218 FAMILY BUPRESTIDAE 



As fully described under the longicorns Ploccederus obesus (p. 295) and 



Batocera titana (p. 367), mango-trees in gardens at 



Life History. Chicacole, in the Ganjam district of Madras, were 



reported by Mr. Cox, I.F.S., in March 1907 as very 



seriously infested by beetle-grubs. As the result of careful observations 

 by Messrs. Cox and T. Reilly, I.C.S., the Sub-District Officer, it was dis- 

 covered that more than one kind of grub was present infesting the trees. 

 Specimens of grubs forwarded enabled me to state definitely that the 

 grubs were buprestid and longicorn ones. At various intervals, sections 

 of infested mango logs were sent to me at Dehra, and placed in a 

 breeding-cage with the object of procuring beetles from them, and thus 

 ascertaining the authors of the damage being done. The investigations 

 carried out met with complete success. From a log sent from Chicacole on 

 18 December 1908, specimens of the buprestid Belionota prasina issued in 

 the breeding-cage at Dehra on 23 April 1909. 



The life history evidently takes a year to pass through in comparatively 

 cold climates such as Dehra. Whether this is the case in Ganjam has yet 

 to be ascertained. With Mr. Cox's first consignment of grubs taken early in 

 March, he sent some buprestid grubs which were probably those of the 

 Belionota. The grubs were small, and may have recently hatched from the 

 eggs laid by the beetles towards the end of February. This would mean 

 that the beetle appears on the wing towards the end of February in 

 Ganjam. If this is the case, it may pass through two generations in the 

 year in that locality. 



The grubs confine themselves entirely to the bast and sapwood, eating 

 out winding, shallow, rather broad galleries in this. They only penetrate 

 deeper into the sapwood to pupate. The damage done is to the bast 

 layer of the tree, and when they accompany the longicorn grubs it will be 

 readily evident that the injury done to the trees is very serious. 



Since the beetle has a wide distribution, it is possible that it may 

 infest other trees besides the mango. Methods of dealing with it and 

 its companions are described on p. 370. 



Sub-Family AGRILINAE. 



Antennal poriferous pits terminal ; antennal cavities broad and situated 

 at some distance from the eyes ; front constricted at the insertion of the 

 antennae; base of prothorax sinuous at the sides and lobed in the middle; 

 tarsal claws toothed or appendiculate. 



A very large sub-family of small or minute buprestids, including 

 species of very considerable economic importance both in forestry and 

 agriculture. 



Besides a large number of smaller genera, the sub-family contains the 

 two very large genera of minute buprestids Agrilus and Trachys. 



