Part III.] 
Beeson : Beehole Borer of Teak. 
5 
allied to the goat moth of Europe so destructive to the willow. It is, 
however, doubtful whether any remedial measures can be adopted.” 
Mr. St ebbing published a short note containing an account of his 
discovery in 1905.* After this date references to the insect occur 
frequently in the Burma Annual Beports, and it appears to be accepted 
that it is found throughout the Province in teak forests. Mr. Hauxwell 
wrote in 1907-08. “ A new species of teak-borer was discovered by the 
writer during the year ; a beetle, a new form of Aeolesthes, was dis¬ 
covered in a boring, while a teak log was being sawn up. Unfortunately 
until the larva and female are found it will not be possible to finally 
identify itand Mr. Branthwaite’s report for the same year on the 
subject runs thus :— 
“ In the Toungoo Division not only was the bee-hole borer (Duomitus 
ceramicus) found in the older teak plantations, but the teak leaf roller 
Hybloea was also noticed in many parts of the division. In the 
Thaungyin Division the defoliating caterpillar (Pyrausta machoeralis) 
is reported to have attacked many of the plantations. The teak logs 
from this division cut up by Messrs Steel Brothers are reported to 
be much damaged by “ Bee-holes ” which render a great proportion 
of the timber unfit for the European market. As long back as 1841, 
Captain Tremenheere mentioned in a report on the Thaungyin Forests 
that the stem of the teak was attackei by a beetle which bored teredo¬ 
like holes and later in 1851, Dr. Falconer, Superintendent of the 
Botanical Gardens, Calcutta, in his report in the Tenasserim Teak 
forests]* recorded that “ logs flawed with holes and clefts from the 
Thoung-yeen in the Shipments made to England is generally consi¬ 
dered to have been the cause oi the bad repute into which the 
Tenasserim teak has fallen at home for ship-building, as compared 
with Malabar teak.” Probably the “ Bee-hole borer ” was then at 
work in the natural mixed forest so that there is grave cause for 
anxiety concerning the timber grown in the pure teak plantations 
made in this valley.” 
[Further mention is made in a report dated 20th June 1845, by 
Captain Guthrie, Superintendent of Forests, Tenasserim Provinces, 
who says of the Thaungyin teak that “ it appears to be somewhat liable 
to small cells, isolated, but which appear on sawing up.” C. F. C. B.J 
In the Annual report for 1914-15 we find a record of the beginning 
of systematic investigation. “ As a result of the tour made by the 
Forest Zoologist in this province last year, steps are now being taken 
for the methodical investigation of the life history of the bee-hole borer 
* Forest Bulletin [Old Series], No. 1, 1903. 
t Falconer, 1851, paras. 38, 41. 
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