490 



FAMILY SCOLYTIDAE 



rays of the sun, and this in spite of the fact that the bark still remained 

 on the tree. This is sutflcient proof that in the plains of India the mere 

 barking of infested trees will be sufficient to kill off the insect provided it 

 has not reached the mature-beetle stage. 



Ichneumon? sp. — I took three cocoons of an Ichneu- 

 Parasitic and ^^^^ ^^ Bracon fly in the pupal chambers of the 

 Predaceous Insects. -^ ^ ^ n- r 



Sphacrotfypes, but was unable to breed out flies from them. 



Niponius andrewesi. — I took specimens of the larvae, pupae, and 

 mature beetles of this insect infesting the Spliacyotrypcs. The insect has 

 already been fully dealt with under 5. siwalikcnsis. A point of interest about 

 the larva is that it will devour its own kind in the absence of other food, and 

 that it also devours the Sbhaerotyypcs pupae. This I was able to prove by 

 keeping specimens together in a glass tube. The beetle is to be found on 

 the wing at the same time as the bark-borer. 



Sphaerotrypes coimbatorensis, Stebbing. 



References. — Stebbing, Ind. For. Mem. Zoo). Ser. vol. i, pt. i, 4 ; id. Depart. Notes, i, 395. 



Habitat. — Coimbatore District, Madras Presidency. 



Tree Attacked. — Anogeissiis latifolia. Anamalai Forests, Coimbatore. 



Beetle.— Small, globular, constricted behind. Black. Head black, depressed below fore- 

 head, rugose. Two elongate golden yellow brushes of hair project from the gula to the mouth. 

 Prothorax constricted in front, the greatest width two-thirds down, anterior 



Description. margin elevate, with a transverse prominent depression behind it ; pos- 

 terior margin produced backwards medianly into an elongate point ; 

 surface coarsely reticulate in basal portion, finely so anteriorly ; 

 a longitudinal median elevate line, often not very prominent, a few 

 short yellow bristles in transverse anterior depression, and on 

 posterior part of elevate median line. Elytra with basal margins 

 convexly rounded and minutely serrate, constricted behind with apex 

 angled ; the last segment of the body exposed ; broadly striate, the 

 interstrial portions set with small sharp elevations, much smaller 

 than in siwalikensis ; the striae do not reach the basal margin, 

 which is coarsely rugose, and curve backwards to meet in apical 

 margin. Elytra set with a short, stiff", sparse pubescence, more 

 abundant apically. Under-surface slightly convex, black ; abdominal 

 segments set with short, sparse, whitish bristles ; legs black, tarsi 

 yellowish. Length, 2.5 mm. to 3 mm. 



The golden yellow brushes of hair on under-side of head are 

 sufficient to distinguish the species from other known Indian ones. 



Larva. When first hatched the larvae are tiny white legless 

 grubs, very convex dorsally, and slightly so beneath. 



To oviposit the beetle tunnels through the bark of 



the tree down to the cambium. This 

 Life History. entrance - tunnel is made by one Beetle and young larva of 



beetle only, whether by the female Spliaerotrypes coimba- 



or male has vet to be observed. On reaching the bast a ^"''^''/■"•^' Steb in .^;w- 



- . *f i:;;eissiis latifolia. 



gallery about a quarter of an inch long, with parallel Coimbatore, "Madras. 



t /6 



Fk; 



