,1919.] 221 



little fine wood powder, and no marked flow of resin seems to occur. 

 The larvae feed on the internal woody tissues, chiefly in the cellular 

 jiarts of the scales and central axis, avoiding the more strongly lignified 

 vascular tracts. During the cold weather the infested cones usually get 

 broken off by wind and fall to the ground without injury to the larvae 

 within, which then complete their metamorphosis still inside the cones. 

 The effect of the infestation on the cones is largely determined by the 

 number of developing larvae ; in the usual case of a dozen or more, the 

 development of the cone is rapidly stopped even befoi'e it has time to 

 assume the external appearance of a sound mature cone, so that it 

 remains rather small and retains the gloss}" surface of the incompletely 

 hardened stage ; the cone also becomes very light and the scales never 

 separate, with the result that in the dry weather the infested cone can 

 readih' be recognised on the ground. On breaking open the cones in this 

 stage (which is veiy easily done), they are found to be full of very fine 

 dry w^ood dust. When only a few larvae are feeding in a cone none of 

 these characteristics are so marked and their presence may be overlooked ; 

 the cone scales may open out normally, but apparently fertile seed is not 

 developed. 



Pupation takes place in April almost always in the broad scale-heads, 

 but sometimes in the central axis or other parts, an emergence hole being 

 carried up to the outer shell of the cone but not through it. The pupal 

 stage lasts about two Aveeks, after which the almost colourless adult 

 emerges ; two days later, the markings are clearly outlined in pale mauve 

 colour, and in about 7-10 daj's the coloration is fairly inatured, though 

 complete hardening is slow. 



The earliest and latest dates of emergence actually recorded are 14th 

 April and loth Ma}-, but probably much depends on altitude, etc. 

 Emergence from the cone through oval holes in the scale-head probably 

 does not take place in Nature till about the beginning of the rains in 

 June. As many as 16 adults have been reared from a single cone. 



In spite of three years' collecting in the area frequented by this insect, 

 the adult has never been found in the forest, though it seems very likely 

 that the species visits flowers like its allies (it does so in captivit}-) ; it 

 very readily takes to wing in sunshine and is generally an active insect. 

 Pairing takes place soon after emergence from the cone, and cases were 

 observed where the sexes remained in cojjida for over 24 hours sleeved 

 over a branch of pine out of doors. Afterwards the female, having found 

 a cone to her liking, sets to work to explore the whole surface with her 

 extended ovipositor for suitable crevices in which to deposit the relatively 

 large ova. 



