409 
CHRAMESUS? sp. 
Plate XX fig. 3. 
Reference :—Provisionally determined as Chramesus? sp. new to the 
British Museum collection. 
Classification :—Order, COLEOPTERA. Family, Scolytide, 
Tree attacked :—Quercus incana (Ban oak.) 
Description. 
Beetle.—Small, globular, very convex above, flat beneath, 
widest across middle of its length, Head small, black, with a 
yellowish brush of hair in front ; antenne brown, angled, ending 
in an elongate club, having several transverse bands across it. 
Thorax black, pentangular in shape, anterior margin straig ht, 
slightly ridged, with a transverse depression behind the 
ridge ; posterior margin produced backwards medianly into a 
point, the margin slightly elevate; surface covered with 
small irregular elevations. Elytra very convex, purplish or black 
in colour, the basal edges curving convexly inwards; striate, 
the basal end rough with close-set elevations, the interstrial 
spaces with series of fine raised points ; the strize curve inwards 
towards apex ; surface of elytra covered with a yellowish 
bloom of short hair. Under-surface flat, black ; five abdominal 
segments visible, clothed with spiny yellow hair thicker on 
sides than in middle. Legs black, tibiz not toothed, tarsi 
brown. Length $th inch. 
This beetle is figured in Plate XXII, fig. 8. 
Life-Fiistory. 
The flight time of this beetle is about the first week in May 
at elevations of 6,500 ft. or thereabouts, It bores into the wood 
of dying or newly dead oaks for egg-laying purposes. The 
insect bores straight through the bark and into tke sapwood 
and then turns to one side or the other and carries its gallery 
right down into the heart-wood at an angle. I have not yet 
found any larve., It is probable that these May beetles were 
laying the eggs of the first generation of the year. At the 
F 
