripped of its bark in the act of being pulled up. Sometimes, 
however, distinct grooves can be seen on the root-stem itself, and these are a 
sure indication of the presence of H. ater. The conifers I have observed to be 
attacked by HH. ater when feeding are Scots pine, spruce, larch, and Douglas 
fir. | 
Insects associated with Hylastes ater.—These may be divided into three 
classes—insects harmful to the forester; insects useful to the forester, being 
predaceous or parasitic on the first class; and insects which are neither 
harmful nor beneficial. 
In the first class four species are commonly to be found, Hylobius abvetis, 
L., Pissodes pin, L., Myelophilus piniperda, L., and Hylastes palliatus. The 
three last mentioned are found on the upper portions of the stump, and only in 
rare instances penetrate to the roots, I have found, however, that on roots 
