ejiurt of the Proceedi^igs of t^ Third Entomological Meeting Held at Pitsa, 3rd to ISth February 1919 1. '^iriTH Ti-:i-i2 com:p»i-.imhimts o^ tfie ,y£A^'J^2:^^~-2.'EA Hj ?-,2-M- "J-v REPORT Vk^ OF THE €Hi^roceedings of the ^hird Entomological ^M^eeting Held at Pusa on the 3rd to 15th February 1919 In Three Volumes Edited by T. BAINBRIGGE FLETCHER, r.n., f.l.s., f.e.s., f.z.s.. > • Imperial Entomologist VOLUME I ■'^^^y ''^•AR 23 1921 ^. ^**i, Oiia! jklase :^-^ ' CALCUTTA SUPERINTENDENT GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA 1920 / / Price per complete set of 3 Vols. Rs. 17 As. 8. » Agents for the Sale of Books Published by the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, Calcutta. IN EUROPE. Constable & Co., 10, Orange Street, Leicester Sqviare, London, W.C. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 68-74, Carter Lane, B.C., and 25, Museum Street, London, W.C. Bernard Quaritch, 11, Grafton Street, New Bond Street, London, W. P. S. King & Sons, 2 & 4, Great Smith Street, Westminster, London, S.W. H. 9. 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Supdt., American Baptist Mission Press, Kangoon. Manai^'tr. the " Hitavada " Nagpur. S. C. Talukdar, Proprietor, Students and Com- pany, Cooch Behar. A. M. & J. Ferguson, Ceylon. Manager, Educational Book Dep6ts, Nagpur and Jubbulpore.* Manager of the Imperial Book DepOt, 63, Chandney Chauk Street, Delhi. Manager, " The Agra Medical Hall and Co- operative Association, Ltd." (Successors to A. John ^is at Shillong. fruits attacked by grubs of Dysccms malignus at Shillong 8. Linda nigro-fattntn, girdling apple twigs at Shillong 9. South Indian Insects ....... 10. ,,,,,, ........ 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 21. 25. 26. 27. 28. Apple Phikaithns ramnlcrishncv, Alcides pictus. Jak Weevil ; Rubber Scolytid ; Rubber Platypodid Alcides bubo (Coloured) ...... Shot-hole Borer [Xyleborus Jornicatns) of Castor stem at Bangalore \ Cirphis albistigma (Coloured) ..... Org y ia postica (Coloured) ...... Bitter-gourd-vine Gall-fly ...... Purolnia sp.; Woolly Aphid on bamboo Pancluttothrips indicus on a,vvov{-voot\Q^'vcs .. A Burmese fishing basket {Dalu) ..... Gryllotalpa africana ....... Diagrammatic figure to show how mole-crickets feed Anomaln biharensis (C. S. 1744) ..... Adoretus caliginosus (C. S. 1793) ..... Autoserica sp. (C. S. 1654) ; Dra-steriu,i sp. Diagrammatic figure to show how Melolonthid grubs feed Weekly rainfall, mean temperature and mean humidity at Pusa during 1918 ....•.•• 29. Anthomyiad Fly (C. S. 1807) in Juar shoot . 30. Pachydiplosis oryzce (Coloured) ..... 31. Stktuspis ceratitinn ; C. S. 1814 larva ; Annual life-cycle of Lamiad Borer(C. S. 1814) . 32. (C. S. 1814) Lamiad Borer Beetle ■ 33. WecvilBorerinrr/r7/ishoot(C. S. 1778) -^ ,, „ in motha stem (C. S. 1397) j ' ' * 34. Purple Zcuzcrid larva boring in Kanra ; Annual life-cycle of purple Zeuzerid .......... 35. Borer in Saccharum sjwnhnieum stem (C. S. 1696) ; Annual life- cycle of Borer in Saccharum spontamum (C. S. 1696) . ( xi ) Page. I 98 99 101 105 210 211 216 315 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 324 325 327 353 359 359 361 361 361 361 370 370 371 371 372 372 373 374 xu LIST OF PLATES. Page. Plate 36, » 37. „ 38 .. 39. „.• 40. „ 41. „ 42. „ 43. „ 44. „ 45, -„ 46. .. 47. „ 48. • „ 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. S9. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 60. 67. 68. 69. Sesamia inferens (Coloured) ........ Sesamia inferens and Sesamia vniformis ; posterior extremity of pupso ........... Borer in Sacchnrum tpontancum (C. S. 16G0) ; Borer in knnra root (C. S. 1771) Borax in Eleu sine coracana {C. ^. 1837); annual life-cycle of Emma- locera depressclla ......... Emtnalocera depressella (Coloured) . . . ... Scirpophaga xanOiofjafitrdla (anrijlva) (Coloured) .... Annual liiG-cycle oi Scirpophaga xanthognsirella ; S. monostigmn; annual 375 377 378 379 3S1 liic-cyo\e oi ScJioenobiiis bipiinct if er ...... Schoenoblus bipundifer (Coloured) ...... RapJiimetopus ablutcUa in sugarcane (C. S. 1801) ; Annual life-cycle of Chilo simplex. ......... Egg-cluster of Chilo simplex (C. S. 1819) ; and Chilo simplex larva . Chilo simplex larva (C. 8. 1580) ; C. simplex pupa (C. S. 1561) . Chilo simplex moths (C. S. 1551) ....... Diatrcea miricilia larva (C. S. 1574) ; D. auricilia pupa (C. S. 1560) Egg-eluster of Diainca auricilia (C. S. 1787) ; egg-cluster of 7). venosatd ; annual life-cycle of D. venosata ; annual life-cycle of D. auricilia . . . . ... . ... Dialrcea venosata larva, (C. S. IQ35) ; D, venosata pupa (C S. 1607) . Diatrcea venosata moths ........ Argyriat^imidicostalis,la.x\aan^'p\\T[)a, ....... Argyria lumidicostalis larva ; annual life-6ycle of Diatrcea sp. (C. S. 1674) Argyria tumid icostcdis, moths ....... ? Diatrcea sp. in^sugarcane at Dacca, larva and pupa » » >. » moths Rice Chilo (C. S. 1677) ; larva and pupa . . . . . Rice Chilo (C. S. 1677) moths ; annual life-cycle of .same . Borer in A'rt«A7 stem (C. S. 1769) ; larva and moth . . . . „ „ „ ; pupa ; Borer in ikri stem (C. S. 1795) pupa and moth ........ Borer in wr/ri (C. S. 1831) ; larva and jjupa ..... Borer in rarhi (C. S. 1831), moths; Borer in Saccharumfuscum,, moth (C. S. 1835) ..... Borer in ikri (C. S. 1835) ; larva and pupa Pyralid larva boring in SacCharum spontaneum ; ikri stem, larva ..... Ramila ruficostcdis ; Argyroploce paragramma IJeliothis obsoleta (iirmigera) (Coloured) . Dasyses rugosellns, larva and moth . . . Effect of borer attack on growth of cane Plan of two e.vperimcntal plots under cane (F. 18), Borer in 382 383 385 386 386 386 387 387 388 388 389 389 389 390 390 390 390 391 391 392 392 .392 393 394 394 395 396 408 Proceedings of the Third Entomological Meeting VOLUME I B Froniifi'piece, Page. 1. PLATE 1. ji^'Jili »»'\^>mimmt'milirnimm,imr^-im^ r- >- < ea UJ < a UJ Ui < 3 o o s o z UJ Q t4 iS s P4 Ph as CO 111 t> 1-5 o so • W -^ 3 ^^. ^ +^ TO ^ ^« n! C C * 41 CO o "5 4) CO — R o w ^ so o O o r/1 0) a> CQ so c4 -(J O 1° ^ 2 Ph 3 . -7 -=: • O • * O " « ^^ a) tj to fl 'TOMOLOGICAL MEETING 5 at Poona in December 1917 and, among other subjects discussed, was this question of Sectional Meetings, regarding which the Board passed the following Resolution : — " That meetings of the entomological. .... .sections be held in years in which there is no meeting of the Board of Agriculture, and that these should not be confined to members of the agricultural department but others interested in these subjects be invited to^ attend." This Resolution of the Board has been approved by the Government of India and the present Meeting is the result of definite orders that such conferences are to be held henceforth at fairly definite intervals. The Resolution which I have just read, as you see, states definitely that they are to be " held in years in which there is no meeting of the Board of Agriculture." Now, the Board of Agriculture meets every second year, sometime in the cold weather between November and February inclusive, so this Resolution, if strictly interpreted, indicates that Entomological Meetings also are to be biennial events in future. Their order of fre- cjuency, however, is perhaps a matter which we can settle for ourselves if we desire to do so and go about it in a formal manner. I use the word " formal " deliberately, because, as I said just now, this Meeting is on a more official basis than previous ones and because I think there will be certain advantages if we adopt slightly more formality in this and subse- quent Meetings. I do not wish for a moment to imply that there is any idea of stifling discussion at these Meetings. We are all met here with the very object of mutual discussion. But there are a few things which we might perhaps do more formally, partly with the idea of saving time at the general meetings and partly with the idea of giving more force to our collective opinion on any subject. I propose therefore to appoint Committees to report on any subjects which may be usefully considered in this way in order that they may draw up and present to the Meeting reports which may form useful bases for discussion. I also propose, in cases where a subject is of sufficient importance and there is a clear j)reponderance of considered opinion after discussion regarding it, that such subject may form matter for a Resolution of the Meeting regarding it. If for example there is a consensus of opinion regarding the order of frequency of our Meetings, the best way to give it expression would be by a formal Resolution, which would doubtless be duly consi- dered by Government. You might consider this during the Meeting and at its close give your views regarding the next meeting, its duration, the date and place at which it should be held. As you know, the Board of Agriculture is a peripatetic body, meeting biennially, alternately at Pusa and in one of the Provinces. Hitherto, we have met at Pusa 6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING because the collections and records are centralized at Pusa so far as the Agricultural Department is concerned. But these Meetings are not confined to the Agricultural Department, and it may be that it might be advantageous for our Meetings to be held elsewhere, at least occasionally. I merely throw out the suggestion, which is for you to consider in order that you in your turn may be able to make any suggestions you think proper, at the close of this Meeting, regarding any subsequent ones. (3) You have been asked to bring with you to this Meeting written papers or notes on any subjects regarding which you have information to lay before the Meeting. The object of this is to facilitate securing a proper record of the Proceedings. At the 1915 Meeting the record kept proved so incomplete that it was not worth publication. At the 1917 Meeting notes were taken as far as possible and these were worked up afterwards to form the Proceedings which were published and circulated to all of you. I may tell you that it took a great deal of hard work to go over the mass of notes taken and to rewrite, as far as possible in their own words, what everyone had to say about every subject. I leave it to you to say how far we succeeded. We at least rest content in the knowledge that we did our best. At the present Meeting the papers submitted will be read either in whole or in part or in abstract or merely by title — according to their general interest. After each paper is read, it will be open for general discussion. Since our last Meeting the War has caused us to mourn the loss of a valued colleague who attended our First Meeting here four years ago. Edward John Woodhouse died of wounds received in action in France on 18th December 1917 at the age of 33. At the outbreak of war he was a Captain in the Bihar Light Horse and in 1915 he joined the Indian Army Reserve of Ofiicers, being subsequently attached to a Cavalry regiment. I first met Mr. Woodhouse in December 1910 when he came to Pusa to consult regarding the Agrotis ypsilon campaign at Mokameh. The use of poisoned bran baits, which had been recommended by Mr. Lefroy, had ]5roved a failure, as the baits had dried up without being touched by the caterpillars, and it was not evident what was the next step to take. Just previous to this we had received some circulars about their traps from the Andres-Maire Company at Alexandria and, knowing from pre\nous experience of sugaring in England that Agrotis moths were attracted to sweet baits, I suggested a trial of these traps, and it was arranged that one should be got out for Pusa and another one for Sabour. The result of the trial was completely successful and PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIED EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 7 these traps have been used for control of Agrotis yfsilon to a considerable extent since then, as Mr. Woodhouse told lis himself in this very room just four years ago. Subsequently I met Mr. Woodhouse many times and had considerable correspondence with him regarding entomological matters, in which he took a keen interest, although he was of course a Botanist. His untimely death has deprived us of a valued colleague, whose place will be hard to fill. Another whose death has occurred since our last Meeting is Mr. Charles William Mason, who was the first Supernumerary Entomologist at Pusa and who will be remembered by many of you, although he left India just before my arrival so that I never met him personally. He came out to Pusa in December 1906 and during the next three years was stationed here, being chiefly occupied in an investigation of the food of birds, especially in relation to the value of birds to agriculture by their destruction of insect pests, and the third volume of Entomological Memoirs of this Department is wholly devoted to a record of this work. After his return to England in 1910 he studied for some time at the South-Eastern Agricultural College at Wye, and afterwards went to America as a Carnegie student to undergo further training in Entomology. Subsequently he was appointed to succeed Mr. E. Ballard as Government Entomologist in Nyasaland, v\'here he died of black-water fever on 28th November 1917 at the Government Farm at Namiwawa. In his Annual Eeport for the year ended 31st March 1918, the Director of Agriculture in Nyasaland says : — " Mr. Mason was an exceptionally able and popular ofiicer. his enthusiasm and care produced work of a very high standard, his researches in connection with tobacco and cotton pests conferred a lasting benefit on the planting community, and his demise in the prime of young manhood is not only a loss to the Department and his fellow workers but to Tropical Agriculture in Africa." That is, I am sure, a statement which you will desire to endorse and I therefore propose to place the followng Resolution before you : — The Entomological Workers assembled at this Meeting- desire to Resolution r express their sense of the loss to Entomological Science sustained by the untimely deaths of their former co-workers in India, the late Edward John Woodhouse and Charles V/illiam Mason. \Tliis Resolution was 'passed in silence, all standing.'] Before coming to a consideration of the subjects on our programme, there are one or two other points which I should like to put before you, although they are not perhaps suitable for discussion at the full Meeting. It has been suggested, from more than one direction, that we might form an Entomological Society in India and thus hnk together all the various workers on entomology in India, Burma and Ceylon. In this "8 rROCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENIOMOLOGICAL MEETING V connection I may draw your attention to Appendix H to the Report of ttie Indian Industrial Commission in wliich they say : — " We desire to attract attention to the ahiiost complete absence of scientific and technical societies in India. So long as the majority of the men in this country from whom such societies would naturally draw their members belonged to Government executive services, the subordi- nation essential to discipline was unfavourable to their inception and growth ; but this phase is gradually passing away, owing to the much wider difiusion of scientific knowledge, to the rapid expansion of organized industries, and to the greatly increased number of scientific and technical experts in private employment." " It is unnecessary for us to dwell at any length upon the advantages which arise from a free interchange of ideas betw^een men working in the same field of scientific investigation, and the stimulating effect of instructed criticism on men engaged in technical pursuits. " We are of opinion that the interests of India demand the establish- ment of Indian institutes, societies and associations analogous to the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Chemical Society, and the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Action in this direction is urgently required to provide for the growing needs of Indians. It is true that they have free access to the Enghsh societies on the same terms as any other subjects of the Empire, and they are also freely admitted to American societies ; but beyond the prestige attaching to membership and the periodic receipt of copies of pubUcations, they derive little or no benefit from such distant associations, and they are altogether deprived of the advantages which arise from personal intercourse between the members. In matters connected with administration, the value of personal discussion has been recognized by Government, and every year an increasing number of conferences and committees meet to discuss specific problems. Men are convoked from all parts of India to exchange views, and experience shows that such meetings are well worth the time devoted to them and the expense incurred in bringing the officers together. But something more than this is necessary, and the movement in favour of it has found expression in the estabhshment of the Indian Science Congress, which was started' four years ago and holds annual meetings in the month of January in one or other of the capital cities of India." rf: 4: ^ !