370 FAMILY CERAMBYCIDAE 



As a result of subsequent observations carried on by Messrs. Reilly and 

 Cox at Chicacole, and of my staff and myself at Dehra Dun up to November 

 1909, the serious infestation of these trees by longicorn beetles and their 

 grubs has now been sifted out. 



The matter has been highly complicated owing to the fact, as pointed 

 out by Messrs. Reilly and Cox, that the mangoes appeared to be infested by 

 more than one species of longicorn and some other insects. It was 

 definitely ascertained from the first specimens procured in March 1907 

 that there was at least a longicorn and buprestid at work, larvae of both 

 of them having been taken from the wood. Subsequent investigations 

 and specimens sent to Dehra definitely proved that there were at least 

 two distinct longicorns present, the Batocera titana and Ploccsderus obesus. 

 From the mango logs kept under supervision in the breeding cage at Dehra 

 Dun the following beetles were bred out : The buprestid Belionota prasina 

 described on p. 217 ; Ploccederus obesus, p. 295 ; and A^olesthes holosericea, 

 p. 301 ; so that there are no less than one buprestid and three longicorn 

 beetles infesting the mango-trees at Chicacole. The importance of being 

 fully acquainted with the life histories of all these insects becomes evident 

 when it is remembered that any one of the species by itself is probably 

 capable of killing the tree. 



A specimen of this Batocera was sent to me in September 1909 by 

 Mr. H. W. Watson, who stated that he found it on a Qiicrcits griffithii at 

 Taunggyi in the Southern Shan States. 



Since, as Mr. S. Cox pointed out, the chief object in the case of a fruit- 

 tree is to preserve it, and not to cut it out unless 

 Protection and u i i <. u 



Remedial Measures. absolut ely necessary, it is by no means easy to pre- 

 scribe measures of protection. Of course the most 



imperative one is that those in charge of the gardens should be acquainted 

 with the life histories of the aggressors when the beetles appear and the 

 eggs are laid, and the months during which the larvae feed. A great deal 

 could be done in the matter by a systematic collection of the beetles with 

 lanterns at night. In the case of infested trees, attacked branches should be 

 cut off, split up, and the grubs in them killed. It is not sufficient to 

 merely cut off the branch, as that will not result in the death of the 

 grubs inside. Nor is it sufficient to fell a diseased tree. We have seen 

 that from logs sent to Dehra the beetles were bred out. Seriously infested 

 trees should be cut down during the cold weather, cut up, and burnt 

 When any holes are seen on the stem of a young tree dilute 

 kerosene should be injected through them, and the holes should then be 

 plugged and coated with tar. 



In the case of valuable topes the remedies prescribed on p. 365 for 

 Htitoccra r ubra will apply in a general manner, the cold-weather months 

 being the period during which they should be carried out. 



