BY KUWLAND ILLIDGE. 23 



of its burrow, make a survey of the damage done, and 

 immediately commence repairs by again weaving a web baclv- 

 wards and forwards across the opening with considerable rapidity. 

 This web will not be so strong and thick as the preceding one, 

 but will be gradually strengthened afterwards, the creature being 

 satisfied to rest for a space after having made temporary repairs 

 to its fortifications. 



The larvae as they increase in size must enlarge the chamber 

 they occupy, and this their strong mandibles enable them readily 

 to do. The Charagia nu\ke their tunnels dowuAvards from the 

 opening. Eudoxyla upwards. That of the Charagia seldom 

 exceeds lOin. or a foot, except in the case of the eximia moth 

 larva, where it extends downwards as much as 3ft. or more. 

 The food may consist of the woody matter of the tree, but seems 

 to consist also largely of the flowing sap. Having kept some of 

 them for fifteen and eighteen months in the wood by 

 iunnersing the ends in very wet sand or even water only, many 

 of the sticks so immersed sent out long shoots, and the bark 

 actually grew over the upper cut end, the loAver sending out 

 rootlets. In all these cases the insects thrived very well, where- 

 as when the wood ceased to be living, no matter how moist it 

 might be, they died. Now if they ate the wood much, the sticks 

 would be so eaten out that nothing but shells would be left 

 (many of the wood-eating larvae of coleoptera we have kept have 

 done this, thus proving that the woody matter does constitute 

 their food), whereas the burrow is only just large enough for 

 them to move up and down in with ease ; in fact, if too large 

 they could not do so, for the body segments play the most 

 important" part in their movements herein. The burrow is 

 usually full of sap, and the more there is of this the larger the 

 insect will be. The drier burrows certainly do not produce such 

 fine specimens, hence I conclude that the sap and not the wood 

 forms the more important part of their food. They keep their 

 burrows very clean, and eject all droppings. The only sound 

 noticed made by the larvae is a peculiar ticking noise, seemingly 

 done by knocking sharply with mandibles against side of tunnel. 

 After having lived in the wood for from one to three years, 

 according to the species, they prepare for pupation by sealing up 