¥ ^ * PROCEEDINGS OF THE TIIIKD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 9 " There would be advantages arising from a strong central society covering the whole of India, as membership thereof would confer a much greater prestige. Apart from the reading and discussion of professional papers, such a society would inevitably interest itself in many problems with which the State has to deal, and in which it would be advantageous to obtain the considered opinion of such a representative body." * * * * * * " Such an institution should be an entirely independent body, to which Government can very well give an annual grant or subsidy in return for the indirect advantages which the country would enjoy in consequence of its estabhshment. We have in view an institution ■whose activities would be mainly devoted to professional and technical questions ; its existence therefore would be of great value in establishing a standard of professional conduct and efficiency." The above extracts refer more particularly to a- Society of Engineers but as regards general scientific work in India they will show you what the Commission had in mind and I have no doubt that Government would view with sympathy any real desire on the part of scientific workers of any kind in India to form such societies and would perhaps assist to some extent. I do not know, however, to what extent the formation of an Entomological Society would meet the wishes and requirements of entomologists in India, nor, I must confess, do I qmte see what would be the functions of such a Society. If my scheme for centralization of entomological work in India eventuates, such a Central Institute and Service would fulfil all the ends of a Society as regards such items as publications, collections, references and assistance generally to other workers. Even as it is, our periodical Meetings provide ample oppor- tunity for discussion of any problems and it is difficult to see how more frequent or better attended meetings could be arranged in such a vast country as India, nor is there any lack at present of facihties for publi- cation in tliis country. If, however, any of you have any definite ideas on this subject, we might discuss it informally one afternoon or evening whilst we are all here and then, if any general agreement is reached, it might be brought forward more formally during the Meeting. Another subject which might perhaps be discussed informally at first is my scheme for the expansion of entomological work in India, which you will find pubhshed in Appendix K of the Industrial Commis- sion's Report. Copies of this Report are laid on the table for your perusal and when vou have had time to go over it we might discuss that also one afternoon or evening. Our former Meetings were both held under the shadow of the (Jreat War which has now happily come to a close and which has affected our 10 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING work in so many ways. One of the obvious results of the war has been the great difficulty in obtaining apparatus. Another has been the set- back to our work owing to the difficulty in obtaining identifications of specimens, practically all of our younger specialists having gone to the front. Another and more serious result has been the loss of parcels of specimens owing to the piratical action of the Germans in sinking merchant vessels indiscriminately. We at Pusa lost a large collection of Braconid parasites of Earias fabia and E. insulana, which means a loss of several years' work, and I understand that the Forest Research Institute and the Zoological Survey have also sustained similar losses. Our losses in India have of course been infinitesimal in comparison to the damage and wanton destruction in Europe of collections in various branches of natural history. Some of the finest entomological collections in the world were in Russia, in Belgium and in Rumania. The dehberate destruction of irreplaceable objects of science and art, such as has taken place during this war, stamps the German people as an uncivihzed face of a very low type. It is sincerely to be hoped that in the future all entomological workers in India will mark their disapprobation of such misdeeds by dechning to have any dealings with all Germans, that they will refuse to work with apparatus of any kind " made in Germany," that they will refuse to send any more collections for identification to Germany and thereby avoid having any more Indian insects described in a most barbarous language, and that they will as far as possible ignore all German literature pubhshed since August 1914. This last point, even if we are all agreed on it, will be difficult to enforce unless we can obtain universal agreement, but this might possibly be obtained, as many others must be of the same way of thinking at the present time. In his recent revision of the Hypsotropinse, for example, Sir George Hampson says, " No Cjuotations from German authors pub- hshed since 1st August 1914 are inserted. ' Hosfes Immani generis'.'' The International Entomological Congress, which met at Brussels in 1910 and at Oxford in 1912, was to have held its Third Session at Vienna in 1915. I have not heard any particulars regarding the third session, which was postponed indefinitely, but it is possible that it may be held at some date before our next Meeting and, if so, it would lend weight to our views if we could lay before the Congress our collective opinion on the subject of the treatment to be accorded to German workers and German entomological literature in the future. My own view, which I have held for a long time, is that the whole question of scientific publications requires overhauhng and that pubhshed scientific work (in entomology at all events), to ensure proper recogni- tion, should be restricted as regards both the media and the languages PEOCEEDIKGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING U in which it appears. Separata pubUcations (for example, books ; althou»h nothing should be considered as a book unless it contains a minimum number of pages) cannot easily be legislated for but there seems to be no end to the various serial publications in which entomological work appears now-a-days. Some time ago the Imperial Bureau of Entomology gave an incomplete census of present-day periodicals in wliich entomo- logical articles are pubhshed, and this list, so far as I remember, came to over- seventeen hundred. It is absolutely impossible to see all these, even in the best libraries anywhere, and even a useful abstract hke the "Zoological Record" is not really complete. Many important papers are published in Transactions of Societies, etc., which to the entomoloo-ical world contain little else of importance and no private worker and few public libraries can take in complete sets of such Transactions merely for the sake of an occasional paper which otherwise is overlooked or not accessible when required for reference. To take the case of India only, we have entomological papers appearing in the Memoirs, Bulletins and Annual Eeports of the Agricultural and Forest Departments, the Memoirs and Records of th^ Indian Museum, the Asiatic Society's Journal, the Bombay Natural History Society's Journal, the Indian Journal of Medical Research, the Journal of the Indian Tea Association, the Planters' Chro- nicle, Spoha Zeylanica, and half a hundred other Bulletins, Reports, Annuals and what-not issued by various GTOvernment Departments, Native States and others, although hardly one of these pubUcations is devoted entirely to Entomology. I have dealt with this in my pro- posals for expansion and centralization of entomological work in India and only wish to draw your attention now to the large mass of current literature already in existence in India. But India is a comparatively small contributor to entomological literature and we require a world- wide scheme to centralize work as much as possible. My idea, roughly, is this, that the leading entomological (or zoological) societies or workers in every civihzed country should consider the hterary output of their own country and compile a hmited list of pubhcations which would be considered official from the point of view of scientific worth. For example, in England a dozen to twenty (at the outside) publications — such as the Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal, Linnean, Zoological, and Entomological Societies, the Entomologist, the Entomologists' Monthly Magazine, the Entomologists' Record and a few other leading publications in pure and applied entomology, including a few provincial publications — should suffice for all scientific work. If anyone wished to pubhsh in non-official publications they could do so, and their papers would of course be on record but would possess no .scientific value. The effect of this would be that the amateur and casual 12 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING workers would still be able to publish in their local Societies' Transac- tions and so on, but the serious worker would only have to consider a comparatively hmited output of literature — limited, that is to say, for any one country but of pretty wide extent (probably 150 to 200 publi- cations) for the whole world. It would be better to have separate hsts for entomological and zoological (non-entomological) papers, although the lists might overlap in many cases. A permanent Committee in each country could consider apphcations for admission to the list of recognized publications but no new publications should be admitted unless a clear want for additional publication-space was proved and in any case such admission should not be retrospective in effect. The hsts approved by each local committee to. be scrutinized and finally passed by an international committee (for example, at the International Zoological and Entomological Congresses). I quite see that there would be difficulties in starting such a scheme but, once started, I think it would work. And, unless something of this sort be done, it is not easy to imagine how entomological workers will get on, say a hundred years hence, if publications multiply at the present rate. It would, of course, only be possible to make such a scheme pros- pective from a definite date, of which due notice would be given. Another thing is the question of languages. It is not only the German language which is concerned but the whole matter is becoming one of general convenience. It is impossible for any ordinary man to be con- versant, even as far as mere reading goes, with English, French, Latin, German, Dutch, Eussian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Japanese, in all of which languages important papers are appearing now-a-days — to say nothing of more or less occasional important papers in such langu- ages as Magyar. So far no original entomological papers of any peim.a- nent value have appeared in any Indian vernacular, but I know of nothing under the present rules governing publication of scientific work to prevent anyone publishing a paper in (say) Bengali or Malayalam and, although quite unintelligible to more than ninety-nine per cent, of the entomological world, such a publication would be recognized and secure priority under the present rules. Indeed, I know of no rule which would prevent my publishing a description of a new insect in an Indian vernacular in some obscure local daily paper. The present state of affairs is ridiculous and requires amending, not only by limiting the number of publications, but also by some limi- tation of the languages in which original scientific work should be allowed to appear and be recognized. I should restrict these languages to English. French, and perhaps Latin. In any case German should be absolutely barred in future. The local pubhcation-committee in each country- PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIHD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 13 should recommend in what language each proposed "recognized " publi- cation would be issued and the international committee should then go over these local lists and decide finally. There would probably be a considerable amount of disagreement over this language question, but, as feelings are after this War, the Allies would probably secure a pre-- ponderance at any international meeting in the near future, and it would be as well to take advantage of this before public opinion on the subject becomes blunted. The war has at least brought home the importance of a knowledge of entomology to many people whose previous idea of entomologists pictured them as useless, albeit harmless, cranks whose main object in life was the pursuit of butterflies by means of large green nets. The health of our troops in all the areas of the war has, however, required a vast deal of entomological work in controlling the various flies, mosquitos, lice and other insects which are carriers of disease, especially when large bodies of men are kept together in small areas under crowded and often neces- sarily insanitary conditions. Never before in such a short time has such a large number of entomological workers been employed on practical work of this nature and never before has entomology so proved its value in this particular section of its sphere of usefulness. In the South African War the British Army lost nearly twice as many men from preventible diseases, chiefly typhoid fever, as it. did from casualties in action. In the Spanish-American war one-sixth of the American troops was attacked by typhoid. Truly was it said that " Disease, not battle, digs the soldier's grave.