208 



FAMILY BUPRESTIDAE 



the deodar-trees. These grubs were feeding parasitically on the buprestid 

 grubs. In pi. xiii a few of these long white grubs pointed at both ends are 

 to be seen in the buprestid galleries. 



When full-fed (some time in the autumn) the parasitic grub spins a flat 

 elliptical paper-like cocoon and pupates within this, as shown in the figure. 

 The winter is passed in this stage, cocoons having been taken in April. 



Fig. 137. — Ephialtes viridipennis, Morley. Fly natural size and enlarged. 



N.W. Himalaya. 



The fly on maturing eats through from the papery cocoon and the bark and 

 escapes. It issues at the same time as the buprestid beetles emerge, and 

 evidently lays its eggs near those of the buprestid beetle, probably depositing 

 them singly in crevices close to those of the Sphenoptera. 



This insect is of course a valuable ally to the forester, and its 

 appearance both in the grub and imago stage should be known to the 

 Forest Officer. 



Hymenopterous Fly. — In April igo8 small silky cocoons of w'hat is a 

 second hymenopterous parasite of this buprestid were taken. These were 

 far smaller than those of the insect above described, and were found as 

 many as five together placed side by side in the one pupal chamber of 

 the buprestid. Each cocoon contained a small partially developed 

 hymenopterous fly which I was unable to rear. The fly is small, blackish, 

 with transparent iridescent wings. 



Woodpeckers {Dcndrocopus hiiiialayensis, Harjitt ; and Gccuins squujiiatus, 

 Blyth).- — The common hill woodpeckers, the pied woodpecker {Dcndrocopus 

 himalayemis) and the scaly-bellied green woodpecker (Gecinus squamatus), 

 and doubtless other species, feed with avidity on the grubs of this buprestid 

 beetle, pecking off the bark in little round or elongate patches as shown 

 in pi. xiv, to get at the grubs in their galleries beneath. The yellow 

 sapwood exposed in this manner all up the length of one side of a standing 

 tree or along the uppermost part of the bark of a felled or fallen tree is 

 easily visible, and is most characteristic of the attack of this beetle and of 

 its presence in the forest. 



