CHAPTER XVII. 



RHYNCHOPHORA. 



TARSUS four-jointed on all legs, and densely pubescent. The head is 

 prolonged into a beak which may be of considerable length. The group 

 includes the families Anthribidae, Brenthidae, Curculionidae, Scolytidae, 

 and Platypodidae. The last three contain a number of most destructive 

 bark- and wood-boring pests. 



Family ANTHRIBIDAE. 



The beetles of this family have a strong resemblance to longicorns 

 on the one hand and weevils on the other. The larger members of the 

 family will perhaps mostly be found inhabiting the old primeval forests 

 of the country, a few such having already been discovered in these localities. 

 The beetles known are of small size when compared with the larger Ceram- 

 bycidae and Curculionidae, the colour being dull black or brown, with 

 straight, occasionally long, antennae of eleven joints ending in a club. 

 The proboscis is short, square, and blunt, and the tarsi four-jointed. 



The grubs are white, curved, and corrugated, resembling weevil grubs ; 

 but some have, it is said, three pairs of legs on the anterior segments, which 

 are not present in the weevil grub. 



Few species have yet been studied in the forests, but those known 

 have been taken from the bast and wood of trees. Others are reported to 

 live in seeds, whilst some members of the family frequent and breed in 

 mushrooms. It is not possible at present to define accurately the import- 

 ance of the family in the forest. 



Kadin Bilin Forest, 



Xylinades plagiatus, Jord. (?) 

 Habitat. Tharrawaddy, Lower Burma. 

 Tree Attacked. Pyinkadu (Xylia dolabrifonnis). 

 Tharrawadd}-. 



Beetle. Minn-ate, black, mottled with yellowish markings, due to 

 presence of depressions tilled with a dense yellow pubescence. Antennae 



heavy, joints broaden apicaily, last one forming 

 Description. a stout club, black ; legs with patches of yellow 



pubescence on them. Head sloped forward at 



an angle, tuberculate, with a shining longitudinal keel-shaped ridge 

 medianly between eyes ; vertex smooth, dull. Prothoiax widest across 

 .interior half, sides rounded anteriorly, constricted towards base, latter 

 straight ; disk convex, set with irregular transverse series of prominent 

 shining black protuberances, becoming obsolete basally. Sides of elytra 

 constricted behind humeral angle, thence slightly widening to near 

 apex, thence constricted and conjointly rounded ; the apical fourth 

 covered more or less densely with yellow pubescence disclosing areas 

 of dull black ; rest of surface exhibiting longitudinal series of rather 

 scattered elevate shining black points surrounded by dull areas, covered in places with yellow 

 pubescence. Under-surface dull pubescent. Length, 14 mm. 



Fir,. 257. 



Xylinades 



flagiatns* Jord. (?) 



Tharrawaddy. 



