!• AM I LY C URCULIONIDAE 



411 



The j^all is soft and greenish-brown in appearance whilst growing in 



size. After the weevil has left it it turns dark brown, 



Forest. dries, and becomes hard and woody. The portion of 



the twig with the leaves above it dies and falls off. The 



nature of the damage done is therefore a more or less heavy pruning of the 



young branches when the insect is abundant. This is serious enough when 



Fig. 278. — Leaf-bearing stem of Bittea froiidosa showing the galls made by the 

 Palas-tree gall weevil {Lan'nns 1 sp.). Sections of the galls, with a grub /;/ situ in 

 one of them, are shown. Central Provinces. (E. P. S.) 



its effect on young trees is considered. The attack of the insect has, how- 

 ever, another aspect. The palas-tree is used for the cultivation of the lac 

 insect throughout the Central Provinces, and the twigs infested and killed bv 



