NOTES AND QUERIES. 53 



idea of having the branches projecting is to induce the weevils 

 to lay their eggs on the branches and billets. These branches 

 and billets will be lifted during the winter and burned. 



The plantation is now recovering from the attack, and only 

 a very small percentage of Japanese larch, European larch and 

 Douglas fir will have to be replaced this next planting season. 



Jas. a. M. Kennedy. 



SCOLYTUS RaTZEBURGHII IN SCOTLAND. 



{With Plates.) 



The workings of this rare beetle were first found on a dead 

 standing birch at Stobs on i6th July. The tree had apparently 

 died from the top downwards, and the insect, following the 

 decay of the tree, had been breeding on it for several years from 

 branches to butt. When the tree was felled it was found that 

 a fresh brood had just emerged, and on removing a portion of 

 the bark only a few late larvae and pupae were found. Since 

 collection, however, a few beetles have emerged from the stem 

 near the root. It was found that nearly all the dead birches were 

 attacked by the beetle. Branches broken by snow or wind, or 

 trees weakened by Polyporus betulinus, afforded material for 

 brood purposes. 



There is no mistaking the work of the beetle, for the vertical 

 rows of holes — air holes from the mother-gallery — at once reveal 

 its identity (Plate II.). Search was made for the active beetles 

 and these were found in plenty, in material felled the previous 

 autumn. These logs were by no means dead, as the small 

 epicormic branches were still bearing green leaves. 



The mother-gallery is ij in. to 3 ins. long, typically club- 

 shaped at the base as in the case of Myelophihis ptmperda. 

 The gallery is somewhat irregular, sometimes two-armed, more 

 or less vertical in position, but usually curved towards the apex. 

 The eggs when laid are packed into little niches placed alternately 

 along the mother-gallery about 2 mm. apart. On hatching, the 

 young larvae bore outwards at right angles to the mother- 

 gallery. At this stage the workings are extremely regular, but 



