60 Indian Insect Pests, [Vol. L 



with the information that they are known siS ^^ sansi insects, and are said 

 to cut the stems of plants/^ This beetle, however, belongs to a family 

 of exclusively carnivorous insects, and it is therefore very improbable 

 that it can have occasioned injury to plants. This insect is often 

 found in large numbers in rice-fields, especially near the sea-shore. The 

 injury referred to has probably been done by a species of Cut worm 

 (Noctues). 



Specimens of three species of Cerambycid beetles, injurious to trees, 

 have been received from the Director of the Forest 

 ^ School, Dehra Uun : — 



No. 1 — has been found in sal [Shorea rohiista) in Oudh, and in saj or 

 sain {Terminalia tomentosa) in Dehra. This insect is ^^vohMj NeoceramhT/x 

 holosericeus, Fabr. 



No. 2 — has been found in sal [Shorea rohusta), and jinghan [Odina 

 wodier), in Dehra Dun. This insect forms a calcareous egg-like case, in 

 which it pupates. It is, no doubt, the insect described by Mr. R. 

 Thompson in his Report on insects injurious to woods and forests (1867), 

 p. 415, pi. VIII, figs. 1 and 2: it has been determined as Plocederus 

 pedestris of White. 



No, 3 — A girder longicorn beetle, of which a practical account is 

 being published in the " Indian Forester ^^^ It is probably Calosterna 

 scabrata, Fabr. 



A block of sal wood from Dehra Dun has also been received, which 

 is simply riddled with burrows of cerambycid larvae (probably those of 

 No. 1). The borers appear to have first lived on the sap wood, after- 

 wards burrowing into the very heart. 



It is hoped to give a more complete account of these insects here- 

 after. 



From the Central Museum, Madras, were received some specimens 

 of a beetle, C(!3JwMfl^rw *;).? which were reported ^ by 

 the Collector of Kurnool to have eaten up the 



leaves of yellow cholum (millet), and thus destroyed the crop in one village 



in his district. " 



From Mr.W. N. Duncan, of Calcutta, were received (21st June I88S), 



Biscuit beetles. specimens of beetles which injure ship's-biscuits. 



These insects were sent to Dr. Giinther, of the 



British Museum, who kindly promised to have them examined. He 



reports upon them as follows : — ^^ All common warehouse insects, 



Silvanus surinamensis, Rkizopertha pusilla, and Triholium ferruginetim, 



^ Indian Forester, November 1888. 



* Vide letter forwarded by the Superintendent, Government Museum, Madras, dated 

 12th October 1888, 



