FAMILY SCARABAEIDAE 75 



soil at the roots of the tea-bushes showed the beetles to be in lar^e numbers 

 there, it thus becoming evident that the j^rub of this insect feeds upon the 

 roots of the tea-bush. The account of this attack is f^avcn in Indian Museum 

 Notes, vol. V, p. 15. 



In 1895-6 I found the f^rubs, pupae, and beetles of this Serica at 

 the roots of sal-trees in the Bengal Duars, the grubs feeding on the smaller 

 roots of the tree. The grubs and pupae were taken in March, and mature 

 beetles in the soil at the beginning of April. I am unable to say whether the 

 beetles defoliate the sal-tree. 



Serica calcuttae, Brenske. 



References. — Brenske, Ind. Mas. Not. iv, 176; ibid, v, 130. 



Habitat.— Calcutta. 



Tree Attacked. — Rosa sp. Calcutta. 



Beetle. — $ Similar in size to the last species. Front of head carinate. Antennae ten- 

 jointed, the antennal plates compressed and short. The elytral interspaces broadly convex. 

 The posterior thighs broadened apically ; the tibiae strongly broadened behind. Length, 

 8 mm. ; breadth, 5 mm. 



This beetle was found on rose-bushes in the compound of the Indian 

 Museum, Calcutta. Nothing further appears to be known of its life 

 history. 



Serica pruinosa, Burni. 



References. — Burm. Handb. iv, 2, p. 165; Gem. Har. Cat. CoLeop. iv, p. 1120; Coiss, Ind. Mus. Not. 



iii, 1 17. 



Habitat. — Madras Presidency : Devikulam ; Trevandrum. 

 Tree Attacked. — Coffee {Coffea arahica, Linn.). Devikulam, Madura 

 District (A. W. Turner). 



Beetle — Ovate. IJlack or smoky-ljlack ; antennae and tarsi brown. Front of head 

 finely rugose. Prothorax wider than long, sides rounded in front, straight behind : rugose, 

 dull. Elytra striate, the intervals raised and slightly rugose, sparsely clothed with a short 

 pubescence. Under-surface black, rugose. Tibiae of hind legs 

 strongly broadened. Length, 6-7 mm. 



The beetle has been reported as seriously de- 

 foliating coffee-bushes at Deviku- 

 Life History. lam at a height of between 5,000 ft. 



and 6,000 ft. in the Madura Dis- 

 trict. Mr. A. W. Turner found the beetles devouring 

 the leaves of the bushes in June 1892. Nothing further ^xq, xo— Serica ■trui- 

 appears to be known about the insect. nosa, Burm. Madras. 