-' But we have changed all that now-a-days to a very large extent and the preventible losses by disease during the recent war have been reduced to a comparatively trifling proportion, thanks to the adoption of scientific method, amongst which entomological investigations must be included. The transport and storage of the immense quantities of food-stuffs required for our forces during the war has also called forcible attention to the damage dor.e to such food-stuffs by the numerous insect pests which attack stored produce. And the present world shortage of food and raw vegetable material is considerably aggravated by the losses caused by insect pests. It is not. easily realized what these losses amount to in the aggregate. Taking only the case of agricultural crops grown in India, we may say that on an average ten per cent, of the total produce is destroyed by insect pests. In some cases it is more and in others less. The Director of Agriculture in Assam told me recentlv tliat, as the result of crop-cutting experiments in some districts in Assam, it was found that ninety per cent, of the paddy crop was destroyed nj insect pests and this is apparently a normal figure. Of course, we often find oases even of total destruction, but they are sporadic as a rule. 14 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Taking, however, ten per cent, as an average and calculating the total amount of loss annually in India we shall arrive at a figure w^hich at the lowest cannot be placed at less than about Es. 5,00,000,000. We have a lonof way to go yet in India before we can make people understand the magnitude of this loss due to insect pests and to take Entomology really seriously, but the war will have had at least one good result if it helps to open people's eyes to these facts. The war has been responsible for the introduction of the word "" camouflage," and you have probably all seen pictures of disguised gun-positions, and of tanks and ships painted in weird combinations of colours. But concealing colouration was not an invention of the war. It was adopted by the animal world long ago and the insect world parti- cularly can show innumerable examples of things being not what they -seem to be. Later on, I shall show you an excellent example of this. I might also call your attention to an article by Mr. J. C. Mottram in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society for 1916 (pp. 383-419) which deals ■with Indian butterflies and analyses their colour-patterns, showing exactly how the various effects are produced. This is essentially the '• camouflage " principle, as evolved during the war. Insects have in fact anticipated many of man's present-day inven- tions. Our newspapers, which have brought us day by day the latest news of the happenings during the great struggle, are printed oil paper which is almost wholly made from wood-pulp and for years past the pine forests of the north temperate zone in Europe and North America have been ruthlessly destroyed at the rate of something like thirty million tons of timber per annum to satisfy the world's insatiable desire for paper. But few of those who read their daily paper know that the first suggestion that wood-fibre might be used for paper-making was made by an entomologist, Reaumur, who some two hundred years ago observed the structure of wasps' nests and how they are made of a paper- like material produced by these insects by the mastication of wood fibres. His observation seems trivial but its after-effects afford only one of the many instances of the foundation of a great industry upon results ob- tained in scientific investigation. As Professor Silvanus P. Thompson has well put it : — " The seemingly useless or trivial observation made by one worker leads on to a useful observation by another ; and so science advances, ' creeping on from point to point.' " It is impossible to foresee what will be the ultimate practical outcome of even the smallest observation in matters scientific, provided that the observation is accurate, but we may be sure that sooner or later it will fit in with other equally small and seemingly useless facts to form a coherent whole. When we see the extensive uses of magneto-electricity now-a-days we are apt to PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 15 forget the seemingly trivial observation which led to this. In one of his experiments at the Royal Institution in London Faraday showed that when a magnet is brought suddenly near a coil of wire a slight electric current is induced in the coil. The experiment does not appear very impressive and a lady in the audience probably expressed the general sentiment when she asked afterwards, " But, Professor Faraday, even if the effect you explained is produced, what is the use of it ?" To which Faraday repKed, " Madam, will you tell me the use of a new-born child ?" Nearly all the great inventions of our modern world, wireless tele- graphy, the telephone, the aeroplane, radium, anaesthetics and anti- toxins, spectrum analysis and X-rays, all had their foundations in purely scientific work and were not the result of deliberate intention to make something of service to humanity. Scientific subjects do not progress necessarily on the lines of direct usefulness. Their applied side may come many years after the actual discoveries themselves. Applying this to economic work in Entomology, as I said just now, provided that our work is accurate and honest, every smallest observation will ulti- mately prove to be of use whether in the immediate future it seems likely to be practically useful or not. As Aristotle said, " Let us first understand the facts, and then we may seek the cause." I am inclined to think that the control of insect pests in the future will be based on the dictum that " prevention is better than cure," and that such prevention will be attained by an exact knowledge of each insect concerned, knowledge so exact that it will be known exactly under what conditions trouble is likely to occur, so that preventive measures can be taken before any actual damage has been done. This is not the case at present, as most of our so-called control measures are mere palli- atives, aiming only at minimizing damage which is already being done. I think that the control methods of the future will be based on fore- casts of the increase to destructive numbers of the particular insect concerned and that such forecasts will be based on an intensive study of a large number of exact records of occurrence of such insect. Why, for instance, does Xylotrechus quadripes, the Coffee Borer, appear in some years in swarms, whilst in other years this beetle is by no means plentiful ? Why do locust swarms invade India in some years and not regularly every year ? I think that, when we have accumulated exact records of such visitations and compare them with weather statistics and other records, we may find some correlation between them and, if so, we shall then be able to make insect-pest forecasts which can be used to nip the impending increase in the bud. But we shall only be able to do this when we have accumulated sufficient exact records of the Vol. I 0 16 PROCEEDINGS OJ THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING occurrence of insect pests and for this reason all exact records at the present day are of importance. Entomology especially is such a vast science, with so many inter- related and interdependent branches, that progress in any one branch is necessarily dependent on progress in other branches as well. Economic work depends on progress in systematics, in the natural history (in its largest sense) of the insects concerned, and in control methods as applied to insects generally, as well as on some knowledge of the particular subject (agriculture, forestry, etc.) with which any particular insect is concerned, and all of these branches must be taken together if the best results are to be secured. The economic entomologist who thinks, for example, that he can get on quite well without bothering about the systematic side is on a par with the systematist who only pays attention to adult characters of insects and despises all information regarding their early stages and habits ; nor is the work of either likely to stand the test of time. But, although we cannot afiord to neglect any aspect of Entomology as a whole, it has become quite impossible for any one man to be j^rofi- cient in, or even conversant wdth, the whole of such a vast subject as is Entomology now-a-days. We have, each of us, to do what we can in our little corner and to look to others for information on other subjects. Entomological research has become extremely specialized and tends to become more so in the future. There are no general entomologists now-a-days. The man who really know^s his subject is a specialist in a comparatively small group of insects or in some other branch of entomo- logy. And so it is more and more coming to pass that we must rely on other's work for our own information, and this means that progress is only possible, in more than a very limited area at least, by mutual help. The specialist in one subject must be ready to help others in his speciality and must himself apply to others for help outside of his own special group. As Laplace put it, " Nature is so varied in* her manifestations and phenomena and the difficulty of elucidating their causes is so great, that many must unite their knowledge and efforts in order to compre- hend her and force her to reveal her laws." A Meeting of this sort provides an excellent opportunity for the exercise of that mutual confi- dence and mutual aid, of w4iich I spoke at our last Meeting, and I hope that we shall all acquire at least a mutual knowledge of one another's information on the various subjects for discussion at this Meeting. Turning to the programme before us, you will see that a very large number of papers has been promised. The j^rogramme has been divided into twelve sections, purely for convenience in arranging the papers on various subjects. A paper may fall under more than one section. A PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 17 paper on a crop-pest, lor example, might be placed under Agricultural Entomology or may deal with its hfe-history or systematics in which ■cases it could equally well be placed under these other sections. The first Section includes especially papers on Agricultural Entomo- logy and we commence with an annotated list of general crop-pests followed by a paper on fruit-pests, both of which might be taken to- gether to save time. There are two ways of discussing crop-pests, one by taking each crop separately and going over its pests, the other by taking the insects themselves one by one in systematic order and going over their distribution, occurrence on various foodplants and control. At our last Meeting we went over our pest-hst by crops. At this Meeting we will do it the other way and consider each insect sepa- xately. We have prepared lists of these insects in systematic order and liave simimarized our information up to date. We shall thus indicate briefly what is known about each insect and you will be able to tell us any further facts. To facilitate matters I have had a series of the insects concerned put together so that if there is any doubt regarding the insect -referred to you can refer to the specimens exhibited to make sure what is meant. I must say, however, that I am quite unable to define what is a crop or what is a pest. Many plants, regarded as useless in some districts, are in others prized or even cultivated for their products. Ber ■{Zizyphus jujuba) is one. In most parts of the Plains it grows wild, but in some districts it is used extensively for growing lac or is cultivated for its fruits, and in such cases any insect attacking it and reducing its vigour must be looked on as a pest. Again, some insects are pests in some districts and not in others. Margaronia coesalis is a case in point. In Southern India and Assam it is a pest of jak {Aftocarpus integrifolia), but here at Pusa, where there are many jak trees and it occurs, it has never been noted to attack jak at all. Then there are the potential pests, to which I called your attention at the last Meeting, ([noting Prays citri as an example. Another example is Dacus olece, the destruc- tive Ohve Fruit- fly of the Mediten anean Region ; we know that it occurs in Noith-Westein India and that it is hkely to prove a serious menace to the budding ohve-growing industry in Kashmir and the North- West Frontier Province, although we do not as yet know of its having attacked cultivated oUves. Yet another class of insects which would ba refused admission to the pest-hst by some people are those which have never actually been reported as doing damage. But it must be remem- bered that, in a country hke India, it is comparatively rarely that any damage by insect pests is reported. Serious damage may be done for years without ever corning to the notice of the entomological . staffs. Gracillaria zachrysa, for example, occurs throughout the North- c 2 18 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING West Frontier Province from Parachinar to Abbottabad and also in? Assam at Shillong and probably all along the Himalayas and does serious^ damage to young apple leaves ; yet it has never been reported. Similarly, apple fruits in Shillong are badly bored by two species of weevils, yet this has never been reported and we might have waited a long time for any knowledge of these pests if I had not happened to inquire into the subject of fruit-pests at Shillong last year. I think, therefore, that so far as pests are concerned it is better to be inclusive than exclusive when we come to list them. It does no harm to include a doubtful case in the list even if it ultimately turns out not to be a pest, but if we ex- clude it and it subsequently does do damage there is a danger that earlier information about it may be overlooked and not be available when required. If it is on the list as a possible pest it is, so to speak, in our mind's eye and we are more likely to collect further information about it. At the same time it must be clearly understood that no Ust of pests can be looked on as anything like complete. We cannot foretell what insects, or even what groups, may turn out to be inimical. No one, for example, in any part of the world has ever looked on the PerUdse as of any economic importance except that they serve as bait for anglers. Nevertheless, a species has lately been found to damage orchard foUage in the United States, and quite possibly some of our Indian species may do the same. Every year, every month, new pests come to Hght and our knowledge of the old ones is increased, and it will not be in our time that anything in the way of finahty is achieved. However, we shall help on this end by accumulating as many facts as we can, taking care only to prepare a firm foundation of