FAMILY CURCULIONIDAE 



45.; 



Platysoma rimae, Lewis (p. 105). This insect is predaceous upon 

 the Rhyncholus. It is described on p. 576. 



Paromalus sp. nov. (p. 107). Predaceous upon the 

 Rhyncholus. 



Predaceous Insects. 



Beetle. A small, compact, elliptical, shining black beetle, chiefly remarkable for having 

 a number of spiny hairs projecting from the extremity of the ventral surface of the abdomen. 

 Head not as wide as thorax, with a prominent depression on either side commencing in outer 

 upper angle and sloping backwards and inwards to lower third, but not meeting the hind margin. 

 Thorax with front margin deeply concave. A longitudinal depression on each side of the median 

 line, the surface with prominent and fairly numerous punctures. Elytra nearly cover the 

 whole body, only two narrow segments of the abdomen being visible behind dorsally : the 

 surfaces densely punctured, the punctures, however, less numerous on 

 either side of the median line. Under-surface black, abdominal seg- 

 ments reddish, with numerous reddish projecting spiny hairs. Legs 

 reddish, with four teeth on outer edge of the front tibia. Length, 

 3.2 mm. 



Life History, etc. -This beetle is to be found in the 

 mature state in the middle of June at about 7,000 ft. 

 in the North-West Himalaya. It was discovered 

 beneath spruce bark in company with this wood- 

 borer and the scolytid Hylastes hijnalayensis, and it is 

 probable that it preys upon them or their larvae. It 

 was also found some days later beneath blue-pine bark 

 amongst a large number of different bark- and wood- 

 boring larvae. It is an active little histerid with a 

 quick walk. 



Fie. 298. 

 rai'dinaliis sp. nov. 



x 8. 

 North-West Himalava. 



Rhyncholus sp. 



Habitat. -North-West Himalaya. 



Tree Attacked. Pinns Imigifolia. Chaubattia, Naini Tal, Chamba. 



Beetle. Resembles the last. Elongate, narrow, parallel. Shining black. Head with a 

 well-marked rostrum. Prothorax long, shining, and smooth. Elytra elongate, narrow, \\nlci 

 than prothorax behind, depressed at apex ; strongly punctate and striate longitudinally, tin- 

 stiiae deep. Length, 4.7 mm. 



This beetle first makes its appearance in the year early in April. A 



second generation appeal's ;it the beginning of June, 



Life History. and probably other generations later on in the year. 



A tunnel is bored by one of the beetles, probably the 



male, down into the b.irk and outer sapwood of the Pnui^ longifolia. A 

 female joins the male here, is fertilized, and then e.its out a curving tunnel 

 which penetrates down into the wood at an angle. 



Niponius canalicollis (p. 10 ;j is predaceous upon this Rhyncholus. 

 is described on p. 507. 



It 



