MONOPHLEBUS DALBERGIE. 143 
probably descend the tree, the females laying their eggs in 
crevices of the bark or on the twigs and branches. 
Locality from which the insect has been reported. 
The species is new to science and was discovered in June 
1go1 in the Sutlej valley, at elevations of between 2,300 and 
3,500 feet, feeding upon the Sissu. 
Relations to the Forest. 
The apterous 2 insects do damage to the tree by sucking 
the sap from the leaves, and more particularly the branches, 
thus impairing their vitality. As they increase in size, they 
attach themselves to the previous year’s shoots, the young cortex 
of which they are easily able to pierce. The present species 
was found more especially in the two latter places, but some of 
the insects were still on the older leaves. When the insects are 
numerous the effect of the tapping reduces the vitality of the 
shoots which subsequently die off. In the case of large trees, the 
effect is bad, as their growth is considerably interfered with, but 
more serious damage is occasioned to young saplings, as the in- 
sects, when very numerous, cluster round the leading and side 
shoots and suck them dry. The tree in this case, if not killed 
(and the latter probably only takes place if the attack is renewed 
year after year) is stunted and badly shaped. 
Protection and Remedies. 
At present the best method known for dealing with such pests 
is to ascertain if it is possible to procure and introduce a natural 
enemy, such, for instance, as a Lady Bird beetle. This has been 
successfully done in the case, e.g., of the scale insects on the 
orange trees in Florida and elsewhere, and | have hopes of being 
able, as our knowledge of the subject becomes greater, to work 
out some such remedy for our more dangerous forms of Mono- 
phlebus, one of which has already proved itself a serious pest in 
the sal forests of Dehra Dun and adjacent divisions. 
Points tn the life history requiring further observation :—= 
1. The month in which the young scale first makes its ap- 
pearance on the old leaves of the tree. It will then be 
probably a minute yellow insect. 