accurate facts on which our suc- cessors may build securely. Most of the other papers in this Section are sufficiently explained by their titles and call for few remarks at this stage. Mr. Andrews, Entomologist to the Indian Tea Association, is giving us a paper on the control of insect pests. This subject has of course - been discussed generally at previous Meetings as regards particular points, but not as a separate entity by itself. It will therefore be useful to have a paper on this subject. You will find a general resume, so far as crop-pests are concerned, in my book on South Indian Insects (Chapter XI) and I do not think that there is very much to add to that so far as the ordinary Plains crops are concerned. In the case of tea, the condi- tions are considerably different. In any case, we shall all be glad to hear what Mr. Andrews has to say. I have already referred to Dr. Gough's paper on the Pink BoUworm in Egypt ; this will be giren as an evening lecture illustrated by lantern slides. Mr. F. G. Willcocks, Entomologist to the Sultanic Agricultural; PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 19 'Society in Egypt, has also sent a most interesting paper on his experi- ments on the survival of resting stage larvae of the Fink Bollworm in cotton-bolls buried at different depths and under different conditions m the ground. In my Address to the Second Meeting, two years ago, I referred to Mr. Willcocks' illuminating experiments on the length of time during which Pink Bollworm larvae were found to be able to rest in cotton- seed in Egypt, and the present experiments show how these larvae are able to survive in cotton-bolls buried in the soil even when an irrigated crop has been grown in the ground beneath which these bolls were buried. At ou'-' last Meeting also I referred to the visit paid to India by Mr. D. T. Fullaway especially to collect parasites of Chatodacus cucurbitce, our common Cucurbit Fruit-fly, for importation into Hawaii, and Mr. Fullaway has very kindly sent us a paper describing his visit to India and the success achieved in Hawaii by the parasite, Opius fletcheri, which he was successful in transporting from India to Honolulu. Section II, Forest Entomology, only contains one paper, on some problems in forest insect control, by Mr. Beeson, the Forest Zoologist. In many cases the insects which attack forest trees are similar to, or even identical with, those which attack agricultural crops, whilst in other cases they are widely different from any we have to deal with. In any case, we shall all be very interested to hear about them, whether they are old friends or new ones. Section III was intended for Medical and Veterinary Entomology, and in the prehminary provisional programme which I circulated last October it was presumed that this subject would be arranged by the Imperial Pathological Entomologist. It has now been decided to omit this subject from the present conference. Section IV deals with Household and Store Pests, and we have a few papers on these. The subject of household and store pests is one that badly requires working on in India and might perhaps be taken up more fully at the next Meeting. Sections V (Bee-keeping) and VI (Lac) will not detain us for very long. I do not think there is much new to say about either. Regarding Bee-keeping, however, I should like to warn any of you, who may think of doing so, against importing European bees at present, owing to the grave danger of introducing bee diseases, particularly Isle of Wight disease, into India. It may be necessary to restrict the importation of bees and foundation-comb, as is done in South Africa. Under Subject VII (Silk) Mr. De will tell you something of what we have been doing in the way of attempts to improve the multivoltine races of silkworms, and will also give a paper on the methods of combat- ing pebrine. Mr. C, M. Hutchinson, the Imperial Agricultural Bacterio- 20 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING legist; has also very kindly promised to tell us something about his work on pebrine, and his paper will be given in the form of an evening lecture. Subject VIII (Life-histories and Bionomics) calls for Uttle remark, as the titles of the papers are self-explanatory, and the same apphes to Subject IX (Collection and Preservation of Specimens). Under the latter subject we have one paper which was received too late for inclusion in the printed programme and that is one by Dr. David Sharp, F.R.S., on the importance of collecting insects. Dr. Sharp's name is well known to all of you as the author of the two volumes on Insects in the " Cam- bridge Natural Histoiy " and we are greatly indebted to him for con- tributing this paper to our Meeting. Subject X (Systematic Entomology) has brought us several interest- ing papers, amongst which I shall call your special attention to the one by Mr. E. Meyrick, F.R.S., on our present knowledge of Indian Micro- lepidoptera. Mr. Meyrick, as you know, has been working on our species for the last fifteen years, during which he has described over two thousand novelties from India, and we are greatly indebted to him for sending us a very valuable and interesting note on his special subject. Captain de Mello is giving us a paper on some Trichonymphid para- sites of Indian Termites. This is a subject which hes, strictly speaking, beyond the borderland of Entomology but which is yet of considerable interest to us from an entomological point of view. These curious protozoan parasites which infest the interior economy of some (but by no means all) termites seem to be restricted to those termites belonging to the more primitive groups. Why this is so, it is difficult to say, but it is possible that further investigation of these Trichonymphid parasites may throw some hght on the past history and relationships of their hosts. Captain de Mello is describing a new species of Nyctotherns also found in an Indian termite. Now, it is quite interesting, as Dobell has pointed out in the case of Nyctothervs termitis (found in Calotermes militaris at Peradeniya), to note that the only other known host of a Nyctothervs is a cockroach, Stylopyga cyrientalis, and as we know on other grounds that the termites and cockroaches are groups not remotely^ allied to one another it is decidedly a matter of entomological interest for us to hear something about these parasites and to see how a small fact of this nature fits into its natural place in our knowledge of the relationships of their insect hosts. It is only one more example of the fact that an accurate observation apparently trivial in itself so long as it is isolated, when added to other similar observations, joins up with them to build up a coherent whole. The question of preparing and "issuing a general Catalogue of all known Indian insects also comes under this Section. The need for such PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING ' 21 a Catalogue is very great, as I think that you will all admit, and it remains to be seen whether we are in a position to meet our requirements in this matter. Under Subject XI (Publications) we have a paper by Mr, Slater on the preparation and reproduction of scientific illustrations. The making of drawings from which blocks are to be made for purposes of illustration- work is not quite the same thing as the making of drawings which are to be looked at as originals. This is a point which is often overlooked, and I thought it would be useful if we had a paper on the subject and on the methods by which prints are made and accordingly asked Mr. Slater if he could give us a paper, which he has very kindly done. Subject XII (Miscellaneous) is meant to include any subjects not fitting into the other Sections. I have prepared a note on Plant Imports, showing what has been done to keep pests out of India on plants imported from overseas. Entomological Education in Agricultural Colleges has also been included as I thought it would be a good thing if the teachers in the various Agricultural Colleges discussed, amongst themselves at first and afterwards at the full Meeting, any points about the courses in Entomology at some Colleges which might be interesting or useful to others. I have also asked each teacher to bring a syllabus of his course, any diagrams or models used for class- work and a rough estimate of the number of coloured plates required annually. The question of the organization and expansion of entomological work in India will also be discussed, at first in Committee. I doubt whether it will be possible to make, or adhere to, a daily programme. The first week will mostly be taken up with discussions on crop-pests but papers on cognate subjects (for example, fife-histories) will be taken at the time the insect conrerned is under discussion. Mr. Burt will be here only from 12th to 15th and especially wishes to be present at discussions on cotton-pests, so we will probably take bollworm papers on 13th. If any delegates wish to have any particular papers, taken on particular days, I will try to fit these in as far as possible. It is really immaterial in what order papers are read or discussed, as they can be placed in proper order afterwards when the Proceedings are made up. As indicated in my Address, I propose to appoint Committees to Mi'. Fletcher, consider three subjects, namely, the proposed Catalogue of Indian Insects, Entomological Education in the Agricultural Colleges in the Provinces, and the Organization of Entomological Work in India. The Committees will consider these subjects and draw up short reports which will be circulated and then discussed at the General Meeting. The terms of 22 PHOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING reference and membership of the Committees will be as follows, and, if anyone else feels that he can usefully serve on a Committee or has any suggestions to make, I shall be glad if he will say so now. Committees. (1) Catalogue of Indian Insects. Terms of reference. To consider the desirability and practicality of the preparation and publication of a general Catalogue of all described Indian insects and to formulate proposals : — C. Beeson. E. A. Andrews. T. V. Kamakrishna Ayyar. R. Senior- White. T. Bainbrigge Fletcher (Chairman). (2) Entomological Education in Agricultural Colleges. Terms of reference. To consider the methods adopted in Provincial Agricultural Colleges in India for teaching Entomology to the Agricul. tural Students and to make any recommendations : — H. L. Dutt. Ramrao S. Kasergode. J. L. Khare. T. V. Ramakrishna Ayyar. K. Kunhi Kannan. S. Higginbottom (Chairman). C. Beeson. C. S. Misra. T. Bainbrigge Fletcher. (3) Organization of Entomological Work in India. Terms of reference. To consider the scheme put forward by Mr. Bainbrigge Fletcher (Appendix K of the Indian Industrial Commission's Report) and any alternative proposals, and to make any recommend- ations : — E. A. Andrews. C. Beeson. L. H. Gough. * C. A. Bentley (Chairman). * These delegates did not serve on the Committee as they were unable to be present at the Meeting during a sufficiently long period. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 23 S. Higginbottom. T. V. Ramakrishna Ayyar. *B. C. Burt. C. S. Misra. T. Bainbiigge Fletcher. Y. Ramachandra Rao. t K. Kunhi Kannan. The first paper which we will take is that by Mr. E. A. Andrews on Mr. Fletcher. Insect Control. As we shall have to deal with various methods of control when we take the next paper on crop-pests, it will be better to take Mr. Andrews' paper first in order to save time later on when we come to deal with these control methods. Mr. Andrews, as you know, is the Entomologist to the Indian Tea Association and requires little introduction from me, ♦ 1.— INSECT CONTROL. By E. A. Andrews, B.A., Entomologist to the Indian Tea Association. At the previous meeting we discussed under each insect control or preventive measures tried against that insect. This method of dealing with the subject, while excellent in that it gave to any one interested in one insect an opportunity of ascertaining which remedies could be used against it, yet had this drawback that it left one with a rather vague idea as to the respective values of different methods of insect control in India. Were one to prepare a catalogue of the various methods for dealing with insect pests which have been put forward from time to time such a catalogue w^ould be very extensive. Many of these methods are of value, others of no value, while some are effective under certain circumstances, but not under others, and my idea in suggesting that insect control be treated as a special subject was to ascertain if possible what methods had been found to be of practical value in India so far and what methods have been found to be of very little value. This is a side of the work which interests me to a very great extent, I am especially concerned with one serious pest. The serious nature of this pest you can never reaHze until you travel all round the tea districts and see it for yourselves. Now the community by whom I am employed are not greatly interested in the investigation of minor pests, but anxi- ♦ These delegates did not serve on the Committee as they were unable to be present at the Meeting during a sufficiently long period. •j- Added to the Committee at the request of the delegates from Native States. 