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Histeridee predaceous upon various Scolytid bark and 
wood-borers, 
PLATYSOMA DUFALI, Mars. 
Plate XX, fig. 5. 
Classification :—Order, COLEOPTERA. Family, Histeride, 
Predaceous upon Tomicus sp. (The Blue Pine Tomicus), 
? Polygraphus minor, in Blue pine. 
Description. 
Beetle.— Elongate, narrow, compact, black and shining. The 
head is provided with stout mandibles and angled brownish 
antenne ending in a club. Thorax wider than long, smooth 
and shining. Elytra elongate smooth and shining in centre, 
with several well-marked longitudinal stri# down either side ; 
the elytra leave the iast two segments of the body exposed, 
these segments being heavily punctured. Under surface of 
body and legs brownish. Length sgnds inch. Plate XX, fig. 5 
shows a dorsal and side view of this insect. 
Life-History, etc. 
This insect is to be found in the beetle stage at the end of 
May at elevations of about 8,000 feet in the North-West 
Himalayas. It was taken from the galleries made between the 
bark and sapwood by the Blue pine Tomicus beetle where it 
appeared to be feeding upon the larvee of this bark-borer. It 
may also attack the larve of Polygraphus minor, of which 
some were also present in the tree. 
There is still much to be learnt about this insect—where 
its larval and pupal stages are passed, whether the larve also 
feed upon the Tomicus and Polygraphus larve, the number of 
generations of the insects in the year and the time taken to pass 
through each. 
