435 
ZEUZERA COFFEA, Neitner. 
THE RED BORER. 
Reference:—Nietn, Edin. New Phil. Journ, XV, 1862, p. 39; cC.& S. 
No. 1588 ; Moore, Lep. Ceyl. ii, pl. 143, figs. 1, 1a, b (larva) 
Steb. Injur. Ins. Ind. Forest, p. 104, fig. 108. 
Zeusera oblita, Swinh. Trans. Ent. Soc, 1890, p. 19 
Zeusera, roricyanea, Wik, Journ, Linn. Soc., vi, p- 177 
(1862). 
Classification :—Order, LEPIDOPTERA. Sub-Order, HETEROCERa,, 
Family, Cosside. 
Tree attacked :—Santalum album.—The Sandal. 
This is the well-known red borer of the Madras Coffee dis- 
tricts and has always been supposed to be the chief sandal-wood- 
borer. I give the following description of the larva made from 
fresh living specimens :— 
Large, stout, flesh-coloured to darkish red, Prothorax 
smaller and hoodelike, yellowish with thin black blotches placed 
triangularly upon it. Mouth-parts black. Dorsal surface of last 
segment dark coloured. This segment is smaller than the 
others and tapers bluntly. Larva is lighter coloured below. 
- 
Life-Histo ry. 
This has been already described in J/njurtous Insects 
(p. 104), and I need not recapitulate here. It may, howaver, be 
mentioned that the moths appear on the wing in February and 
the eggs are probably laid som2where about this time. 
Results of Attack.—The eggs are laid upon the bark of the 
branches or upon that of young saplings, and the boring cater- 
pillar confines itself to these purts. It requires soft woody 
tissue for its food and does not bore into the hard heart-wo0d of 
older trees, as is the case with the Stromatium beetle (see p. 379 
supra). It is a serious pest to young saplings, as these are either 
killed outright under its operations or are so weakened as to be 
thrown down by the wind, In boring the caterpillar hollows out 
a large portion of the interiorof the branch and keeps the tunnel 
quite free from wood particles and excreta. Its work is thus 
