148 



FAMILY BOSTRYCHIDAE 



Heterobostrychus aequalis, Waterhouse. 



REFERENCES. Waterhouse, Proc. Zool. Soc. Land. p. 215, pi. xvi, fig. 3 (2) ($) (1884); uncipennis, 

 Lesne, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. p. 173 ((52) (1895); ? papuensis, MacLeay, Proc. Linn. Soc.N.S.W., 

 2nd ser. p. 154(9) ( : S86) I Bostrychus aequalis, I.M.N. v, i, 34, pi. iii, fig. 7; Lesne, Ann. 

 Fr. 560 (1898). 



Habitat. Dehra Dun, North India; Calcutta; Calicut, Madras 

 (Thurston). Also reported from Sutlej, environs of Simla, environs of 

 Chakrata (A. J. Gibson), British Bhutan; Maria Basti ; Bhamo ; Tharra- 

 waddy. 



Trees Attacked. Sal (Shorea robusta) : Dehra Dun ; Semul (Bombax 

 uialabaricnin) : Calicut; Poinciana el at a : Calcutta (I. H. Burkhill). 



Beetle. Parallel, very slightly depressed, dark brown, often 

 rufous-glabrous. Front of head similar in both sexes, rasp-like, 



without the tubercle present in above- 

 Description, described species ; pubescence short 

 and not thick. Prothorax with pos- 

 terior angles often lobed, and posterior surface showing deep- 

 impressed punctures, the disk with a more or less defined 

 sculpture resembling imbricate scales. Elytra strongly and 

 densely punctate, the punctures arranged in fairly regular rows 

 of striae ; punctation of apical declivity variable ; apical margin 

 turned up with a thickened border laterally, and with marginal 

 tubercles, the inner of which may be hooked. Abdomen with 

 a very dense punctation, rap-like. Second tarsal joint of hind 

 legs much shorter than the last. Length, 6-13 mm. Figs. 88,95. 



Variations occur in size and in the elytral teeth and 

 callosities in the various forms of the males and females. 



FIG. ^.Heterobostrychus Larva.-White, curved, constricted posteriorly, with a 



ac un all s Waterhouse. x c. brownish-black head, and three pairs of jointed legs on the 

 India and Burma. thoracic segments, the abdominal segments corrugated. 



In the year 1898 some specimens of this insect were forwarded to the 

 Superintendent of the Indian Museum, Calcutta, by 



Life History. Mr. Edgar Thurston, C.I.E., Superintendent of the 

 Central Museum, Madras, with the information that they 



committed a good deal of damage by tunnelling into semul (Bombax niala- 

 Iniricum) timber at Calicut. As this timber was converted into tea-box 

 planking (as is the case also in Assam), the destruction committed was of 

 considerable importance. The adult beetle is found on the wing at Calicut 

 in May-June. 



Between the years 1902 and 1909 I took this insect commonly in Dehra 

 Dun in July. The insect tunnels into sal timber in this locality, and is a 

 common pest in the sal rafters of the thatched bungalows in the station. 

 1C very July between the years 1905 and 1909 specimens were taken in my 

 thatched office in the grounds of Sikander Hall> where they issued from the 

 sal timber in the roof. I also took individuals in August and September, 



