50O FAMILY SCOLYTIDAE 



This combined larval gallery does not usually pierce the innermost layer 

 of the bark, a thin lamella of bark being left as a covering. If the bark 

 is taken off the grubs are not seen. Very often a thin lamella of bark 

 also hides the upper portion of the female egg-gallery. 



Thus the plan of this small scolytid, which is by far the smallest of the 

 known coniferous Scolytidae of the Western Himalaya, is easily distinguish- 

 able, although it must be borne in mind that the patch of galleries visible in 

 the bark, which has a darker appearance than the rest of the inner bark, 

 consists of a number of combined pairing-chambers and egg-galleries. The 

 insect always selects areas of bark containing moisture in them, and will not 

 infest absolutely dry bark. 



The first beetles of the year appear about the middle of May, and 

 oviposit at this period. In the third week of June these beetles mature from 

 the eggs laid in May, and lay the eggs of a second generation of beetles, 

 which appear some time in August. These lay the eggs which give rise to a 

 third generation in October, and there may be a fourth, or partial fourth, 

 generation. 



As far as present observation goes it is difficult to estimate the damage, 



if any, done by this tiny scolytid to the tree, the more 



Relations to the especially as it has not been taken in young saplings 



°^^^ ' and poles. It comes in after the blue-pine Tomicus, 



and probably waits until that insect has undermined the vitality of the 



mfested tree. It remains in the tree, however, longer, and will undoubtedly 



attack bast that is no longer fresh. 



The protection and remedies will be the same as described for the 

 blue-pine Tomicus and the Polygraphus beetles with which it is associated 

 in the trees. In getting rid of them this beetle will be likewise killed off. 



Crypturgus sp. nov. ? 

 Habitat.— North-West Himalaya. 



Tree Attacked.— P/nz/,s longifolia. Jaunsar and Naini Tal, North- 

 West Himalaya. 



Beetle.— Smaller than the last ; brown-black in colour ; other- 

 wise resembles C. piisiUns. 1 am uncertain as yet whether this is 

 a ditYerent species or not. 



I first took specimens of this insect in the Tons 

 Valley in Jaunsar in igo2. Subse- 

 Life History. quently I found the beetle in the 



Naini Tal forests. The insect at- 

 tacks the tree when the sap has dried off to some 



Fk;. 327. extent. The plan of galleries is similar to that of 



Crypt iir<j[us sp. nov. t . 



North-West Himalaya. C. pimllus in the blue pine and spruce. 



