THE ACACIA BOEER. 125 



CHAPTER LX. 



THE ACACIA BORER. 



(^Piesartkrius mai'^inellus^ Hope.^ 



Order : Coleoptera. Family : CerambycidcB. 



This bandsome tliougli very destructive longicorn is 

 to be found feeding in tbe wood of tbe " Coast Acacia " 

 {Acacia loiigifolia)^ a plant wbicb assists in preventing 

 tbe wasbing away of tbe cliffs, wbicb in many places 

 line tbe sbores of Port Pbillip, but more commonly in tbe 

 wattles. Mr. Best, in bis interesting series of papers on 

 tbe Longicorn Beetles of Victoria^ gives a lengtby and 

 most interestins: account of tins and otlier kinds — tbese 



O 



baving been made by personal observations in tbe field. 

 Tbe larvae, wbicb bore and tunnel into tbe trees, are 

 sbown on Fig. I. of our plate, as also a portion of tbe 

 plant in wbicb tbe grubs are feeding, and a female insect 

 crawding up tbe limb of the tree. Tbe larva, wbicb is of 

 a yellowisb-wbite colour, is footless, and can move fairly 

 quickly wben toucbed. Tbe usual plan adopted by 

 collectors being to first ascertain in wbicb part of tbe 

 bra neb tbe grub is and tben to cut off tbe section, and 

 witb a piece of stick plug up tbe boles at eacli end, and in 

 tbis way tbe beetles are easily reared for tbe cabinet. 

 Tbe eggs are deposited by tbe i'emale beetle in tbe crevices 

 of tbe bark or in tbe wood, and wben batcbed tbe young 

 larvae commence to bore into tbe tree, frequently killing 

 it outrigbt. Tbe pupa (see Fig. Y.) bas nearly tbe form 

 of tbe imago, only tbat it is soft in all its parts, witb tbe 

 legs and antennae tucked closely into tbe sides of tbe 

 abdomen. Tbe males (see Fig. HI.), wbicb are smaller 

 than tbe females, liave tbe antennae beautifully pectinated, 



