276 



FAMILY CERAMBYCIDAE 



Beetle. — Brick-red in colour, head and antennae sometimes dark brown, the latter twelve. 



jointed. Prothorax almost flat above, with three spines on each side, the posterior ones the 



shortest ; finely and very closely punctate over its whole area. Elytra 



Description. somewhat rugulose, closely and very finely punctulate. Last ventral 



segment of body with an arcuate emargination at the apex. Third 



joint of tarsus with its cleft extending three-fourths of the way to the base, and its lobes 



ol)tasely rounded at the end. Length, S 2 33 mm. to 65 mm. ; breadth, 1 1 mm. to 25 mm. 



Towards the end of July 1909 Mr. A. J. Gibson, in charge of the 



forests of the Bashahr State beyond Simla, procured 



Life History. specimens of a longicorn which has been identified 



as either this species or a new species of the genus. 



Mr. Gibson states that the grubs of this longicorn tunnel into the wood 



of the Quercns ilex and are responsible for the holes and tunnels found 



in the timber of this tree. This seems to be the first record of the insect 



responsible for this work. 



Prionus. 



Both the known Indian species have been taken in the forests. The 

 antennae are twelve-jointed. 



Prionus corpulentus, Bates. 



References. Bates, P.Z.S. 1S78, p. 720, $ ; id. Scientific Results Second Yarkand Mission, Coleopt. 



p. 21, pi. i, fig. 18 2 (1890). Gahan, F.B.I. Ceramb. i, no. 14, p. 15 (1906). 



Habitat— Kalatope Forest, Chamba, N.W. Himalaya. Gahan gives 

 Murree, Kashmir. 



Tree Attacked. — ? Kharshu Oak {Qiicrcits semicarpifolia). Chamba Oak 

 Forests. 



Beetle. — This beetle is 

 readily distinguished from the 

 Lophosterniis, which ,it resem- 

 bles in shape, by the heavy- 

 jointed antennae, each joint 

 being produced laterally into a 

 long process. 



<5 Pitchy brown in colour : 



the antennae are a little longer 



than body. 



Description. 12 -jointed. 



each joint 



from third to ele\enth produced 



laterally into a long process, third 



joint twice as long as first and 



aljout half as long again as fourth, 



fourth to eleventh sub-equal in 



length, twelfth longer than 



eleventh. Prothorax much 



broader than long, bispinose at 



each side, dull with two small 



Fic. 189. — P7-io?nis corpulentus, 'B2ite9,. x S. 

 North-West Himalaya. {F.B.I.) 



