MANUAL OF THE NILAQIRI DISTRICT- 505 



which form three figures like the inverted letter V ; legs, the front CH. XXVIII. 

 pair shortest, the second pair longer, and the last pair about as long ^~ ' 

 as the body ; four posterior femora of a pink color, third joint of the CuLTivAiroN. 

 tarsi bifid and the last armed with a sharp and double hook. 



^'' Pupa. — The insect in this stage of its existence is generally found 

 in a roomy cell prepared by the larva immediately under, or only 

 separated by a thin layer of wood from, the bark of the tree. It is 

 shorter and thicker than the larva, and exhibits the antennae, limbs, 

 elytra, &o., disposed in the manner usual in the family. Larva is at 

 first not more than the tenth of an inch in length, and very slender ; 

 when full-grown it is from three-fourths to one inch in length, 

 broadest at the head and gradually tapering towards the other 

 extremity, of a pale yellow or whitish color and fleshy consistence. 

 The body consists generally of eleven segments and is apodous, but 

 thi-ee or four of the abdominal rings are each provided dorsally with a 

 tubercle which aids the insect in moving forwards and in fixing its 

 body while lengthening its tunnel. The head is hard and scaly, 

 flattened above and armed with very powerful mandibles with which 

 it reduces the wood to a fine powder. This forms the food of the 

 voracious creature, and having passed through its body, is compacted 

 behind it in the tunnel and so agglutinated by some mucilaginous 

 fluid that it may be removed like a cast of plaster of Paris. 



" Ova. — The eggs are placed deep in the little cracks which always 

 abound in the bark, and fixed by some secretion that is voided at the 

 time of deposition. The ovipositer is a telescopic split tube, and when 

 not in use is drawn up into its sheath, which terminates the abdomen. 

 It is capable of being protruded to a considerable length, which 

 enables the female to place the eggs out of the reach of danger, and 

 is armed at its extremity with two little round bodies bearing a few 

 hairs, which are probably used to clear out and enlarge the crevice 

 where the eggs are placed. It is difficult to ascertain the number 

 which one female will lay, but the average is probably from 150 to 

 200. The eggs are placed in little clusters containing from five to 

 eight each. Tliey are very small, about the size of a pin point and of a 

 white color. Under a lo'v magnifying power they are found to consist 

 of a pearly white membrane and are of a piriform shape. They 

 gradually enlarge in length as the embryo progresses, until at length 

 the little larva can be seen through the membrane. They are mostly 

 deposited in sunny places and hot sunshine favors, while cold damp 

 weather retards or prevents, their hatching. Heavy showers destroy 

 them, and they are eaten by several minute insects. They are not often 

 deposited and do not hatch i-eadily in shade. 



" General history of the itisect. — When the beetle emerges from its 

 pupa covering, it finds itself in a dark chamber. At this time it has 

 not attained its full size ; the hard case of the body is not so strong as 

 it afterwards becomes, and the colors of the elytra and other parts of 

 the body are dull and imperfect. Accordingly it remains in the place of 

 its birth from three to ten days, until every jiart of its frame has attained 



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