24 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING ~ ously desire a cure for the tea mosquito. I cannot therefore give much time to the investigation of the life-histories of the various pests of tea, but must confine my energies to the search for a cure for one particular pest, and, as you all know, though there are difficulties in the investi- gation of insect life-histories, the search for a cure presents greater diffi- culties still. I believe that I have had opportunities which many of you have not had of going into the question of insect control from a parti- cular point of view, and I think it would be of interest to the meeting for me to give some of my experiences in this matter, and to give you an idea both of methods which I have found to be of value and of those that I have found to be of no value, under the conditions prevailing in tea, and I think that if other gentlemen would give an account of their experiences when working on the question of insect control it might lead to an exceedingly helpful discussion. Now the first point I want to emphasize with regard to insect control is this, that you must know your insect — and you must know it inside out. It is not enough to know its species ; it is not enough to be able to recognize the various stages ; you must know everything about it. It pays in my opinion to sit down amongst the bushes and watch every peculiarity of its behaviour, no matter how trivial it seems at the time, for the more you know of the insect's peculiarities the more likely are you to be successful in finding a remedy. Until we possess an intimate acquaintance with every phase of the economy of an insect we cannot hope to get very much further in the control of that insect and I think Mr. Fletcher is quite right when he says that we must get all the information we can about these insects before we can hope to devise adequate means of control. Another point I wish to emphasize is that if you are going to deal with an insect pest of any particular crop you must know all about the crop too. The methods of propagation, cultivation, and so on must be at your fingers' ends. You must be thoroughly conversant with the factors affecting the growth of the plant and of their respective effects before you can expect to form an accurate opinion with regard to the factors governing the attack by the insect. These are the two points which, in my opinion, should be borne in mind by all engaged in the investigation of problems in insect control. Before going further I may say that the title of this paper is rather misleading. I do not intend to go fully into the principles of insect control as they apply to all insect pests. That is a very broad subject with which I am not qualified to deal because my sphere has been limited to the investigation of the pests of a single plant. You will find adequate discussions of the subject in Mr. Fletcher's book on South Indian Insects and in other publications. I propose to discuss some of the work that I have been doing and to give you some of my experiences PrvOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 25- on insect control in India. Insect control, as we all know, is effected in various ways— there are natural means and there are artificial mean& of control. Insect pests are likewise controlled also by many natural factors— the climate, the nature of the plant attacked, the environment, the presence or absence of parasites, and so on. Now. in dealing witli an insect all these factors have to be taken into consideration and you must be thoroughly conversant with the effect of these on the insect in all stages before you can hope to estimate the value of your control methods and, in view of the practical difficulties which may be experi- enced in applying recognized remedial measures under different circum- stances, it seems to me that general methods of control are very far away and that successful control is a question of adopting a method adapted to each particular instance. • Take the case of insecticides. It does not follow that an insecticide which has once been successful will always be so, nor does it follow, because an application of insecticide is ' once ' ineffective, that it may not be used effectively under proper conditions. A case of this kmd can be instanced in connection with the tea mosquito, and it shows the imperative necessity for close observation of the habits of the pest. The tea mosquito can be killed by soap solution or by lime-sulphur if it is kept in them for a sufficient time, but this time is too great to render the substances of much value as an insecticidal application in the ordinary way. Now the tea mosquito has the following habit. It feeds on the young shoots of the bushes in all stages, sitting on the leaves and sucking them. When the bush is disturbed the adults apparently drop to the ground. They do not, as a rule, however, drop quite to the- ground, but drop almost to the ground and then fly away into another bush. The young forms, which cannot fly, run down the stems of the bushes and conceal themselves at the nodes where the leaves or branches come off from the stem. The bush is sprayed, the insects being thereby disturbed. The adults drop and fly away elsewhere and escape the spray ; the young forms run down the stems and branches to the nodes. The fluid falls on to the leaf, runs down the stems and collects m drops at the nodes, and the young insect is caught in a drop of fluid which is too big for him to be able to break through, and is held m the liquid for a sufficient period to allow of his being killed. Therefore, if the insecti- cide is appHed when the bulk of the insects are in the young stages one may have great success with it, and if applied when the majority are in the adult form no success. The result is that of tea planters to whom recommendations of this nature have been made, some say it is no good, while others say that it had excellent results. The fact of the matter is that whereas the substances cannot be recommended for general use 26 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING against the pest, they can be made to give good results by one thoroughly conversant with the habits of the insect. Another difficulty arises in connection with the treatment of this insect — a difficulty which is only apparent after close observation of the habits of the insect. The efficacy of insecticidal treatment depends, amongst other things, upon two factors — the killing power of the in- secticide and the efficiency with which it can be applied. HelopeUis can only be treated by means of contact insecticides, which must be applied to the insect. This is in itself a difficulty except in the case of young ■forms, as described above. But supposing this difficulty be overcome, and that the adult tea mosquito be covered with a drop of the insecticide, and a drop of such a size that it would take considerable time to evapo- late. One might-, suppose that that would kill him, but it does not, for the reason that he cleans it all off, just as a cat if covered with treacle would clean itself. For this reason any insecticide which has not suffi- cient penetrating power, even though properly applied to the insect, does very little good, and since insecticides with a sufficient corrosive power burn the young shoots spraying to kill the adults presents in- superable difficulties. Spraying against the tea mosquito therefore boils down to this, that until a substance is discovered which exerts a powerful penetrating action on the insect and at the same time is harmless to the young shoots, we must confine ourselves to applying spray fluids with a high surf-ace tension at a time when the bulk of the insects are in the young stages, and the spraying should consist of a thorough soaking of the bush, to ensure that it will run down the branches and form drops at all the nodes. Otherwise no beneficial results can be anticipated. We have another case — based on rather different lines. This is a case too where an intimate knowledge of the behaviour of the insect was necessary. The red spider of tea {Tetranychus bioculatus W. — M.) in North-East India lives for the most part on the upper surface of the leave's of the plant. Many sprays have been applied with the hope of dealing with red spider without success. The reason for their non- success was in many cases due to the fact that the red spider lives under a web, which is very fine and almost invisible, but which is nevertheless of considerable strength. It is very close to the leaf, but at the same time the dimensions of the red spider are so small that nothing above the net or web will touch it, and I found that after spraying for red spider the insecticide rested in drops above this net while the insects ran about happily underneath. In treating red spider it is therefore necessary to break down this web, and we find that lime- sulphur, which generally contains much suspended matter, will break down this web, and in many cases differences in the action of different PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 2T lime-sulphurs can be traced to the presence or absence of suspended matter. Thus in spraying for red spider with lime-sulphur it is not advisable to filter away all the suspended matter, and the lime-sulphur concentrates on the market will therefore sometimes fail when a home- made mixture will succeed. This is again a question of detail, which may make all the difference between success and failure, and which could be easily overlooked by one not thoroughly conversant with the behaviour of the pest. There was one other case in which spraying was effective, but I cannot tell you much about that because it was a pro- prietary insecticide made in Switzerland and I never knew the composi- tion of it. This was an insecticide which we used against Thrips {Physo- thrips setiventris, Bagn., and Haploihrips temnpennis, Bagn.) in Darjiling. Spraying is often said to be useless in Darjiling because- of the amount of rain, but we found that Thrips could be sprayed' with this substance during fine periods with success. Tea is grown mainly for the young shoots, and we find that in the case of most of our insect pests the young shoots are damaged by the insecticide at a weaker concentration than is necessary to kill the insect,, which, of course, puts spraying out of the question, and here the import- ance of knowing all about the plant comes in. Spraying is of course one of the mechanical methods of control. The methods of control which have given the best results in my experience are cultural methods of control. You all know what I mean by cultural methods of control. They consist of adaptations of existing agricultural practices to meet the necessities which are brought into existence by the presence of the insect pest. You yourselves advocate such methods in the case of many pests, as for instance digging up the stumps of plants after the crop has been removed, in the case of cane-borers, etc., and such recommendations come under cultural methods of control. Now in tea we have had successes by the application of these methods, much more success in fact than in any other way, but if such methods are to ■ be successfully worked out the investigator must possess not only an intimate knowledge of the insect he is dealing with, but also an intimate knowledge of the plant that is being dealt with, of all practices followed in connection with its cultivation, etc., and of the way in which the plant responds to different treatments. Termites occur all over the tea-districts, and do a great deal of damage to tea. We have tried fumigation, we have tried insecticides in the soil, we have tried deterrents of one sort or another, and all with- out success. Sometime ago I spent a short time in South Sylhet m- vestigating white ants and their behaviour in tea. I found, after examin- ing a large number of bushes, that the white ants always get into the 28 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING bush above ground and that they do not as a rule go below the collar of the bush. In that part of the world there is a system of pruning by which the plants are cut at 12 inches and plucked somewhere above that. This results in the formation of a high central stump in which the termites can find lodgment. By working there they can cut off the supply of sap to the upper portions of the bush, and can only be eradi- cated by cutting away the whole bush. We advocated collar-pruning, i.e., pruning the bushes to the ground. By this means a bush is formed which consists of a circle of branches arising directly from the collar of the bush. There is no central stump to afford a lodging to the Termites, and as they do not work below the collar they cannot affect the several branches until after some years, when they are becoming moribund. When this occurs a number of the branches can be cut back in successive years — an operation which must be carried out in any case in order to get leaf, and the bushes thus consist always of strongly-growing branches which are not attacked by termites. This method of prevention has proved entirely successful. There is another case in which methods of cultural control are successful and that is in dealing with Melolonthid and other beetles. These beetles invariably attack new tea wherever jungle land is cleared and freshly planted. When the jungle is cleared, and the tea plantsd, the grub is still there, and the beetles attack the bushes, but in four years' time practically no damage can be seen. Continued hoeing and forking, given year after year, five or six times during the year, gradually kills out the insects, until they are present in such stoall numbers as to be incapable of doing any appreciable damage. We have another instance, which I gave you last year, in which such methods have been successful in the case of the looper caterpillar. Another question which must be considered is that of the relation between the insect and the plant plia; the relation of the plant to its environment, and this is a line of inquiry which I think must always be followed. I can give you an instance of this in the case of red spider. There are certain places in which tea is always attacked by red spider, others in which it is never attacked. Of two gardens adjoining one another red spider may be serious in the one, and none may occur in the other, although, so far as the insect itself is concerned, the condi- tions are exactly similar. Vv'^hat causes the difference ? Probably it is in the nature of the bushes. If that is so, then if we can by any means alter the condition of the bushes which are attacked and bring it into line with the condition of the others which are not being attacked, we may reasonably hope for success in control. We find that in the case •of red spider drainage has considerable effect. We know that bad PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 29 'drainage causes weakening of the bushes, we know that weakening of the bushes may cause red spider. By improving the drainage we have been able to get rid of the red spider. I can give you one instance, which perhaps takes us outside the realm of entomology, but which, since it is a case in which control of a pest was efifected, is important. I was once called into a garden in South Sylhet where they had put out some young tea, and for some reason it was badly attacked by red spider. Now, there was no red spider on the bushes round it, and yet there was no apparent reason why the pest should have chosen this area in preference to the surrounding areas. During this particular season ■there had been very wet weather, and an excessive rainfall for that part of the world. Now. when rain falls on to the ground it washes the fine particles down into the soil, the result being that a layer of fine particles is formed which holds up moisture, and produces a temporary condition of bad drainage. Such a layer is known as a pan. There was a paii about 6 inches down, which would be probably 4 inches above the bottom of the lowest of the roots of tea of that age. This means that the roots were in a layer of soil from which water could not get away. We there- fore trench-hoed the area to a depfh of 9 inches, to break this jDan and allow the excess moisture to get away through the soil, and the result was entirely successful. By this means we had removed the cause of the susceptibility of the bushes to attack, and the red spider, which had resisted all attempts to remove it by insecticides, was thrown off. Occasionally red spider reappears on this area. When this occurs the manager of the estate puts in a shallow trench-hoe instead in place of an ordinary round of light hoeing, and the pest is thrown off. My paper has consisted of a series of disconnected instances, rather than a discussion of the principles of insect control as a whole, because 'my activities have been restricted to a small sphere, but I wish to em- phasize that I do not think that one can expect to devise effective means of control except by a thorough acquaintance, not only with