FAMILY SCOLYTIDAE 



601 



Beetle. Front black, sub-convex, just above the mouth are two coarsely punctured 

 depressions separated by a slight longitudinal elevation ; the posterior surface is finely 



reticulate ; prothorax sub-globose, anteriorly 



Description. asperate, transversely gibbous, posteriorly 



finely shagreened and sparsely granulate, 



with a very small cluster of piliferous punctures at the centre of the 

 base. The scutellum black, transverse, and feebly punctate. Elytra 

 equal in breadth to prothorax, about half as long again, sub-parallel, 

 with apex somewhat bluntly rounded ; striate-punctate, the punctures 

 variolose in character ; a double irregular row of punctures on the 

 second interstice up to the commencement of the declivity, where 

 there is a short, sharp spine, the declivous portion having a single 

 row of minute punctures each furnished with a very long hair ; the 

 third interstice has two or three small spines on the declivity, which 

 is depressed on each side of suture ; the striae are sinuous outwards 

 towards the apex. Length, 3 mm. (Descr. Sampson.) 



FlG. 382. 



Xylebortts improbus, 



Sampson, sp. nov. 



Darjeeling, Bengal. 



I received some specimens of this Xylebonts from Mr. B. B. Osmaston 

 in 1903. They were sent with the Scolytoplatypus darjeelingi beetles (p. 607), 

 and were reported to tunnel into the wood of the oak Qnercits lamellosa in 

 the Darjeeling forests. 



Xyleborus adumbratus, Blandford. 



REFERENCES. Blandford, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 115 (1894) ; Osmaston, Ind. For. Rec. vol. i, pt. 3, p. 243. 



Habitat. Andaman Islands. 



Tree Attacked. Padauk (Pterocarpus dalbergioides). Andaman Islands 

 (B. B. Osmaston). 



Beetle. Oblong, cylindrical. Black to piceous brown, thorax sometimes lighter than 

 elytra, moderately shining. Head with front strongly punctate, with a more or less evident 



carina. Prothorax longer than wide, anterior portion covered with 



Description. prominent asperities and long hairs, the central elevation prominent 



and transverse ; basal half very shining, diffusely punctate. Elytra 



as wide as thorax, one half longer ; sides parallel at base, slightly narrowed and rounded 

 behind middle, apex feebly produced in middle, sinuate on either side ; punctate, the declivity- 

 abrupt, punctate, the suture not elevated except at apex, the tubercles prominent and surface 

 clearly punctate. Under-surface lighter in colour, abdomen somewhat darker. Length, 3111111. 



This insect was discovered by Mr. B. B. Osmaston infesting padauk- 



logs stored in depots in the Andumans. Specimens 



Life History. were forwarded to me by Mr. Osmaston in 1908, with 



the report that the insects were riddling the logs. 



The insect was determined as a species of Xylcborus. In a note published 

 on the Andamans Padauk Mr. Osmaston alluded to this insect as follows : 

 " Padauk logs are usually stored in wet depots (fenced enclosures of 



