380 STROMATIUM ? sp. 
— 
either a branch somewhere close to the main stem or on the main 
stem itself. These observations are the result of an examinae 
tion of a number of trees and saplings, some of which were 
entirely cut up for inspection purposes. The tunnel is. 
tightly packed with the digested wood particles which 
are passed out by the larva as it proceeds down the stem. 
These galleries are chiefly confined to the heart-wood of the 
tree, both in the branch and main stem, and the grub always 
bores downwards. | 
Before changing to the pupal state the larva enlarges the 
gallery slightly, and fills the extreme end with particles of 
wood refuse and chips, It then turns round in the free 
Space and changes into a pupa. The beetle on maturing 
bores its way out of the tree by a horizontal hole driven 
direct through the heart-wood, sapwood and bark to the 
outside. The position of this exit gallery with reference to 
the larval gallery inside makes it evident that the larva turns 
round in the pupating chamber before changing to the rest- 
ing stage. Whilst boring its gallery the larva may eat out 
one or two offset galleries to the outside. These are always 
at right angles to the main gallery and are for aération pur- 
poses only. When the larval gallery is confined to the main 
stem there will usually be only one of these. Ifthe gallery 
has started in a branch there will often be two, The insect 
would appear to confine itself to saplings and young poles. 
Between Dhimbun and Kollegal a number of trees and 
saplings were found to be attacked. The following is a de- 
scription of a badly infested one which, together with others, 
was entirely cut up. It is quoted as indicative of what this 
borer is capable. 
The tree had a diameter of 24 inches at the base and a bole 
of 15 feet to the point where the crown commenced. This bole 
had been attacked in several places, the last gallery running 
down to within 2 feet of the base of the tree. Both new and 
old galleries were visible upon splitting up the stem.. These 
were as follows, beginning at the lowest one :— 
tst—New Gallery.—Contained a living grub just about to. 
pupate in the heart of thestem. Gallery about 18 inches 
