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Volume 84, 1956-57
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Genus Coptocercus Hope

Coptocercus rubripes (Boisduval) (Fig 13).

Larva. Form stout, tapering posteriorly. Length, 15 mm. Colour, white, integument shining. Body covered with fine, long, light-coloured setae.

Head (Fig. 13) transverse, widest posteriorly, posterior margin slightly concave. Occipital foramen widest posteriorly. Mandible short, stout, apex rounded, slightly constricted before apex. Labrum transverse Maxillary palp and femur plus tibia sub-equal in length. Maxillary palp with process on palpifer and smaller one on 1st joint, 2nd and 3rd joints sub-equal. Last joints of labial and maxillary palps sub-equal. Epistoma not emarginate. One ocellus close to base of antenna. Genae strongly shouldered, produced into an abrupt pigmented tubercle caudad of ocellus. Hypostoma with one or two setae on each side.

Thorax. Pronotum nearly twice as wide as long, setose on anterior half, striate on posterior half, notal spots very faint. Presternum and epipleurum fused. Eusternum and presternum fused. Two glabrous para-median areas on eusternum not pigmented or rugose anteriorly. Legs 4-jointed, well developed.

Abdomen with pleural discs not evident. Spiracles oval. Three anal lobes. Hind-intestine with no thickening of intima.

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Text-fig. 2.—Ambeodontus tristis. Fig. 8—Larva, head. Fig. 9—Larva, mandible, external face Fig. 10—Larva, maxilla, lateral view showing processes of palpifer and basal joint of palp. Fig. 11—Larva, pronotum. Fig. 12—Larva, hind-intestine, showing sclerotized thickening of intima in lateral (A) and dorsal (B) views. Coptocercus rubripes. Fig. 13—Larva, head. Didymocantha picta. Fig. 14—Larva, head. Fig. 15—Larva, epipharynx. Didymocantha sublineata. Fig. 16—Larva, head.

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This Australian insect was found to be infesting Eucalyptus obliqua at Nelson in 1931. The larvae bore between the bark and the wood and the pupal chambers are constructed in the solid wood. Adults were taken from September to November. The species would appear to infest trees which are already dying from some other cause.

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