A FURTHER NOTE ON MONOPHLEBUS STEBBINGI. 322 


3. Where the ¢ larva lives and feeds. The observations 
on the life history of the ¢, as far as at present 
recorded, require corroboration, 
infestations accompanying Monophlebus Stebbingi. 
(1) FUNGUS GROWTH. 
It has been stated that a copious sugary secretion is given out 
by the scales, which coats leaves, twigs, and branches of the trees, 
giving them a black and burnished appearance. In this sugary 
secretion a black fungus develops and doubtless helps further 
to close up the stomata and pores of the part of the tree it 
infests. Dr. Butler, Cryptogamic Botanist to the Government 
of India, informs me that this fungus belongs to the genus 
Capnodium which is almost always associated with scale 
insects. The Capnodium was present in three imperfect 
forms— 
(2) Cladosporium Fumago, Fr. and Lk. 
() Trifosporium sp. 
(c) Contothectum sp. 
the three being conidial stages in the various species of 
Capnodium. 
(2) FORMICID4 (ANTS). 
Observation has shown that ants infest the trees upon which 
the monophlebus is feeding and suck the sugary secretion 
emitted by the latter. These ants may be observed marching 
up and down the trees or waiting just beneath a scale insect, 
and, as it emits a drop of the clear sugary excretion, they suck 
it up. The ants taken were submitted to Mr. Wroughton, 
Inspector General of Forests, and he determined them as 
belonging to two genera :— 
(1) Polyrhachis, probably P. simplex (Mayr) (=spini- 
gera, Mayr). This ant forms a nest in the form 
of a silk bag fitted into a hole in the ground 
beneath large stones. 
(2) A Camponotus belonging to the larger group macu- 
latus and probably compressus. 
