160 CALLIRHYTIS SEMICARPIFOLIA. 

young larva to the fully developed fly is spent within the 
acorn, On maturing the imago bores its way out, a small hole 
on the outer surface of the seed showing the place of exit. 
This is all that is at present known of the life history of this 
pest. 
Locality from which reported. 
This insect was discovered in an oak forest near Baghi in 
the Bashahr State, Punjab, at an elevation of between 8,500 
and 9,000 feet. 
Relations to the Forest. 
The acorns in a piece of pure Kharshu Oak (Quercus semt- 
carpifolia, Smith) forest were badly attacked by this insect in 
igo1. Under the attack the acorns turned quite black and later 
dropped to the ground. Many were still on the trees on July 5th 
but came off quite easilyin theshand. In most instances, beyond 
the colour and a certain shrivelled appearance, there was no 
external evidence of the attack upon the acorn, this proving 
that the insect was only just reaching maturity. In a few 
instances only a hole at the base of the seed, piercing through 
the calyx, showed where the perfect insect had escaped. Inside 
the acorn was found to consist of a mass of hymenopterous 
cells containing larve, pupz or nearly mature and mature 
insects. In several instances on exposing these later to the air 
they at once flew off, 
The attack of this insect and some lepidopterous allies (to be 
considered later) was most serious, as I estimated that fully 
80 per cent. of the seed over the area inspected was infested, 
and it is not improbable that the percentage was higher. 
Protection and Remedies. 
Wholesale attacks of this nature to the seed of forest trees 
require the most careful study, since they are most intimately 
connected with regeneration of the areas. In the present in- 
stance further close observation is necessary to discover whether 
the pest is itself infested with insect or fungoid parasites. 
I would suggest that over small areas, where feasible, when 
such a large proportion of the acorns are infested by pests of 
this nature, it would be a good plan to sweep up inte heaps | 

