FAMILY CERAMBYCIDAE 273 



Archer, CLE., the attack of the longicorn Hoploccnnnbyx sptnicornis in 

 the sal forests of Goalpara, reported by Mr. W. F. Perree, I.F.S., in 

 1905, and the attack of the longicorn Alolesthes Iiolosericea in a block of the 

 sal forests of the United Provinces Terai, reported by Mr. R. Milward in 



1908. 



When full-fed the longicorn grub tunnels further into the sapwood 

 for an inch as in the case of the deodar Trinophyllum, or may go right down 

 into the heart-wood, as in the case of .^olesthes sarta and Hoplocerambyx 

 sptnicornis, to pupate. In the first instance, after making a tunnel of about 

 an inch down in the sapwood the grub eats out a slightly broader elongate 

 chamber parallel to the long axis of the tree and pupates in this. The 

 tunnel in the sapwood and the pupal chamber are both kept entirely free of 

 wood particles and excreta, all of which are ejected from them (cf. pi. xvni 



and fig. 237). 



In the case of the grubs who go right into the heart-wood the tunnels 

 are eaten out to a varying depth. When the grub is satisfied that it is 

 deep enough it also turns and eats out a wider elongate chamber parallel 

 to the long axis of the tree, and, turning round so as to face upwards, the 

 grub pupates here (cf. pi. iv and fig. 25). 



The damage done to the tree by both these kinds of grubs is the same 

 so far as the growth of the tree is concerned. The green bast layer is 

 removed by the larvae, and when they are numerous the tree dies. In the 

 case of the grubs who go right down into the heart-wood the injury is 

 even more serious, as the timber itself is also ruined owing to the 

 numerous tunnels penetrating into the heart-wood in all directions. This is 

 one of the gravest features of the attacks of some of the larger longicorns, 

 such as, for instance, the well-known sal cerambycid Hoplocerambyx 

 spinicornis, which is rightly dreaded in the Assam sal forests, where 

 it works with amazing rapidity and destructiveness. 



Gahan in the Fauna divides the family into two sections, the Cerambycinae and 

 the Lamiinae, which may be distinguished by the following characters :— 



Cerambycinae.— liQ?id in front oblique or sub-vertical, last jomt 



Classification. of palpi not pointed at the end ; fore tibiae not grooved beneath. 



Lamiinae.— UQ^d. in front vertical or bent inwards well below 

 the thorax ; last joint of palpi pointed at the end ; fore tibiae generally with a groove beneath. 



CERAMBYCINAE. 



This group contains some of the most important of the longicorn pests 

 of the forests. As a general rule the larvae feed in the bast and sapwood of 

 the tree, eating out ramifying tunnels here. They only penetrate deeper 

 into the sapwood to pupate. Genera of importance in the forests are known 

 in three of the four sub-families into which Gahan divides the Cerambycinae, 

 namely, Prionini, Disteniini, Lepturini, and Cerambycini. 



No species of the Disteniini have yet been discovered as of forest 



importance. 



S 



9003 



