INSECTS AFFECTING PARK AND WOODLAND TREES 49 1 



Ephistemus apicalis Lec. This is a very minute, shining black species 

 which occurs under beech bark in February. It is so very small that a 

 hand lens is necessary to distinguish it from mite.-, found in similar places. 



Hister lecontei Mars. A small, stout, flattened, jet-black beetle occurs 

 under the dead bark of such trees as beech, maple, elm, pine etc. frequently 

 in association with various bark borers. The head is minute, partially 

 retracted under the expanded portions of the prothorax. The short, highly 

 polished wing covers are marked with several distinct striae. 



Hister parallelus Say 



Jet-black, somewhat elongated, subcylindric beetles, about y& inch long, may be met 

 with in considerable numbers under the bark of white elm and other trees. 



This species was abundant under decaying elm bark at Albany, Nov. 



3, 1903, and we have also met with it under spruce bark at Davis W. Va., 



associated with a species of Pityophthorus. Dr Hamilton records the same 



species as common under pine bark in southwestern Pennsylvania, and Dr 



Smith finds it not rare under bark in New Jersey, and states that in one 



instance specimens were feeding on sap. This species is not a borer, and 



like its close relatives, is frequently found in the galleries of various wood 



borers, where it probably feeds on partially decaying or decayed vegetable 



matter. This species has been recorded from eastern Florida by its 



describer and, in addition to above named localities, has been listed by 



Ulke from the District of Columbia and Dr Horn records it from South 



Carolina and Georgia. 



Plegaderus transversus Say. This stout, roundish, dark brown beetle 

 less than inch in length, occurs in early spring in damp situations under 

 basswood bark and probably frequents other trees presenting similar 

 conditions. 



Colastus truncatus Rand. This small, oval beetle is plentiful in early 

 spring under the bark of freshly cut maple and butternut stumps, where it 

 feeds on the sap. It is about 3/ 32 inch in length, oval, reddish brown, with 

 the wing covers protecting only the anterior two thirds of the body. 



Cryptarcha concinna Melsh. This species is abundant in early spring 

 under the bark of freshly cut maple and butternut stumps, apparently feed- 

 ing on the sap. It is a minute, oblong, banded beetle about 3/ 32 inch long, 

 with the thorax and wing covers obscurely marked with dark brown and 

 pale yellow. 



