FAMILY BOSTRYCHIDAE 129 



into the leading and side shoots of sal saplings and coppice shoots. This beetle 

 proved to be S. crassum, which hibernates in the hollowed-out shoots. The 

 beetles so taken were fully mature and alive, and were evidently hibernating. 

 This observation I have been able to confirm by subsequent investigations 



(P- 156). 



In April 1901 I made the first of a series of investigations I have 

 carried out on the subject of the insect predators of the bostrychids the 

 first, so far as I am aware, that had been made. I discovered a species of 

 Bothrideres and several Teretriosomas preying upon Sinoxylon crassum and 

 S. anale. This discovery I subsequently communicated to Mr. G. Lewis 

 and Monsieur P. Lesne. Further investigations have shown that a variety of 

 insects follow the bostrychids into their tunnels in the wood, and either prey 

 upon them there or lay their eggs in order that their larvae when hatched 

 may feed upon the bostrychid larvae. This observation, which has been now 

 authenticated by a number of observations and experiments, has an analogy 

 in the case of the Scolytidae and Platypodidae, in which a similar state of 

 affairs exists. 



In the case of the bostrychids, predaceous species of Tillus, Teretriosoma, 

 Teretrius, Alindria, Melambia, Tenebroides, and Hectarthrum are known to 

 have habits of this kind. 



The family is divided by Lesne into four divisions I. Psoinae. II. Polyocaninae. 



III. Dinoderinae. IV. Bostrychinae. 



Classification. Of these only the Dinoderinae and Bostrychinae contain, so far 



as is known at present, species of forest importance in India. The 

 following characters serve to distinguish these two divisions. 



Dinoderinae. Tarsi shorter than the tibiae ; last tarsal joint as long as or longer than 

 the rest of the joints together. Prothorax convex, anterior margin rounded, with the meili:in 

 teeth the most prominent. 



Bostrychinae. Tarsi as long as or longer than tibiae; last joint shorter than the H-M 

 of the joints together ; prothorax strongly tuberculate, the anterior margin with the lateral 

 teeth more prominent than the median ones. 



I. DINODERINAE. 



This division includes the important genus Dinoderus, containing 

 several species, two of which, D. pilifrons and /->. minntus, are of high 

 economic importance. 



DINODERUS. 



Second joint of antennae shorter than first. Posterior portion of pro- 

 thorax punctate. 



Dinoderus distinctus, Lesne. 



REFERENCES. Lesne, A nn. Soc. Ent. Ft-. Ixvi, 325: Stebbing, hid. .Uxs. .V -03). 



Habitat. Dehra Dun Plateau, North India. 



Tree Attacked. Mango (Man^ifcra indica}. Drhni Dun Platr.m. 



9003 



