ABERRANT WOOD-BEETLES. 
103 
v 
fFig. 47.] 
V 
C 
plain, grayish-brown species, three- 
tenths of an inch, or a little more, in 
length, with one tooth at the end of 
each wing-cover, is very common at the 
West, where it sometimes excites seri- 
ous apprehensions in the spring, by bo- 
ring into the twigs of apple trees ; but 
bostrichus (Sinoxylon) bash.i.auk, say. - injury is of a transient character, 
larva.- 6, pupa,- c, beetle-after Riley. The R basUaris (pig . 47) ig t WO-tenths 
of an inch in length, black, with reddish antennae, and each elytron with 
a large red spot on the base, and three teeth at the end. The larva of 
this species is usually found in the shag-bark hickory, which it some- 
times destroys, by riddling the solid trunk with innumerable holes. It 
also sometimes infests fruit trees, and has been found in the grape vine. 
Family XXXVII. LYMEXYLONI DzE. 
A small family of anomalous iusects, founded upon the genus T/ymexy- 
lon, Fab., a term derived from the Greek lume — a destroyer, and xulon— 
wood. They are elongated narrow beetles, with free heads, and short 
serrate art tenure ; the elytra sometimes remarkably shortened, and with 
the maxillary palpi often furnished with long branching appendages. 
We have but few N. A. species, all of which are rare. The Lymexylon 
nivale is notorious for the extensive destruction sometimes produced by 
its larvae to the ship timber floating in the docks in the northern part 
of Europe. At the suggestion of Linnaeus the timber was sunk under 
water at the time of the year when the females deposit their eggs, and 
was thus preserved from their attacks. 
Family XXXVIII. CUPESIDiE. 
This is another small anomalous family, containing but four known 
species, two of which inhabit N. America, one is found in Chili, and the 
other in the Phillipine Islands. The form is elongate, - the elytra are 
strong, sculptured with longitudinal ribs and square depressions be- 
tween them. The antennae are filiform, and the head is tuberculate be- 
hind, and attached to the thorax by a distinct neck. The Cupes cinereu, 
of Say, is widely distributed but of rare occurrence. Mr. Say, however, 
speaks of it as being sometimes found in considerable numbers about 
old frame buildings. 