the life- history of the insect, but with its relation to the plant attacked in all circumstances, and of the behaviour of the plant under different methods of cultivation, and the nature of its response to environmental condi- tions, and to modifications of existing agricultural practices. I should like to thank Mr. Andrews on behalf of the Meetin" for his ^r. Fletcher; very interesting paper which he has given us. I may say that I quite agree with all that he has said. It is an undoubted fact that, before taking up the application of control measures, it is essential to know every single thing we can know about the insect concerned and the crop which it damages. There is one point in the paper about which I should like some further information. Mr. Andrews said that, by giving several 30 PllOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Andrews. Fletcher. Andrews. Fletcher. Andrews. Fletcher, Andrews. Senior- White. Andrews. Senior-White. Andrews. Inglis. hoeings, the tea gardens are cleared of Melolonthid grubs, I should like to know how far that is true. Ordinarily tea is not very badly attacked but, when forest areas are cleared and new bushes of tea are planted, these grubs come up 'and the beetles that emerge from them eventually attack the bushes. Do they feed on the tea-bushes ? The adult beetles riddle the leaves during the first two or three years, but later on no serious damage is done as all the grubs in the soil . are killed off by the frequent hoeings that are given. In the case of fruit gardens in Shillong, the areas around the trees are constantly hoed and Melolonthid grubs are collected in very large numbers, and the beetles also are collected by hand from the leaves of the fruit-trees in the evening, but constant collecting of the grubs and beetles seems to exercise little permanent effect on the numbers of the insects, which undoubtedly breed and come in from surrounding areas, so I am rather doubtful whether constant hoeing by itself would have such a permanent effect as is described. In the case of fruit gardens, the conditions are perhaps rather different, as the fruit and flowers are disturbing factors. It is, therefore, another case in which a thorough knowledge of the crop is essential. Quite so. You have said nothing about the control of insect pests by means of their parasites. We in Ceylon have, for instance, a parasite on the Tea Tortricid [Homona coffearia, Nietn.] which keeps it down. We have a parasite on the Tea Looper [Biston suppressoria] which was bred in cages and liberated in enormous numbers, but it did not keep the pest under control. Similarly there is a parasite of the Tea Mosquito [Helopeltis iJieivora] but this parasite is already existing all over the Tea Districts, so there is no question of introducing it ; but something appears to keep this parasite down, as only about one per cent, of the bugs are found to be parasitized. Parasite distribution requires skilled men to carry it out. Were you not able to find any hyperparasites that were keeping this parasite down ? No ; but we have not studied the question seriously. In the case of some Tea Insects the percentage of parasitization may be quite large. In the case of Gelatine Grubs [Belip2)a sp.] for example, as many as eighty per cent, of the larvse are found parasitized. • With regard to collar-pruning, could this be done on a large scale ? PROCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 31 Yes ; it is done to a large extent. If the tea has been properly collar- Mr. Andrews pruned once, you can cut out one branch at a time afterwards and get a new bush in a few years without any serious loss of crop. Tea is collar-pruned in the best practice. Sometimes cases occur where tea is not collar-pruned although the manager knows that it should be done. The immediate effect of a first collar-pruning is a loss of crop to a con- siderable extent, and when it is a case of losing crop for the benefit of his successor a manager who has been out some time may often leave tea up which ought to come down. In the case of tea owned by big Companies a certain percentage is cut down every year without reference to white ants, etc. In Sylhet collar-pruning was found to give no useful results, so it was not done there, but we did it. We are very thankful to Mr. Andrews for his interesting paper. Mr. Eamakrishoa He is in a very good position, as he has to deal with only one crop and Ayyar. has got intelligent men to carry out his instructions. In our work, on the other hand, we have to find out in the case of each crop what it will be advantageous to do and often we get information regarding the appear- ance of a pest too late to be able to do anything at all. We realize the truth of all that Mr. Andrews has said, that knowledge both of the insect pests and of the crops is essential. We have to consider local conditions also. As a rule we do not deal with crops of such a high value as tea, coffee and rubber, but with staple crops which do not allow of very high profits. Next we have to take into consideration the point of view of the raiijat. Spraying with insecticides can only be applied to paying crops such as fruit-trees, cotton, etc., but with regard to staple crops I feel that spraying cannot be done for some time to come. Our hope lies in the direction of finding out different baits and working on the physiological aspect of insect-life. Then we shall be able to deal with pests of such crops as paddy, sorghum and wheat. In Madras we tried spraying against Mango Hopper [Idiocerus spp.]. We succeeded in checking it and the people became interested in this method of control, but we could not get the right sort of sprayers nor could we get the insecticides at the time we wanted them and the prices also went high just at the time when we could have demonstrated with some success. Regarding parasites, to which a previous speaker referred, we know very little about parasites. We want to know their original home. There is some danger in working with parasites especially in the case of their introduction from other countries. We must first know what parasites we have already got in this country and their hosts. We are thankful to Mr. Andrews for his interesting paper. He has Mr. Miara. struck out a line of his own and lays great stress on cultural methods. VOL. I ^ 32 mOCEEDINGS OF THE THIKD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING We at Pusa have been working on Cotton Bollworm, Earias fabia and E. insulana. and find that cultural methods surely go a long way in pro- tecting the plant. One year [1911] our plants were attacked by "Red Spider " ; we sprayed with crude oil emulsion and, as Mr. Andrews has pointed out, we had no success. Then we sent around boys with brooms to rub the webbing off the plants. Next we tried spraying with a force- pump so that the liquid might reach the underside of the leaves. Next year we increased the distance between the plants to be three feet apart so that the plants got plenty of light and air. Thus cultural methods were found useful. We also found that inter-cultured plants were able to throw off the attack. There is scope for work along the lines suggested by Mr. Andrews. Chilomenes sex-maculatus eats the Red Spider. Mr. Andrews has said that termites attack tea-bushes at the collar. Here at Pusa they attack the roots of trees also. In Assam it may be the specialized habit of those termites not to go below the collar. I have had some experience with sugarcane in which the setts were put down six inches below the soil. When we cut out the dead-hearts we find that the setts are attacked by termites. This shows that the termites of Assam have a special habit of not going down below the soil. It merely shows, what I have pointed out before, that different species of termites have very different habits. If there are no further remarks on Mr. Andrews' paper, we will go on to the Annotated List of Indian Crop-pests, with which we will take the paper on Indian Fruit-pests in order to save time, as many general crop-pests attack fruit-trees also and there will be no object in dealing with such insects twice over. We have been through the list of our insect pests on previous occasions. Four years ago we dealt with them according to the Orders and Families of the insects concerned. Two years ago we went over them according to the crops which they attack, and the whole information up to then is on record in the Report of the Proceedings of our Second Meeting, and there is therefore little need to, go into too great detail ; so at this Meeting we will give only a summarized account of these insects, adding especially any new information which we have been able to obtain about them during the last two years, and, instead of discussing the whole papers after they have been read, I will ask you to give any further remarks on each insect as we deal with it. AVe will now run briefly through these insect pests, taking them in sys- tematic order and commencing with the Hymenoptera. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIED E^STOMOLOGICAL MEETIiNO 33 2.— ANNOTATED LIST OF INDIAN CROP-PESTS. £y T. Bainbrigge Fletcher, R.N., F.L.S., F.E.S., F.Z.S., Imperial Entomologist. HYMENOPTERA. FORMICID.^. The Formicid^ coiTiprise the Ants, of which comparatively few species Mr. Fletcher, clo damage directly to cultivated plants although numerous species do indirect damage by protecting Scale-insects and other noxious Rhynchota which suck plant-juices and exude honey-dew, and also other insects .such as Lycsenid laivas. (Ecophylla smaragdina, Fb. F. I., Hym. II., 311, f. 93. Occurs throughout the whole of the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon, ■wherever trees grow, and is often a source of considerable annoyance to fruit-gatherers, especially in the case of mango trees. It is also a decided pest by its habit of protecting noxious scale-insects. On the other hand, it is extensively insectivorous and does some good by des- troying large numbers of caterpillars, beetles, etc. On the whole it seems to do more harm than good and must certainly be included here -as a pest. The nests may be burnt off the trees but it is very difficult to reduce their numbers permanently. Holcamyrmex scahriceps, Mayr. F. I., Hym. II., 282-283, f. 84. This species occurs irregularly throughout the Plains of India (except Assam), but is not recorded from Burma or Ceylon. We have speci- mens from Pusa, Lyallpur, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Lahore, Kasur, Chakwal, Shahpur, Zafiarwal Tehsil (Punjab), Hangu (N.-W. F. P.), Chakradharpur and Coimbatore. This is the common Harvesting Ant of India and in some wheat- growing districts it does a certain amount of damage by carrying off ripe grains and storing these in its nest below ground. Indeed, in such areas, in times of famine, it is usual to dig out these nests and to recover the grain, which is stored away in som.e quantity. i d2 u PROCEKDlNCiS f>F Tlir, TltlUD K.NTOMOLOGIC'AL MEETING MeranopJvs bicolor, Guer. F. I., Hym. II., 1G8-169, f. 6G. Occurs throughout the Plains of India (except in hot, dry districts); Burma and Ceylon. In the Pusa collection we have specimens from Pusa, Bihar ; Tran- quebar, Madras ; Minbu, Lower Burma ; Ranchi (Kankey Farm). At Padu Farm, in Burma, this ant was noted as biting holes in leaves of Cajamis indicus. Otherwise, we do not know it as a pest. Seaicr-White. Fletcher. Seiiior-White. Fletcheic. Solenopsis geminata, Fb. F. I., Hymi II., 158-159, f. G4. Occurs throughout the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon. We- have specimens from Calcutta, Chakradharpur, Madura, Coimbatore, Mandalay and Tat k on. At Calcutta the workers have been found destroying brinjal seed- lings, and at Mandalay, biting holes into the leaves of Cajanus indicus. We have tried with success the banding of plants with a rag and tar just at the collar. Can you do this in the case of young plants, such as brinjal seedlings, for instance ? Yes. Cremastogaster^hodgsoni, Forel. F. I., Hym. II., 131-132. At Pusa this is a distinct pest on Citrus trees by protecting Icerya wgyptiaca and other Rhynchota. In the " Fauna " volume it is only recorded from Burma but our specimens appear to be Iwdgsoni. Myrmicaria brunnea, Saunders. F. I., Hyn>: II., 118-119, f. 55. Occurs almost everywhere in the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon,, except in dry areas. We have males from Chapra and Peradeniya, and workers from Belgaum, Trichinopob^ Tanjore, Sidapur (Coorg) and Pegu. At Bangalore this ant was found attacking garden plants of Arctoiis. grandis and doing some damage by biting the leaves. rPvOCEEEINGS OP TUE TRIED E^JTOMOLOGICAL MEETING S5 Dorylus orientalis, Westw. F. I.,Hym.II.,i3p. .1-5, fi". (3-7. Occurs throughout India, Burma ami Ceylon in the Plains, and frequently does damage by attacking the underground portions of plants. At Pusa it damages roots and undergrou)id parts of plants such as potato, cabbage, cauliflower and vegetables generally. At Cawnpur also it has been found damaging potato. At Shahabad, in the United Provinces, it has been noted as damaging early-sown groundnuts and at Gadag Farm it was found to eat out groundnut kernels when the nuts were lying in a heap after harvest. In Ceylon, both at Peradeniya and Dikoya, the workers have been observed to be destructive to the roots ^nUievis. of potato and other vegetables. ^^- ^^eteher. It may be controlled by the use of crude oil enuilsion applied to the «oil around the plants. It is usually only young plants that are attacked. Have you tried lime ? No ; we have not tried lime at Pusa as there is already an excess of lime in the soil here. A few years ago we had a bad attack of this ant on young cabbages and I tvied various repellents, including apterite, naphthaline, and phenyle, and found that crude oil emulsion was the most successful. Dorylus labiatus, Shuck. F. I., Hym. II., pp. 2-3, fit. 1-3. Occurs throughout India, but not known from Ceylon, Assam or Burma. Is apparently carnivorous as a rule, attacking ants {Pheidole). Has only once been sent in as a pest, when it was attacking potato tubers ^underground at Sidapur, Coorg. Apid^. Megachile onthracina, Smith. F. I., Hym. I., 473-474, f. 157. Occurs throughout the Plains of Northern India and Bengal. We have it from Pusa, Chapra and Cawnpur. It is a leaf cutting bee ; at Pusa it cuts leaves from tur {Cajanus indicus) and rose plants. It has been noticed taking leaves from a ber tree also and from Cassia. It is scarcely a pest but sometimes disfigures rose-plants by cutting circular patches out of the leaves. 