368 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the bark of one tree Sep. 21, 1901. The remaining pupae were nearly 

 ready to assume the adult form and the beetles were to be found mostly 

 within the pupal cells. Many of them had begun to burrow in an oblique 

 direction up and out through the bark. Some had just started the work 

 but in many cases the beetles had nearly penetrated the thick bark, though 

 none had escaped, so far as was observed. 



The grubs of this species evidently become full grown during the latter 

 part of the summer, construct their pupal cells, and transform to beetles 

 before the approach of cold weather. The adults winter very largely in 

 the pupal cells or in the characteristic upward curving exit burrows which 

 they begin soon after assuming the adult condition. 



Bibliography 



1861 Rathvon, S. S. U. S. Patent Office Rep't, p. 620 



1890 Packard, A. S. U. S. Ent. Com. 5th Rept, p. 704-6, 830, 862 



1893 Hopkins, A. D. W. Va. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bui. 32, p. 195 



1899 W. Va. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bui. 56, p. 439 



1903 Felt, E. P. For. Fish & Game Com. 7th Rep't, p. 492-93 



Pytho americanus Kirby 



A small beetle with a black head and thin dark bluish green wing covers may be 

 met with under decaying pine bark the latter part of the summer. 



This species, like its associate, Rhagium I i n e a t u m Oliv., occurs 

 rather commonly in moist decaying pine bark. The larvae, pupae and 

 beetles of these two species may be found in large numbers under the bark 

 of the same tree. 



This insect appears to prefer the bark in an advanced state of decay 

 and, like its associate, can be regarded as injurious only so far as it hastens 

 the decay of dead trees, since it aids in loosening the bark and in exposing 

 the wood to the elements. It has been recorded by Mr Harrington as 

 occurring in Ontario, Can., in shallow cells under the bark of old logs and 

 stumps. Dr Hopkins states that in West Virginia it commonly infests 

 dying and dead bark in pine logs and stumps. He obtained adults in 

 February. 



