120 Papers. [Aug., 1903. 



caterpillar feeds entirely upon the bark, building for itself covered ways 

 under which it takes shelter. These galleries, which resemble glorified 

 termite galleries, are composed entirely of the excreta bound together 

 with fine silk. These covered ways are very conspicuous upon the bark 

 of the tree, being from Jrd to £" iu breadth externally, and from 9" to 

 as much as 18" in length, and reddish brown in colour. An infested 

 tree can always be told by the presence of these galleries which doubtless 

 serve to protect the caterpillar from the attacks of birds and other pre- 

 daceous foes. The bark is eaten away either in thin irregular-shaped 

 patches in the neighbourhood of the galleries or gnawed down to the wood 

 beneath the covered ways. These latter run up or down the tree or may 

 nearly or quite encircle it. When the insect is plentiful the trees are 

 killed out by it. On becoming full fed the larva leaves the bark and 

 bores right into the wood until it reaches the centre of the tree where it 

 pupates. On maturing, the pupa by means of rows of spines with which 

 it is encircled, wriggles and pulls itself along the gallery in the wood 

 until it reaches the outside; it then pushes through the covered way till 

 about Jrd of its length protrudes. The anterior end then splits down 

 and the moth escapes. Moths emerge between March and July. 



The insect appears to be fairly common in Chatrapur ( Ganjam), 

 Godaveri, Cuddalore, Nellore (S. Arcot), and in North Arcot. In these 

 plnces valuable Government Casuarina plantations exist, formed either 

 with the object of stopping the encroachment of the shifting sand dunes 

 on to the cultivated lands, or on to roads, etc., or to provide wood and 

 fuel for the local population for whom little other wood save that of 

 palm trees exists. It will be seen, therefore, that the attacks of an 

 insect of this nature are of importance since they may ruin the result 

 of many years' work. Unfortunately the insect is not alone but has 

 other insect allies which aid it in the work of destruction. 



In a discussion which followed Mr. Pargiter, Vice-President, stated 

 that when stationed in the Sundeibuns some years ago he had seen 

 a larva which appeared to live and feed in a very similar manner to 

 the Arbela larva described by Mr. Stebbing. 



