418 FAMILY CURCULIONIDAE 



the ground when it has become dry. In the case of the Quercus dilatata the 

 procedure is much the same except that the leaf appears to be almost 

 invariably cut lower down. 



The method of egg-laying was studied by Mr. F. Gleadow, Deputy 

 Director, Indian Forest School, Student V. Subramarian, and myself (for 

 the first time) in May 1901. 



A small grub hatches from the egg and feeds on the decaying tissues, 

 becoming full-grown within ten days to a fortnight. The grub then leaves 

 the roll, which will by now have reached the forest floor, and pupates in the 

 soil. 



The insects oviposit during a period of three weeks in May, but the 

 number of eggs laid by each female has yet to be ascertained. 



Throughout Jaunsar-Barwar and the adjacent Native States of Tehri 



Garhwal, Jubal, and Balsan, this insect was very plentiful 

 Relations to the , T-I , ,1 j ri ., 



Forest in 1901 and 1902. The peculiar method of laying its eggs 



adopted by the insect results in the trees attacked being 

 very heavily defoliated when the weevil is numerous. Trees of all ages are 

 infested, and it is the newly unfolded leaves which are primarily treated 

 in this manner, the older ones being only resorted to after the newer ones 

 have been all occupied. Fig. 281, b, shows a portion of a branch with the 

 upper leaves defoliated by this insect. 



Methods of protection will be the same as those given below for the 

 sissu Apoderns. 



Apoderus sissu, Marshall, sp. nov. 



HKFKKENCES. Marshall, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. Feb. 1913; Stebbing, Depart. Notes, i, 33 (1902). 



Habitat. Sutlej Valley, Kulu and Bashahr States, 2,300 ft. to 3, 500 ft. ; 

 Changa Manga, Punjab ; Kumaun Terai Forests. 



Tree Attacked. Sissu (Dalbergia sissoo). Sutlej Valley; Changa Manga; 

 Chor Galia, Kumaun Terai. 



Beetle. The female beetle is similar in colouring to the male, but is larger, being about 

 a quarter of an inch in length, while the male is one-sixth of an inch. The general colour 



throughout the insect is a bright golden yellow. Head, thorax, and 



Description. elytra are edged with black except at the outer upper edges of the 



elytra, where they are golden yellow. Snout and eyes are black. 



Antennae yellow at the base and furnished with black knobbed ends. Forehead between the 

 eyes black. Elytra channelled, and they have three black patches situated triangularly on their 

 .upper halves, the patch at the apex being at the anterior end ; the elytra are edged with black 

 on their inner margins, and the anterior outer corner of each bears a light brown spot ; they 

 do not completely join at their bases, leaving several body segments exposed. Under-surface 

 of the prothorax between the coxae a darker yellow-brown. Legs bright golden yellow. 

 Fig. 282, a, shows dorsal and side views of the $ beetle, and b, dorsal and side view of the . 



Egg. The eggs are pale yellow in colour, with a glistening surface, and about the size of 

 a large pin's head. I have not yet seen the larva, It will probably be a small, whitish, 

 curved, legless grub. 



