30 AUSTRALIAN SUGAR-CANE BEETLES AND THEIR ALLIES. 



Our list of feeding-trees, compiled from personal observation, 

 embodies 34 different kinds, typifying twelve separate families, wbieli 

 are given herewith: — Burseracea3 (1), Meliacea; (1), Ampelidete (1), 

 Anacardiaeea^ (2), Legnminoste (4), Combretacete (1), Myrtaeec"e (7),, 

 Enphorbiaceffi (3), Urtieaceffi (11), Scitaminege (1), Palmae (1), and 

 Gramineaj (1). At various times beetles have been collected from trees 

 that were not positively recognised as feeding-trees; they may have 

 been there primarily for shade ; and where any donbt existed such trees, 

 have been placed in this category. In the following compilation we 

 have divided the trees into four classes; the tirst inchides those that 

 are constantly and habitually attacked; the second those that are 

 occasionally or rarely eaten ; the third those in which the beetles some- 

 times congregate to shelter during the day, usually trees with dense 

 foliage ; and the fourth, common trees which are not known as feeding- 

 trees. These convenient divisions are observed right through the list, 

 the number 1, 2, 3, or 4 appearing in parentheses, referring respectively 

 to the classes discriminated above. Thus ''(4) Wormia alafa' signifies 

 that that particular tree is not known to be attacked. 



List of the Feeding- and other Trees in relation to Lepidoderma 

 albohirtum Waterhouse. 



Family DILLEXIACE.E. 

 (4) ^Vonn^a alata R. Br. 



An upright tree, rarely attaining a height of 25 ft., 

 growing along lowland or swampy streams ; bark brownish 

 red and flaky. Leaves oval, rounded at both ends, 4-8 in. 

 long, broad, shining, stiff". Flowers usually 2 or 3 together, 

 o])en, over an inch across, bright yellow, the stamens, &c.^ 

 red. 



This handsome tree fringes many of the creeks in the 

 swampy or low-lying areas near Cairns. 



Family RUTACE.E. 

 (3) Citris aura)itiu))i. Orange. 



Family BURSERACE.E. 



(2) Canarium australicutn F.v.]\I. 



A small to medium-sized erect tree, growing on forest 

 land near scrub ; bark light-coloured, rough, and tightly 

 clinging ; branches thick, marked with broad scars left by 

 fallen leaves. Leaves pinnate, composed of 5 to 9 leaflets 

 united to the central leaf-stem by short stalks, oval, the lower 

 ones sometimes nearly circular, 2-4 in. long, ashy-green, 

 greyish beneath, smooth, leathery, with prominent veins. 

 Flowers small, whitish, in clusters mostly on upper portion 

 of a stalk 3-5 in. long. Fruit olive-like, oval, dark or 

 purplish, f in. long. 



This tree is scattered throughout the forest land ; the 

 compound or pinnate leaves, with their large leaflets, which 

 are greyish beneath, ought to be recognisable characters. 



