152 



im. E. r. sTKBBi>'a ox the 



a secoud stage ia the life-liistory of tlie insects, as in the ease 

 of ilT. zeijlanicus of Ceylou, but this has yet to be proved. The 

 branches of the Sal-trees in the forests which are infested by 

 these coccids have curious knotty swellings on them, which I 

 have never seen elsewhere in India upon this tree, and tliis may 

 be due to a second subcortical stage of the Monoplilehus. 

 My observations on this point are, however, not as yet 

 complete. 



Periodicity of Attack. — This coccid has been known for some 

 years in the Siwalik area, but it is only since 1899 that attention 

 has been seriously drawn to it. Each year since then it has 

 steadily increased in numbers and spread outwards, until in 

 1902 tliere was no part of the Siwalik area between the Jumna 

 and Ganges rivers that was not affected, and it was to be found 

 both west and east of this tract. 



Distnhutio7i. — This scale has at present only been reported 

 from Northern India. Its known habitat is (beginning from the 

 west) tlie small Kalesar forest situated on the western bank of 

 the Jumna river in the plains at the foot of the Himalayas. 

 i>om here the insect crosses the Jumna, and is found throughout 

 tlie Sal areas of the Dehra Dun plateau and the Siwalik range of 

 hills, on both north and south aspects, as far as the Gauges 

 river on the east. It is also plentiful in the patches of Sal 

 forest between the Ganges and Jumna rivers, which extend 

 into the plains south of the Siwalik range. To the east of the 

 Ganges its distribution has not as yet been fully determined. 

 I have specimens (identified by myself) and reports of it from 

 the Garhwal aud Phiiibhit districts. It is also plentiful in the 

 Kheri Sal-forests of Oudh. The area which it is at present known 

 to infest may therefore be taken as a strip of country extending 

 some 300 miles from west to east, and 100 miles wide ia a north 

 and south direction on its eastern limit, tailing-off to a 10-mile 

 strip at its western boundary. I have, however, little doubt 

 that it will be found to the east of its at present reported limit. 



Over all the infested area this coccid, from its excessive 

 vitality aud the great numbers of eggs which tlie female ia 

 capable of laying, must be looked upon as a serious pest to the 

 Sal-tree, one of the most valuable of the trees of India, dis- 

 tributed over a large tract of the continent. It therefore follows 

 that the careful study of the life-history and disLribution of the 



