72 



FAMILY LUC AN I DAE 



of these insects when it is stated that the larvae hve from three to four 

 years in that state in the interior of the trunks of oaks, and that barely one 

 in ten of the trees to be met with in Nyne Tal does not bear the marks of 

 their ravages. These and larvae of Prionus beetles seem to exclusively 

 attach themselves to the oak as their habitation. . . . They bore circular 

 chambers, penetrating to the heart of the stem, winding into various passages 

 both up and down the trunk. They eject the undigested particles through 

 holes made for the purpose, forming lateral communications with the main 

 tunnels; these particles may be- observed at the roots of the trees so affected 

 in the form of small lengthened chips." 



The Prionus beetle referred to by Mr. Thompson is the cerambycid 

 Lophosternus Jiugelii, whose life history is detailed on p. 274. It is the work 

 of the larva of this beetle which Mr. Thompson appears to have confused 

 with that of the lucanid ones. 



As has been shown, lucanid larvae cannot at present be considered as of 

 economic importance to the forester. 



Lucanus mearesi, Hope. 



References. — Hope, Proc. Ent. Soc. 83 (1842); Ann. Nat. Hist, xii, 4, 364. 



Darieeling. 



Habitat 



Tree Attacked 



Kharani {Syniplociis thcccfolia). 

 Rosters). 



Darjeeling (C. G. 



Flo. ^(^. — Liua/nis 7/u'aresi\ Hope. 



Beetle. — Resembles Itniifer., but is smaller, the 



elytra with a golden or purple reflexion. The 



(5 can be distinguished by 



Description. the different shape of dorsal 



surface of head, the anterior 



margin of \'ertex being nearly straight, the outer angles 



but slightly produced, the margin being only slightly 



sinuate. In the $ the front of head is much less 



coarsely rugose-punctate. Length, $ 35 mm. to 



64 mm. $ smaller. 



This lucanid was 

 re ported 

 Life History, from the 

 Darjeeling 

 forests by Mr. C. G. 

 Rogers, Conservator of 

 Forests. Mr. Rogers 

 stated that it bores into 

 the dead sapwood of 

 the kharani-tree at ele- 

 vations of from 5,000 ft. 

 to 6,000 ft. above sea- 

 S and 9. Himalaya. level. 



