25-2 



FAMILY BRUCHIDAE 



Relations to the 

 Forest. 



In the mature state the beetles feed to some extent on the leaves of the 

 host plant, and cause slight defoliation in this manner. In the Eastern 

 Range in Vellore the beetles are said to damage casuarina by eating the 

 needles. They have also been reported as infesting the seed of Cassia 

 mur itura in Cuddapah. 



This insect belongs to a family of seed-eating beetles, and it is probable 

 that a certain proportion of the seed of the Bauhinia, 

 as well as that of Cassia fistula, C. nwntana, and C. 

 ninr itnra, is lost every year from its attacks. The 

 more serious aspect of the case is that these beetles at times multiply 

 to such an extent that they kill off the whole of the seed of the year. 

 It is not unlikely that C. gonagra will be found to attack the seed of other 

 trees, as it appears to have a wide distribution. I was able to identify the 

 insect at the British Museum in 1904 with the valuable assistance of 

 Mr. Gahan. 



Tribolium castaneum. This minute beetle, and its companion T. 

 confiisniii, are often to be found plentifully in seeds infested by the 

 Caryobonis. Its larva is probably predaceous upon the grubs of the bruchid 



(ride p. 239). 



Caryoborus sp. 



REFERENCE. Stebbing, Depart. Notes, 367 (1906). 



Habitat. Bombay Presidency. 



Tree Attacked. Siris (Albizzia lebbek}. Bombay Presidency. 



Beetle. Resembles the last in shape, but is greyish in colour ; 

 the elytra leave the last two segments of the body disclosed. The 



antennae are short, the thorax small and 

 Description. triangular, and the elytra greyish with 



longitudinal darker 



markings. The insect is of stout, thick 

 build. The figure shows a dorsal and side 

 view of the beetle. 



The larva of this beetle feeds 

 upon and de- 

 Life History. stroys the 

 seeds of Al- 

 ia Icbbck. These seeds are 

 large, flat, and squarish, and are 

 contained in a pod 9111. to 12 in. 

 in length. The grub completely 

 hollows out the interior of the seed, 

 leaving only the outer skin intact. When full-fed it pupates within the 

 seed. Mr. G. M. Ryan, who forwarded specimens of this insect and the 

 attacked pods, states that the damage done is very considerable. The 

 figure shows a seed with a mature beetle half-emerged from it. 



Fi<;. 177. Caryoborus 



Bomba. 



