126 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



as shown in the plate, the female having the antennae 

 comparatively plain, as shown on Fig. lY., both sexes 

 being able to fly with ease. On Fig. II. is shown the 

 singular " cut-branch," which has been before alluded to, 

 and the presence of which assists the collector in forming 

 an opinion as to what portion of the tree to look for the 

 larvae — the detection by means of the tiny hole by which 

 the young larvse had entered the tree being most difficult 

 for any one but a collector. Jn splitting open the wood it 

 often happens that the insect has emerged from the pupa 

 state, and, if sufficiently developed, a very short exposure 

 to the air and light will enable the perfect insects to take 

 wiug, the same squeaking sound being common to this 

 species as well as to most others of the same family. It 

 is a most remarkable fact that the perfect insect is rarely 

 seen unless artificially reared, and it is supposed that upon 

 emerging from the wood the insect, when sufficiently 

 hardened and strong, crawls up to the topmost branches 

 of the tree, and when darkness sets in, takes fliglit, a 

 peculiarity which is common to most longicorn beetles. 

 In North Queensland the gigantic Batocera, longicorns 

 the larvse of which feed in the wood of many of the native 

 figs (Ficus)^ are known to ascend to the tops of the 

 branches, they having been watched after emerging from 

 the wood. This, it is supposed, will account for the 

 apparent scarcity of some species which are, however, 

 fairly common. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



As the grubs of this beetle feed so voraciously as to 

 destroy the tree, the In-anches of which, being the most 

 frequently attacked, are the first to succumb, indications 

 of their presence being with difficulty ascertained, in 

 which case the affected branches should be at once sawn 

 off and burned on the spot. In performing this operation, 

 however, care must be taken to examine the aflfected 

 branches carefully, as it often happens that the larvse 

 after having destroyed the branches descend into the 



