• FAMILY SCOLYTIDAE 585 



Specimens of this scolytid were sent to me by the Mycologist of the 

 Mysore Agricultural Department, with the information that they seriously 

 infested Areca catechu trees. 



The life history of this insect, in reference to its attacks on beer-casks, 

 had to a great extent been worked out by Mr. W. F. Blandford. In the 

 latter part of the 'eighties of last century it was discovered that serious 

 damage was being done to beer-casks in India. It was at first attributed 

 to European scolytids of the genus Typodendron, and it was thought 

 that the casks were riddled in Europe. Subsequent investigation brought 

 to light the fact that in some cases the damage was done to the cask 

 either on board ship, as casks were discovered to be leaking on being 

 landed at Bombay, or after reaching India. 



The beetle tunnels down into the wood to oviposit. The females eat 

 out tunnels in the wood which branch a great deal. 



This Xyleborus has acquired a world-wide reputation. It has been 

 known for over thirty years as a destructive beer-cask borer in India, 

 and occasionally causes considerable loss by riddling the staves, thus 

 causing a leakage of the beer.*'- About 1892 it appeared in connection 

 with another industry, that of the sugar-cane in the West Indies, where, 

 under the well-known name of the "shot borer," it has committed 

 serious havoc. In 1900 a Xyleborus was reported in this connection from 

 Bengal, and it is considered to be either identical with, or closely allied to, 

 A', perforans. 



Whether an insect known to be a dry-wood borer will at the same time 

 bore into a plant such as the sugar cane is a point open to very considerable 

 doubt, and a careful examination of all the specimens so reported would 

 appear to be required to set the matter at rest. As the writer pointed out, 

 however, in an article on sugar-cane pests written in 1900, and published in 

 the Indian Museum Notes, l if these should on further examination prove to be 

 identical, it will greatly aid its increase should the wood it affects be 

 lying in the neighbourhood after the removal of the green crop. 



This Xvleborus is another addition to the lengthening list of the sal 



wood-borers. I first took it in April igoi, m a wood 



^^^^Forest" ^^^ ^^P°^ ^" ^^^ Siwaliks, attacking logs which had been 



felled in the cold weather of 1900-1901. Further 



observations are required on its life history in order that a correct estimate 



may be made as to the damage it is capable of doing to stores of wood. 



Investigations in subsequent years tend to prove that the beetle 

 commences its depredations on the timber whilst still green and full 

 of sap. Up to what stage in the drying or seasoning of the timber it 

 will continue its attacks is at present doubtful. The fact that, accord- 

 ing to Blandford, this species attacks the dry seasoned wood of beer 

 casks, that another report makes it a sugar-cane pest, whilst Sampson 



* Vide htjitr. Ins. Ind. Forests, p. 65. f ^"<i- Mns. Not. v, p. 72. 



