BY R. ILLIDGE. 135 



all the smaller branches, and for some time I was under the 

 impression that a new xyloryct awaited investigation. It was 

 not, however, until the month of October following, upon 

 inspecting a chrysalis cut out of its chamber, that it was found 

 to be that of a pyrale moth. Upon this several of the bores 

 were opened out and the larvte examined, which still further 

 confirmed the previous determination. Full confirmation shortly 

 followed upon the emergence of the moths of a not uncommon 

 pyrale, familiar to us under the name of Aphytoceros lucalis. 

 The grubs of this insect are of a pale yellowish white colour, 

 when full grown about an inch long, cylindrical, naked, and 

 16-legged ; head rather small, and (juite unlike that of a xyloryct 

 caterpillar. The food consists of the bark and young wood of 

 the tree, which they eat under a cover composed of frass loosely 

 massed together with silken threads. Besides their tunnel in 

 the stem, they also form a covered way partly round it ; in this 

 tunnel they live through the winter, pupating towards the end of 

 September, or during October. Before pupating, the opening 

 into the bore is neatly closed by an operculum, similar to that of 

 a trap-door spider, and as a further protection the larva spins 

 a strong web in front of itself, leaving just room for the change 

 to the chrysalis. Emergence takes place in about a fortnight or 

 three weeks after pupation. The larvte are tolerably numerous 

 upon the fig trees, and the perfect insects are not uncommon, so 

 that it is rather surprising that the changes of this large and tine 

 pyrale should have hitherto escaped observation. 



In addition to those above mentioned there are other 

 lepidopterous insects which feed upon the foliage of the figs, 

 but as they are not singular to it, a passing notice of one, the 

 butterfly Euploea corinna, will complete my remarks upon the 

 lepidoptera attached to these trees. The larvae of this insect 

 are not uncommon on Ficus Australis and the introduced F. 

 benjamina, but it also attacks Stephanotis, the Oleander and 

 rarely Rhynchospermum, likewise several other plants of the 

 Apocynaceous order. The silvery chrysalides may frequently be 

 seen suspended from the under sides of leaves. 



Amongst other orders of insects which attack these trees, 

 that of the beetles stands first, and some of our very largest 

 prey upon its decaying timber. Notable amongst these is the 

 giant longicorn Batocera Boisduvalii, whose metamorphoses, 

 now familiar to me, I hope to make the subject of a special 



