l82 



FAMILY MALACODERMIDAE 



Plateros sp. 



REFERENCE. This species has not yet been identified. 



Habitat. Central Provinces. 



Tree Attacked. Teak (Tectona grandis}. Damoh, Central Provinces. 



Beetle. This beetle differs from 



P. dispallens in both size and coloration. 



General colour 



Description. is a reddish- 



orange beneath, 



and a russet-brown on head and thorax 



dorsally. Anterior two-thirds (basal por- 

 tion) of the elytra, which resemble in 



consistency and formation those of its 



smaller companion, russet-brown in 



colour, the posterior third being black at 



tips, shading off anteriorly into the 



lusset-brown colour. Legs black, tinged 



with russet-brown. Antennae longish, 



serrate, black. Two segments of the body 



project beyond the elytra. Male smaller 



than female. 



Length of male J in., of female i in. 



(measurements of fresh specimens). 



Egg. Pure white in colour and egg-shaped, resembling a miniature hen's-egg. Slightly 

 larger than that of P. dispallens. 



Specimens of this insect were taken on teak-leaves in the teak forests 



of Damoh in August, in company with P. dispallens. 



Life History. The insects were also pairing and ovipositing, the eggs 



being laid in irregular patches of thirty-five to forty in 



each. The life history would appear to be similar to that of dispallens. 



The beetles readily take flight on being disturbed. 



FlG. 123. Plateros sp. $ and $ beetle. 

 Damoh, Central Provinces. 



Plateros sp. 



REFERENCE. This species has not yet been identified. 



Habitat. South Coimbatore, Madras. 



Tree Attacked. Teak (Tectona grandis}. Mount Stewart, South Coim- 

 batore. 



Beetle. Elongate, shining golden-yellow ; apical third of elytra black. Eyes black, 

 prominent, not very large ; antennae eleven-jointed, first four joints yellow, rest black, serrate ; 

 legs golden-yellow. Abdomen canary-yellow beneath. Length, \ in. to J in. 



