514 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Life history and habits. The beetles are abroad, as previously stated, 

 during May and June, and according to Professors Gillette and Hubbard, 

 the grub is a miner of oak leaves. Mr Hubbard states that 

 the beetle occasionally eats small holes in orange leaves, and 

 leaves us to infer that the larvae are found only in oak 

 foliage. 



Distribution. This species has been recorded by Dr 

 LeConte from the Middle, Southern and Western States, 

 and local lists show that it is presumably generally present 

 Fig. 133 Brachys in various sections, since Dr Smith states that it is common 



o v a t a enlarged 



(original) throughout - the State on oak, and adds that the variety, 



tessellata Fabr. occurs on pine. It has been recorded from the 

 vicinity of Buffalo N. Y. and Cincinnati O., and listed by Ulke from the 

 District of Columbia, and Dr Hamilton states that it is common on oak in 

 southwestern Pennsylvania. 



Serica trociformis Burm. 



This is a small, stout brown and black beetle a trifle less than % inch long. It may 

 be recognized by its black head, very dark thorax, and brick-red, rather deeply striated 

 wing covers, and by its stout, somewhat rotund shape, so characteristic of the allied June 

 beetles. 



This species was somewhat common on the scrub oaks at Karner in 

 June 1901, and much more so the following May and June, when it was 

 exceedingly abundant and large numbers could be captured with very little 

 effort. A few were also taken on poplar, evidently an accidental occur- 

 rence. The insects eat small, irregular holes in the foliage, and fly readily 

 from one leaf to another. One of the beetles was observed in the grasp of 

 a large robber fly, though the specific identity of the latter could not be 

 determined. 



This species occurs in a number of localities in New Jersey, according 

 to Dr Smith. Prof. W. E. Britton found it abundant on young hornbeam 

 trees, Carpi n us Carolinian a, at Westville Ct., May 30, 1 898. They 

 were so numerous that the foliage was completely riddled in some cases. 



