44 



FAMILY CURCULIONIDAE 



FIG. 274. 

 Myllocerus discolor, Boh., var. i-ariegatus, 



Boh. Poona. 

 Under-surface of 



I took it a few days later defoliating Dalbergia panicnlata, and also found 

 the beetle on teak leaves, though I am unable to say whether it defoliates 

 this tree to any great extent. 



The following notes were recorded on the process of coupling : The 

 male is smaller than the female. The former gets on to the back of latter 

 in a quick rush, the insect being an active one. The $ then protrudes 

 from the extremity of the anal segment a shining brown chitinous 

 horny sheath, which is bent downwards, scimitar-shaped. The 2 then 



tips her body upwards into a hollow 

 cavity in the convex elytra, a con- 

 siderable space existing between the 

 inner surface of the apical portion of 

 the elytra and the abdomen. The 

 end of the body is bent up into this, 

 as if worked on a pivot near the basal 

 segment, at an angle of 60. This 

 movement causes an opening to occur 



Abdomen of Q tipped up into "elytra! shell to just below the posterior coxae (as in 

 allow $ to insert the penis. diagram), exposing a white inner 



portion of the abdomen, which is wet 



and glistening, as if oiled. When the body is in this position, the $ is 

 apparently able to insert the penis, and this being accomplished, the body 

 of the $ gradually resumes its normal position, the being then firmly 

 attached to the 9, about one-eighth of the brown hard shining sheath of the 

 penis being visible. 



PLATYTRACHELUS. 

 Platytrachelus juvencus, Fst. 



REFERENCE. Myllocerus acaciae, Stebbing, Depart. Xotes, i, 184 1903). 



Habitat. Poona, Bombay Presidency. 



Tree Attacked. Acacia catechu. Bhamburda Reserve, Poona. 



Beetle. A greyish, oblong weevil, clothed 

 above and below with short, fine, golden yellow 



hairs. Rostrum not 

 Description. quite as long as broad, 



thick, and slightly en- 

 larged at its tip. Scrobes (the grooves on the 

 proboscis) deep, and easily seen from above and 

 in front. Antennae placed anteriorly on pro- 

 boscis near its tip, long, and clothed with short 

 yellow hairs. Scape of antenna thickens ante- 

 riorly ; funiculus with first two joints long and 

 equal, third to seventh joints short ; club oval- 

 oblong and jointed. Eyes large. Prothorax broader behind than in front ; scutellum small. 

 Elytra almost flat in front, convex behind, deflexed to a point at their tips ; are set with 

 parallel longitudinal rows of fine punctures. Femora thickened ; third joint of tarsus bilobed, 



X3. 



FIG. 275. 



Side and dorsal view of Platytrachelus 

 juvencus, Fst. Poona. 



