414 



FAMILY CURCULIONIDAE 



the others on either side oblique, ending near outer lower angle. Elytra with basal margin 

 deeply cleft medianly, depressed above base, strongly punctate-striate, the punctures on disk 

 large and deep ; the surface irregularly raised ; constricted towards apex and depressed ; 

 a short white longitudinal line in basal fourth near suture ; a diagonal one halfway up, a 

 transverse irregular one in apical fourth. Under- surface and legs brownish black, punctate. 

 Length (with rostrum), 1 1 mm. 



This insect was observed pairing on 7 April igo6 in the Charduar 



Rubber Plantation in Assam. The insect was taken 



Life History. upon the rubber-trees. I was unable to discover where 



the eggs are laid, but the beetle appeared to be feeding 



on the latex of the plant. 



Paramecops. 

 Paramecops farinosus, Wied. 



Referkn'CE. — Wied. Gevm. Mag. iv, 157 (1821). 



Habitat. — Changa Manga, Punjab. 



Tree Attacked. — Calotropis sp. Changa Manga Plantation, Punjab. 



Beetle.— Elongate with a stout thick body. Black, covered with a white or greyish mealy 

 powder. Head furnished with a long rostrum bent vertically downwards, the antennae placed 



about half-way up ; surface coarsely rugose, the vertex furnished with 

 Description. a fringe of short pubescence. Prothorax broadest behind, the sides 



with a sharp indentation just behind anterior margin which forms a 

 transverse depression across thorax ; coarsely rugose. Elytra wider than prothorax, humeral 

 angles oblicjue, sides gradually constricted to apical fifth, whence they are sharply constricted ; 

 convex, sharply depressed behind ; coarsely striate-punctate, the striae most prominent on 

 lateral edges, finer in apical portion, where the punctures become obsolete. Under-surface 

 coarsely rugose. Legs rather long, anterior femora thickest. Length, 14 mm. 



This insect was reported by Mr. B. O. Coventry in igoo to feed on 



the epidermis of the ak plant {Calotropis. sp.) at 



Life History. the Changa Manga Plantation. In the following 



year and again in 1905 I found the beetle feeding in 



this way and also on the leaves. 



Lefroy in Indian Insect Life has the following note on this insect : — 

 '* The eggs are laid in the rind of the ak fruit, the little grubs boring into 

 the soft tissues and feeding on the developing fibre and young seeds. The 

 full-grown grub reaches a length of half an inch, and pupates in a compact 

 cocoon formed of the delicate fibre. Ten days afterwards the adult emerges 

 and feeds on the leaves of the ak plant." 



Apion. 

 Apion strobilanthi, Desbroch. 



Reference. — Desbrocli. Ind. Mas. Notes, ii, 32. 



Habitat. — Sikkim. 



Plant Attacked. — Kibu {StrobiUmthus pectinatus). Sikkim. 



