
DINODERUS PILIFRONS. 169 
eae et teen ee Sow re 1 PS Bn 
found in the bamboos, which were very much riddled. (See 
fig. 1, b.) Many of the insects were left in the box with the 
bamboos and continued breeding and egg-laying until November, 
in which month there were many mature beetles still alive in the 
bamboos and at the bottom of the box. : 
From the above it becomes evident that this insect has 
several generations during the year, and my present observations 
lead me to the conclusion that these generations probably 
overlap, and that consequently beetles are to be found, with the 
exception of the colder months, December to March, through- 
out the year, 
That the beetle lays an enormous number of egys and has 
the power of very rapid multiplication is evidenced by the very 
large number of insects bred out from the few small pieces of 
bamboos placed in the breeding cage. 
Localities from where reported. 
Mysore and Dehra Dun (N.-W., India) and the adjacent forests 
are the localities from which the insect has been especially 
reported as doing damage. M. Lesne gives the distribution of 
the insect as India, China and the Philippines, EY (Dr. 
Hammond), Belgaon (H. E. Andrewes). 
Relations to the Forest. 
This beetle and aclosely allied species, D. mtnutus, are serious 
pests of bamboos in India. As long as the bamboo is green 
and healthy it is apparently unattacked, but if through any cause’ 
it becomes sickly whilst still standing in the clump or as soon 
as it is cut, the beetles attack and lay their eggs init, There is 
no doubt that the duration of the life of the cut bamboo for 
building and other purposes is greatly shortened all over the 
country by the operations of this pest. 
The natives have many superstitions with reference to these 
insects, the one most generally believed in being that bamboos 
should not be cut at full moon and when they are full of sap, 
The Madras Board of Revenue instituted enquiries on these 
heads in 18¢8, and a series of interesting experiments were 
made by the Department in that Presidency. The evidence on 
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