Pakt I.] Stebbixg : Insect Pests of the Himalayan Oaks. 
17 
The pupating chamber is ith inch by fth inch in size ; the egg gallery 
from inches to 2 inches in length and those of the larvae from Ij 
inches to inches ; the number of eggs laid is usually about 20. 
This insect is a polygamous one, and the male pairs with three or four 
females. In the case of the latter typically the egg galleries of two of 
the females are taken in one direction and those of the other two in an 
opposite one, alternate beetles boring in opposite directions after pairing. 
A plan similar to that shown in Plate V, figs. 3 and 4 is thus obtained. 
Practically, however, it will be found that the direction of these egg 
galleries, varies and they may curve considerably ; at times even it will 
be found that three take off on one side and one only on the other ; or 
again one or two may be extremely long and a third very short, the 
fourth being absent. These variations are doubtless due to differences 
in the physical capabilities of the beetles themselves and to variableness 
in the hardness of the wood, such as knots, etc. After pairing with 
the females the male dies in the pairing chamber. 
This beetle is an active little insect leaving the trees in daylight, 
which is most unusual with Scolytidee, and walking and flying actively 
about in the sunlight. 
From observations made towards the latter part of May it is evident 
that a generation of the beetle was just maturing and issuing fi-om the 
trees at this period of the year. This generation of the beetles is prob- 
ably the first generation of the year, fiftd it is certainly followed by a 
second, since larvae from eggs laid by it were taken from the trees in 
J uiie. It is probable that there is at least a third generation of beetles 
during the year, from eggs laid Ijy the second generation which probably 
issues some time in August. This point, however, requires further careful 
observations to be carried out between J uly and the close of the year. The 
eggs of the ^lay generation of the beetle are probably laid in the trees 
early in April by beetles which have either hibernated through the winter 
in the tree or which have passed the winter as larvae in the larval gal- 
leries in the bast, subsequently maturing and issuing as beetles as soon as 
the first warmth of spring makes itself felt. 
Damage committed in the Forest. 
At present I have only taken this insect in full-grown and old oak 
trees, but it apparently attacks both the Mom and Ban oaks. The danger 
