31 



caused by the efforts of the trees to repair the injuries they have suffered. . . . The 

 grubs attain their full size by the 20th of July, soon become pupae, and are changed into 

 beetles and leave the trees early in September. Thus the existence of the species is limited 

 to one year." 



Space will not permit me to speak of the other members of this interesting and beau- 

 tiful family — nobilis, luscus, campestris, undulatus, longipes, etc., each one of which is 

 well worthy of a full description and biography. 



Some Notes on Coleoptera for Beginners. 



By C. G. Siewers, Newport, Ky. 



In answer to a query in the March Entomologist as to the rearing of larvae of wood- 

 boring beetles, I would say that it is very difficult to do after they have been removed 

 from their burrows. Try damp sawdust of the same wood. The better plan where in- 

 fested timber is found, is to saw into short lengths, pack in tight box and cover with a 

 wet cloth. Many kinds cannot bore in dry wood. Many Buprestidse perish from in- 

 ability to perforate the bark of dead trees which has sprung loose from the wood and be- 

 come hardened by the sun. They then fall an easy prey to ants, roaches and caribs. 

 Where wild grape vines abound, cut them off at the ground in May or J une, and let them 

 hang ; in early spring saw them into short lengths and box them, and some rare beetles 

 may be taken. Grubs under stones put away in the same ground in tin or glass, kept 

 moist ; found under logs, use the log debris, and add some sawdust. Finding two very large 

 grubs with black heads under a log late in the fall, I put them away in a tin can with log 

 refuse and sawdust, and found a male ash beetle and a dead pupa in July. This beetle, 

 Xyloryctes satyrus (Fab.), is taken under the roots of ash trees, and falls a victim to its 

 curiosity, for if you begin to dig for them they will come out to see what is going on. I 

 took fifteen from one tree in that way. April and May are generally devoted to search- 

 ing in logs and dead trees for beetles, when many nymphs can be collected, which can 

 generally be hatched out in a week or two. June and J uly are the great beating months. 

 I have discarded the beating net for the inverted umbrella, and so will any one who has 

 tried both, as beating the low limbs of trees around the edges of wood will yield tenfold 

 the quantity and variety that bush and weed beating will. Woods protected from cattle 

 and hogs, and full of vines and bushes, are best. Little is got by beating in the interior 

 of woods. Insect life swarms along the edges. Examine the trunks of trees, and where 

 flat stones abound scoop out cavities under them, where Cychrus and various caribs may 

 be trapped; Cychrus are snail-feeders, and some bait traps with snails strung on strings 

 through the shell. The beans of the honey locust yield Sj^ermophagus Robinioz ; the fun- 

 gus puff-ball, Lycoperdina ferruginea; all kinds of fungus swarm with beetles, also Staph- 

 ilinidcB. Pselaphidce are taken on the under side of stones, but mostly by sifting around 

 decayed stumps on to a white cloth. Beat wild plum trees and haws when, in blossom. 

 Where beetles are found, by carefully replacing stones and bark more may be taken, as 

 their scent remains. I was glad to take a single specimen of that rare and handsome 

 longicorn, Dryobius sexfasciatus, in one season, but in the summer of 1878 I found five 

 under one piece of bark of beech ; so last season, when I found a small colony under bark 

 on a dead maple, I tied the bark on again, and took seventeen more at different visits. 

 Various beetles are also found on fruit and flowers. In closing, I would advise beginners 

 to put small insects on paper slips or wedges, and not pin them with a JSo. 2 pin, as it 

 cannot be inserted in cork without plyers, and is very liable to buckle. No. 3 enters cork 

 readily, is not too large for paper slips, and about right for larger specimens. Further, do 

 / not use Spaulding's glue ; it will turn your w.edges brown, as it contains a discolouring 

 acid. Make your own liquid glue — better at one-fourth the cost. Dissolve light coloured 

 glue or isinglass in the usual way : then, while hot, stir in alcohol, or a light coloured, 

 strained vinegar, till it is thin enough, and decant into a bottle. It can then be thinned 

 with a little water, or by warming. 



