370 
COLKOPTERA. 
in the tunnel, in a chamber formed by closing up the tunnel at its head 
and tail, or in a cocoon of white hard material derived from the excre¬ 
ment. The length of the life-history is known in few cases but in species 
investigated elsewhere, has been found to be very long, as much as three 
years being spent in the larval stage. This is due possibly to the lack 
of nutrition in the food of the larva, the dry woody material not con¬ 
taining much nutriment; a great amount of it must pass through the 
alimentary canal in order to supply the necessary food and a long 
period is apparently consumed in obtaining this. The larval galleries 
are often very large and extend to a great length through the trunks 
of trees. 
The family is a very large one, principally confined to forest areas 
and of no importance in Agriculture except in special cases. .Few are 
found in the cultivated plains and the 
bulk of the species are purely forest 
haunting insects. The Indian species are 
being described by G-ahan in the Fauna 
of India. 
The family is divided into two sub¬ 
families :— 
Cerambycince. —Head in front oblique 
or sub-vertical, last joint of palpi not 
pointed in front. Fore tibiae not grooved 
beneath. 
Lamiince. —Head in front vertical or 
bent inwards well below the thorax. 
Last joint of the palpi pointed at the end. 
Fore tibiae generally with a groove beneath. (G-ahan). 
Cerambycince .—Gahan makes four sub-families :— 
Prionini. —Distinguishable as a rule by the sharp lateral margins 
of the prothorax. Disteniini . Ten hill forms. Leptuvini. Twenty- 
three hill forms. Cerambycini. Embraces most of our forms but is 
not readily distinguishable in the case of hill forms, except from 
Prionini. 
Fig. 247.— Batocera rubra 
PUPA. 
