oe 
STROMATIUM? sp. 
Plate XXII, fig. 3. 
Reference :Order, COLEOPTERA. Family, Cerambycide. 
As has been already mentioned the identification of insects 
in their larval or grub stage is by no means easy. I am of 
opinion, however, that the one found boring in sandal-wood 
stems may prove to be that of a species of Stromatium,* a 
genus belonging to the Cerambycide family of beetles. 
Throughout the sandal-wood areas of the North Coimbatore 
forests this insect was by far the most aggressive pest of the 
tree. Ihave as yet been unable toobfain any beetles of this 
sandal-wood-boring grub, of which the following is a descrip- 
tion :— 
Larva.—White with a pinkish tinge, thickish, tapering 
slightly behind. Elongate, consisting of a small head and 12 
following segments. Mcuth parts black, Thoracic segments 
(the 3 segments following the head) yellowish. Length 1 inch 
to 1} inch. Plate XXII, fig. 4, shows this grub. 
Life-History. 
Grubs differing in size but from two-thirds to nearly full- 
grown were found in galleries in the stems of the trees in the first 
week of August. No small larve were found, From their total 
size and the length of the galleries bored, and from the fact 
that no young larve were found in the stems examined, 
I should think it improbable that they spend over a year in 
this stage and the period may be a few months only. Neither 
the pupal nor beetle stages of the pest have been yet found. 
Method of attack.—The larve are to be found either in the 
main stem or the small branches. An examination of these 
latter shows that the grub has often started in the branch 
and then bored down it to the main stem and then down the 
latter. This is not invariably the case, as at times the larva! 
gallery is entirely confined to the main stem, From this it is 
evident that the eggs are laid by the beetle on the bark of 
i eee eet ee 
Vide Injurious Insects of Indian Forests, pp. 73°75, figs.47, 48 , 49- 
D 2 