36 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Megaclnh disjimcfa, Fabr. F. I., Hym. I., 480. Occurs throughout India and Burma, We have it from Pusa,. Chapra, Jagi Eoad (x4.ssam), Belgaum and Lower Burma. This is also a leaf-cutting bee, and removes leaves from tur and rose^ plants, in the same way as M. anthracina. Vespidje. Vespa basalis, Smith. F. I., Hym. I., 403-404. Widely distributed in India, Burma and Ceylon. We have had this species sent in to us from Dehra Dun, where this hornet was noticed removing the bark of young Eucalyptus stuartiana trees growing in the Cantonment of Dehra Dun. The bark was removed clean to the wood, the thickness of the bark being \ to | inch and the width of the eaten part about the same. Do they damage the trees very high above the ground ? I cannot say. The specimens were sent in to us and we have only received this one report about this insect. At Dehra Dun I have noticed ants removing the bark from these trees. Possibly the trees were dead. It seems rather unlikely that these hornets should strip living bark from Ei(calyptus trees. I included this insect in the list because it was sent in to us as doing damage and possibly someone else might be able to corroborate damage to living trees by hornets. Chalcidtd^. ( Uniden tified Eurytom me.) This is the insect which damages apricots at Haripur Hazara in the North-West Frontier Province, by ovipositing in the young fruit. The grub bores into the kernel mside the stone, the result being that the fruit shrivels and falls olT the tree before it is fully developed. The larva lives inside the fallen stone until the next spring, when it pupates and emerges as an adult. It is probable that in some cases it may lie over for more than one year. Collection and destruction of the fallen fuiits and stones is the obvicus- remedy for control. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEE1I>G 37 {Undetermined Eurytomine.) Another species of Eurytomine, as yet undetermined, has been fciTxd to attack dhaincha pods at Pusa. We referred to this in our Annual Report for 1917-18 and have figured the various stages [fgvres exhibited]. Mr. Ghosh, will you tell us something about it ? The eggs are laid in the pods and the seeds are attacked. In each Mr. Ghosh, seed attacked there is one grub which eats the cotyledons and then pupates in the seed, the adult wasp gnawing its way out through the shell of the seed and then through the wall of the pod. There is one grub in each seed and each adult wasp gnaws a hole of exit for itself. The only satis- factory method of control is the destruction of the affected pods. We tried spraying the plants with crude oil emulsion to deter the adults from ovipositing, but this did not keep them away. Picking out the dried pods reduces the number of the wasps. Eiirytoma indi. This Eurytomine has been found at Coimbatore, the larva boring Mr. Fletcher. , and eating seeds inside agathi and dhaincha pods. It is apparently distinct from our species in dhaincha at Pusa but works in a similar way. Megastigwus indi. This also occurs at Coimbatore in agathi and dhaincha pods. I have nothing new to add about these two Eurytomines from Coim- Mr. Ratnakrishna batore. Tenthredinid^. Athalia proxiina, Klug. Athalia proxima is widely distributed in the Plains of India and is Mr. Fletcher, usually a minor pest, sporadically bad, on cruciferous plants. We have records from the following localities and food-plants :— Chakwal (Jhelum District) . Lyallpur . . . • Throughout United Provinces Jamalpur . Surat Mahim (Bombay) Poena Baroda Nagpur Bababudin Hill:^ Shevaroy Hills . Pusa Dacca Assam Cabbage, cauliflower. Turnip, cress. Appears in the beginning of cold weather on cruciferous plants. Mustard. Radish. Mustard. Cabbage, mustard, radish. C'rucifene generally. Radish, turnip, cabbage. Turnip. Turnip. Radisli, turnip, mustard, candytuft and cress {Lepidiiim safivtirii). Mustard, radish. Mustard. Ramakiislma yar. . H. L. Dutt. Ramrao. Ramaclia'jdra ) Fletcher. Samrao. Gupta. Fletciier. Misra. Kunhi Kannan. Gupta. Fletcher. Ghosh. Fletcher. 38 PKOCEEDI-NGS OF THE TH1E13 E>"rOMOLOGICAL MEETING We find it at Coimbatore also. This year it was bad in Bihar. We find Atlialia lyroxima [at Poena] all through the summer and monsoon months. I found it in July in Bellary. At Pusa it appears active only during the winter and rests throughout the summer, from about April to October inclusive. At Poona it is bad on cruciferous plants in the middle of the monsoon [about August]. It is a bad pest in Assam. Has anyone any control measures to suggest ? We usually dust the attacked plants with lead arsenate, road-dust and kerosinized ashes. We shake the plants and the larvae fall oli and they are either swept away along the rows or squashed. At Jorhat we sprinkle lime mixed with soil on to the plants, but this is not possible over large areas. Has anyone tried turning chickens into the affected fields to eat up the caterpillars 1 No. It would seem worth while trying. Atlialia leucostoma, Cam. We only know this insect from Hangu,in the North- West Frontier Province, where it was found on mustard. It probably replaces A. froxima in the North- West. {Unidentified Tenthredinid.) This sawfly occurs commonly at Shillong between May and October and often completely defoliates cultivated rose trees. The eggs are deposited in a long slit cut by the female through the bark of a young stem and, on the larvae hatching out, this slit expands until its sides are flattened and lie parallel with the surface through which the slit was originally made, causing a characteristic malformation of the stem. The larvse feed on the leaves, at first gregariously but later on, as they become nearly full-fed, they tend to become solitary. The attacked rose trees are often completely defoliated. Pupation takes place in a rough silken cocoon, which is probably formed on or beneath the surface of the soil, but cocoons have not been noticed under natural conditions. There seem to be four or five broods during the season, but adult flies PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEL'ilNii 39 and young and full-grown larvae can usually be found at any time, so that the broods are not clearly defined. Control is easy. The adult females may be caught as they are ovi- positing, or the positions where eggs have been laid may be seen and the eggs destroyed, or the larvae may be hand-picked. The life-history and damage done are shown in a coloured plate lexliibi^ed], ( Unidentified Tenthredin id) . This species is distinct from the Shillong rose sawfly, having a reddish thorax (black in the Shillong species) but acts in an exactly similar manner, the eggs being thrust into tender stems of cultivated rose, whose leaves are defoliated by the larvae. This species is common at Dehra Dun, and at Ramgaih (Kumaon District) in August 1918 I found a rose-twig which had had eggs deposited in it in the manner charac- teristic of these species, so that the Dehra Dun species probably occurs along the central Himalayas generally. In Dehra Dun this sawfly is scarcely a pest, as we have to cut Mr. Beesoa. back the rose-bushes periodically. It certaimy seemed to occur in large numbers when I was at Dehra Dun Mr. Fletcher. last August. In the case of the Shillong species, whose habits seam exactly similar, certainly every leaf on a rose-bush may be eaten and the Vv'hole bush left leat^ess. DIPTERA. MUSCID.E. Pycnosoma flaviceps, Macq. S. I. I., pp. 348-349, f. 208. This fly, as noted in the reference given, has occurred in South Kanara and Malabar as a pest of toddy, spoiling the juice. Anthomyiad.e. {CJiolum Fly). Fletcher, S. Ind. Ins., pp. 356-357, ff. 215, i^ [nee f. 215 i] (191 1). Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 178, 188, 202 (1917). This species has been recorded from Nagpur, larva in juar stem, and from Coimbatore, larva in juar, wheat, varagu {Paspalum scrobi- culatum), Panicum frmnentaceum, maize and broom corn (a kind of cholam). 40 PROCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD EXTOMOLOGlCAL MEETING . Ramakrishna ?ar. . Fletcher. Senior-White. Fielcher. This was discussed at our last Meeting and I do not think there is^ anything new to add. {CumhuFhj.) Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 178, 202, (1917). This fly also occurs at Coimbatore, the larva boring in ciimbu and Panicum miliaceiim. To me this seems to be the same as the Cholam Fly. Mr. Ballard studied these Anthomyiads and concluded that the cholam and.cwnbn flies were distinct. {Undetermined? Anthomyiad.) We have an undertermined fly which was sent in to us from Toong in the Darjiling District by the Manager of Margaret's Hope Tea Co. (letter of 27th August 1915) ; the larvse were reported to be boring into healthy lime and orange fruits. Probably the same fly is also found boring into orange fruits in the Nilgiris. This is probably the same as the " Tomato fly " referred to Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 178 (1917), as attacking rotting fruits and vegetable matter generally. In Ceylon I have also bred an Anthomyiad from brinjal. Trypaneid^. Dacus (Leptoxyda) longistylus, Wied. ' Bezzi, Bull. Ent. Res., VII, 101 (Oct. 191G). Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 137 (1917). Occurs at Coimbatore, Nagpur, Bellary and Puri, and probably throughout the Plains of India, the larva boring in the fruit of Calotropis and damaging the floss. Dacus brevistylus, Bezzi (1908). Bezzi, Bull. Ent. Res., YII, 101 (Oct. 1916). Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 243, 304. Recorded by Bezzi from Hagari, Cuddapah, and Coimbatore. Attacks melons, water-melons and cultivated Cucurbits. We have this species from Triplicane, Madras, larva in bitter gourd fruit ; Siddhout, Cuddapah, larva in melons ; Nagpur, larva in Lagenaria vidgaris. Control may be attained by picking and destroying the early attacked fruits. PROCEED [jS'GS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 4i Dacus olece, Fb. This well-known serious pest of cultivated olives in Southern Europe is known to occur in wild olives at Cherat, North-West Frontier Province, and probably throughout North-West India. So far as we know, ifc has not yet been noted to attack cultivated olives in India but the olive industry is as yet a very young one and there is little doubt but tha,t we shall have trouble with this olive fruitfly. Ch cefodacusferrvgin eiisferrvgin ew5, Fb . (1791). Bezzi, Bull. Ent. Res., VII, 104 (Oct. 1916). Recorded by Bezzi from Peradeniya, Katihar, Pusa, fruits of guava (Psidium gmjava) and loquat {Eriobofrya jajjonica). Also known from Mandalay, on mango ; Myitkyina, larva in peach and pomelo ; Maymyo, larva in mango. CluE'todaciis femigineiis dorsalis, Hendl. (1912). Bezzi, Bull. Ent. Res. VII, 104-105 (Oct. 1916). This species is known from the following localities and food-plants : — Peradeniya. Pusa ; in loquat {Eriobofrya japotuca). Coimbatore ; on mango. Taru ; larva in peach. Mandalay ; larva in mango and chilly {Capsicum friitescens). Myitkyina ; larva in pomelo and guava. _, ,, ' >• larva in SoJammi verbascifoUmn fruits. Tatkon ; ) '' Maymyo ; larva in American chillies {Capsicum sp.), pear {Pyrus communis) and peach {Primus per sica). At Ma tale, in Ceylon, I have reared it from larvae in Solatium melon- Mr. Se:iicr.Wliit gena. That is new record, but hardly unexpected as we already have it Mr. Fletcher recorded from a wild Solanv.m. Chcetodacus fernigineus incisus, Wlk. (1860). Bezzi, Bull. Ent. Res. VII, 105 (Oct. 1916). This fruitfly is known from the following locahties and food-plants : — Kumaon ; Pollibetta, larva in jak {Artocarpus integrijolia) ; Santikoppa, larva in fruit of Careya arborea ; Bangalore BeDJor-WbJte. 42 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING adult on mango leaves, larva in guava fruits ; Coimbatore, larva in mango fruits ; Tatkon and Lashio, larva in Solanum verhascijolium fruits ; Taung-gyi (adult). ChcBtodacus ferrugineus versicolor, Bezzi (1916). Bull. Ent. Res., VII, 105 (Oct. 1916). We have the following records : — Peradeniya ; Pusa, larva in guava and Achras sapota fruits ; ^ Coimbatore, larva in mango fruits. At Matale, in Ceylon, I have reared it from mango fruits. Chcetodacus zonatus, Saunders (1841). Dacus squalidus, Wlk. (1860). ,, persicce, Bigot (1889). ,, mangiferw. Cotes (1893). Bactrocera niangifercv, Bezzi (1913). Chcetodacus. zonatus, Bezzi, Bull. Ent. Ptes. VII, 105-106 (Oct. 1916). Chcetodacus zonatus, Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 216, 226, 241, 249, 307 (1917). In his paper in Bull. Ent. Res. Bezzi gives the following records : — Ranchi, " Ranchi peach pest." Pusa, larva in peach, fig. {Ficus sp., cultivated), Achras sapota, ripe bael fruit. Santikoppa, larva in Careya arhorea fruits. Amroha, Moradabad, larva in mango fruits. Pachmarhi, larva in peach fruits. Nagpur, in bottle gourd {Lagenaria vulgaris) VIII, 1913, Ratiram. [?] Taru, larva in peach VIII-IX. 1914. The Pusa collection also contains specimens from Coimbatore and Tranquebar. At Poona it is bad on mango, fifty per cent, of the fruit being attacked. It has a number of parasites but they do not seem to check it. At any rate, we should like to see some of those parasites. Chcetodacus tuberculatus, Bezzi, Bull. Ent. Res. VII, 106-107 (Oct. 1906). Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 241. This is known from Taung-gyi (adults), and Myitkyina (larvaD in peach, May- June). PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 43 Chcptodacns correctus, Bezzi. Bull. Ent. Res. VII, 107 (Oct. 1916). Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 22G, 241, (1917). . Bactrocera zonata, Bezzi {nee Saunders), Mem. Ind. Mus. Ill, 94, t. 8, f. 4 (1913). We have records of this from Pusa, larva in peach ; Coirabatore, on mango ; Guindy, adults attracted to opened termitarium, and Hagari, adults. Chcetodacns diipUcatns, Bezzi (191G). Bull. Ent. Res. VII, 107-108, (Oct. 1916). Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 241. This species seems to be known only fiom Pachmarhi, where speci- mens were bred from larvse in peach fruits by Ratiram in May 1909. Chcptodacus diversus, Coq. (1904). Dacus sp., Howlett, Ind. Ins. Life, t. 66, f. 2 (1909). Bactrocera diversa, Bezzi, Mem. Ind. Mus. Ill, 94, t. 8, if. 2-3 (1913). Cluetodacm diversvs, Bezzi, Bull. Ent. Res. VII, 108-109 (Oct. 1916). Chaiodacvs diversiis, Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 213, 307 (1917). This species was original'y bred from oranges {Citrus aiiranthim).. In his paper Bezzi gives the following records : — Pusa, adults ; Bangalore, adult ; Machavaram, Godavari Distric. ; Coimbatore ; Nagpur, larva in bottle-gourd ; Dehra Dun. The Pusa collection contains specimens reared at Peradeniya fioni larvee in mango and at Mandalay from larvse in plantain. The females are attracted by the smell of soursop {Anona muruata). Mr. SjQicf-Wiiica. That is a useful observation. The male-; of many of these fi uit flies Mr. Fie tcliar. are readily attracted to smells, but that provides no means of control as it is the females which do the damage. If we can attract the females, the ca.-e becomes different. 4i FROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING ChcBiodacus cucurbitce, Coq. (1899). Dacus cucurbitce, Coq. Howlett, Ind. Ins. Life, p. 633, f. 418 (1909). Bactrocera cucurbitce, Bezzi, Mem. Ind. Mus. Ill, p. 96, t. 8, f. 7 (1913). Dacus cucurbitce, F'etcher, S. Ind. Ins. p. 354, t. 16. Chcetodacus cucurbitce, Bezzi, Bull. Ent. Res. VII, 109-110, (Oct. 1916). Chcetodacus cucurbitcE, Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 11, 304, 305, 307 (1917). Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. The Pusa collection contains specimens from the following localities and food-plants :^ Peradeniya, pumpkins ; Coimbatore, cucumber, pampkin, melons *> Attur, water-melon ; Pusa, Litffa (pgyptia:a, pumpkins, cucum- ber, Tricliosanthes dioica fruits, Cephalandra indica stem (making galls), in wild small fruits and cultivated large fruits of Cucumis trigonus, Momordica charantia fruits, Trichosanthes anguina fruits, galls of Vitis trifolia ; Peshawar, melon shoots ; Maymyo, Luffa oegyptiaca ; Tatkon, Trichosanthes cucumerina. We discussed this species (as well as those other fruitflies also) at the last Meeting and I need only call your attention now to Mr. Fullaway's paper on the control of this fruitfly in Hawaii by means of a parasite. [See page 625.] Hamakiisbra We have bred paiasites from it [at Coimbatore]. rar. Chcetodacui caudatus, Fb. (1805). Bactro era caudata, Bezzi, Mem. Ind. Mus. Ill, 97, t. 8, f. 8 (1913). Chatodacus caudatus, Bezzi, Bull. Ent. Res., VII, 110 (Oct. 1916). Chcetodacus caudatus, Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 213 (1917). In his paper, Bezzi gives the following localities and food-plants : — Dehra Dun ; Shevaroys ; Coimbatore, on snake gourd ; Baba- budins ; Lashio ; Tatkon, larva on fruits of Trichosanthes pal- mata ; Myitkyina, on pomelo ; Taung-gyL The Pusa collection contains specimens reared at Peradeniya from pumpkins, and adults taken at Jeolikote, on mulberry fruit, and at Taung-gyi. PHOCEEDIMGS OF TliE THIKD LNTOMOLOGICAL MEETING ^5 [Chatodacus hageni ? At Matale, in Ceylon, I have reared from larvae in CilruUus fruits Mr. Senior While, a fly which I believe to be C. hageni.] Mellesis eumenoides, Bezzi (1916). Bull. Ent. lies. VII, 119 (Oct. 1916). Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 307 (1917). This species is so far only kno^\^l from Burma, where it has been reared at Tatkon from larvce in TricJiosanthes cucumerina fruits and at ;Myitkyina irom larvae in cucumber. Mj/ ioparda lis ca rpa I in a . Cleghorn, Agl. Jour. Ind. IX, 124-140, t. 13-15 (April 1914). Pioc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 306. This fruitfly is well-kno\vn in Baluchistan as attacking melons and a long account of it was given by the late Mr. .J. Cleghorn in the Agricul- tural Journal of India. So far as we know it has never been reported from the Plains of India, but in August 1915 we reared it at Pusa in some numbers fromlaivee found in fruits of Cucumis trigonus. Carpomyia vesuviana. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 11, 254 (1917). This species has been reared from her {Zizyflius jujuba) fmit at ■Coimbatore, Hadagalli (Bellary District), Pusa, Poona and Baroda. At Poona last year it was very bad on ber. The pest was so bad that Mr. Ramrao. no fruit could be had during the monsoon. It is parasitized extensively at Pusa by Biostercs carpcmijice, Silv., Mr. Fletcher. and Bracon fletcheri, Silv. If these do not occur at Poona you might perhaps try mtroducing them there. Sticiaspis ceratitina, Bezzi. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 204 (1917). This species is common at Pusa, the larva boring into bamboo shoots during the rains. It seems probable that it does a great deal more damage to young shoots than is generally realized. Sticiaspis striata, Frogg. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 204 (1917). This species has sim.ilarly been bred at Peradeniya from larv« attacking shoots of giant bamboo {Dendrocalamus stridus) but has not been found in India so far as I know. ?];OCEEDIXGS OF TPIE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING . Gough, [Ceratitis capitata. Fletcher. The Mediterranean Fniitfly, Ceratitis capitata, has not yet been found in India, but it is very widely distributed now and it is quite possible- that it may be introduced some time, so perhaps Dr. Gough will tell us something about it from his experience in Egypt. It is very bad in Egypt in gardens where several kinds of fruit are grown, such as oranges, guava, apricot and peach. In such cases it has the chance of passing through a generation in each of these fruits. If there is only one kind of fruit, for example, if only oranges are present, there is not much damage done. We have also taken it from dates. At present nothing is done to control it and no parasites are known. Have you any other fruitflies in Egypt besides Ceratitis ? No ; Ceratitis capitata is the only fruitfly so far known to attack cultivated plants in Egypt. You ought to be careful not to get Chcctodacus cucnrbitce introduced from India. It might easily be carried from Bombay or other ports in the larval state in vegetables or as an adult on board ship. We ought to be quite safe, because we have twenty miles of desert in the Suez Canal region and Port Said is also separated from Cairo by a~ belt of desert. The adult fly is very long-lived provided it can obtain food. It can live for two or three hundred days or more under favourable conditions. Whilst I was in Bombay I had some oranges which were probably Egyptian oranges ; so, if these oranges are imported, there is danger of ,the introduction of Ceratitis capitata from Egypt into India. It v/ill pay the Indian Government to stop the importation of Egyptian fruit altogether. It is not much of a trade. Quarantine is of no avail ; entire prohibition is needed. Fletcher. There certainly have been importations of oranges from Egypt into Bombay in the past. We are indebted to Dr. Gough for calling our attention to the danger of importation of Ceratitis capitata into India by this means.] Fletcher. Gough. '. Fletcher. . Gough. , Fletcher. Gough. PSILID^. (Til-Root Fly.) ? PsiJa sp., Howlett, Ind. Ins. Life, p. G29, f. 415 (1909). ? Psila sp., Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 85 (1917). ^ This fly, which is supposed to be a species of Psila, bores in the larval state in the roots of Sesamiim indicmn. It is said to.be a serious pest, at Hoshangabad and has been noticed at Nagpur and Pusa. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 47 MlCROPEZID^. Calobata sp. Fletcher, S. Ind. Ins., p. 355, f. 213. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 294, 295, (1917). This species occurs throughout the Plains of India, the larva boring into the rhizomes of turmeric and ginger, but it is not definitely known whether it is a real pest or merely attacks rotting rhizomes. It has been noted at Coimbatore, Samalkota and Hopin (Upper Burma). Nerius sp. This is an undescribed species, which will be described by Mr. Brunetti in his second volume on Diptera in the Fauna of India Series. We have it from Pollibetta in South Coorg, from Lashio in the Northern Shan States, and from Myitkyina (Upper Burma) where the adults were found in numbers on stored potatoes and on rotten potatoes which had been thrown away. Like the Calobata, it is doubtfully a pest ancTmay only breed in rotten vegetable matter ; on the other hand, it may attack sound tubers or may assist decay by carrying spores of rot-diseases from rotten to healthy tubers. I have bred it from hrinjal also at Matale. Mr. Senior-WhUe. It seems definitely attached to Solanaceae. -^^ Fletcher. Chloropid^. Oscinis thew. . ' Indian Insect Life, p. 626, f. 412. This species has been reported as mining in tea-leaves, but is not a pest so far as we know. (Cruciferous leaf-miner.) Indian Insect Life, p. 623, fig. 411. This is another species of which we know nothing regarding its statue as a pest. Agromyzid.e. (Red-gram Agromyza.) S. I. Ins., p. 357, f. 216. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 44. Andrews, Q. J. Ind. Tea Assoc. 1918, 34. [Tur-pod Fly.] This species has been bred from Cajajws indicus at Coimbatore and in Bombay and the Central Provinces, and at Tocklai and Borbhetta /Assam) the larva was found feeding on seeds of Cajaniis indicus in April. VOL. 1 E 48 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING As regards control, the only method that can be suggested is the' selection of resistant varieties. Agromyza sp. " Cowpea Agromyza ", S. Ind. Ins., p. 358, f. 217, (1914). Agromyza sp., Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 52, 56, 59, (1917). We now come to one or more species of Agromyza, one of which may possibly be A. phaseoli, which bore into the stems of pulse crops. In Ceylon and at Nagpur the larvae have been found in the stems of French beans and considerable damage may be done. At Koilpatti, Coimbatore and Tinnevelly the larva? bore into the stems of young plants of cowpea, lablab and green gram, the plants withering as the result of attack, and pupation taking place in the larval burrow. At Pusa we have a species referred to on pages 62 and 65 of the Proceedings of the Second Entomolo- gical Meeting and possibly distinct from the foregoing, whose larva bores in the stems of peas and exotic field-beans. It is quite possible that several distinct species may be concerned. Certainly there seem to be differences of food-plant .and habit. At Pusa, for example, the larvse in peas occur near or below soil-levelj whikt at Sabour they have been noted high up in cowpea stems. So it looks as if we have several species mixed up here but I cannot undertake to differentiate them. {Bakla Stem-fiy). Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 62, (1917). A fly, which may be an Agromyzid, has been reported by Ratiram as attacking stems of Viciafaba in the larval stage in the Chanda District of the Central Provinces, but I have seen no specimens and know no more about it. {China stem- fly). Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 202, (1917). This is another unidentified species found at Pusa, the larva attacking the stem of China {Paspalum miliaceum) before the ear ripens. The effect of attack is like a borer, the ear drying without forming any grain. The affected plants are easily spotted in the field. This fly was first noticed at Pusa in September 1916. PEOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 49 (Unidentified Agromyzid.?) This fly was found at Pusa in March and April 1918, the larva boring into lucerne stems in small numbers. It has not been noted as a pest but might become so. CECIDOMYIADiE. Pachydiplosis oryzce, Wood-Mason. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 169-170, tab. (1917). This Cecidomyiad occurs commonly in Madras, Orissa and Bengal but does not seem to have been noticed elsewhere so far. It attacks the r!ce-plant, the larva causing the formation of a long white gall which has earned the name of " elephants tusk disease " in some districts. We went into this insect fairly fully at the last Meeting. Has anyone anything new to say about it ? It is still very bad in Madras. Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar, ■ The flies are attracted to light. Mc Senior-White, The flies are attracted to light in fairly large numbers. The speci- Mr. Ramachandra mens were sent to Dr. Felt, who has confirmed the identification. ^^o- Light-traps are of little use as a control measure because, by the time Mr. Fletcher, the adult flies emerge, the damage has been done. It is very bad in Ratnagiri district, but on the monsoon crop only. Mr. Deshpande. It is not found on summer or winter rice. We have not had it reported from Bombay before. Mr. Fletcher. AspJiondijlia sesami, Felt. " Gingelly Gall-fly ", S. Ind. Ins. p. 364, ff. 224, 225, (1914). Asphondylia sesami, Felt, Canad. Entom. (1916). „ Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 84, (1917). This species has been found at Coimbatore, the larva'in buds of Sesa- mum indicum, and at Nadiad and Surat, the larva in immature pods of Sesamimi indicum. At Coimbatore it has also been reported as attacking flowers of cluster bean {Cymnopsis psoralioides) [Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 60-61] but it seems doubtful whether this is the same species. Dasyneiira gossypii. Felt. Confarinia sp., S. I. Ins., pp. 363-364, f. 223, (1914). Dasynema gossypii. Felt, Canad. Entom. 1916, pp. 29-30, (1916). Proc. Second Intl. Meeting, p. 103, (1917). This species was found in 1913 at Coimbatore, the larva boring into cotton buds, pupation taking place in the withered bud. It was then a E 2 50 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Kunbi Eannan, Mr. Fletcher. Dr. Gough. Mr. Ramrao. Mr. Fletcher. minor pest but does not seem to have been noticed since then, so is prob- ably only sporadic. In Mysore the larva has also been found in cotton buds, but there also it is sporadic, although considerable damage was done one year in a small area. In Mysore it is doing damage but not over a large area. Dr. Gough, have you found any Cecidomyiad attacking cotton buds in Egypt ? No, we have never noticed any in Egypt. {Cholani Cecidomyiad.) Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 183, (1917). This is an unidentified Cecidomyiad which has been found attacking cholam at Coimbatore and Udumalpet in Madras. The egg is thrust in under the glumes when the seeds are about half- ripe and the larva bores in the seeds of plants in the field. Damage may be considerable. It has also been noticed in Mysore, where the damage done was consider- able in one year. (Juar Cecidomyiad.) Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 183, (1917). This Cecidomyiad was found attacking juar at Poona in December 1916. The larva destroys the ovary of the flower of Andropogon sorgJiu7n, pupating inside, so that no grain is developed. This fly is extensively parasitized by a Chalcidid. Have you found this Cecidomyiad again, Mr. Ramrao ? It was not found this year although I made several searches for it. Most of these Cecidomyiads seem rather erratic in their occurrence. {Cumhu Cecidomyiad.) Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 188, (1917). This species has been found at Coimbatore and Mettupalaiyam, where the larva bores in seeds of cumhu {Pennisetum typhoideum) plants in the field, the eggs being laid at night. During the day the flies hide away among the sheathing leaves at ground-level. The damage may be very considerable. {Mango-leaf Cecidomyiad.) At Pusa we have a Cecidomyiad which makes numerous globular galls on mango-leaves. It is as yet unidentified although specimens were sent to Dr. Felt three years ago. We do not look on it as a pest, but last year I had a letter from the Government Entomologist in Mauritius, saying that this insect had been introduced with mango plants imported PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 51 from India and was becoming a bad pest in Mauritius, and asking for help in procuring parasites to check it. So, if any of you come across this Cecidomyiad and can get parasites, you might remember that Mr. d'Emmerez de Charmoy would be glad to have some. In Mysore we have one species making galls on mango leaves. Mr. Kunhi Kannan. TlPULID^. Conosia irrorata, Wied. Brunetti, F. I., Nemat. pp. 497-499, f. 43, t. 10, f. 5, (1912). Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 175. Conosia irrorata occurs throughout the whole Oriental Region and is ^^- Fletcher, commonly found in rice areas in India and Burma. We know nothing about its early stages but I shall not be surprised to find that the larva may feed at the roots of paddy. INCERT.E SEDIS. The following Diptera, which have been reported as pests, cannot be placed in their Families. (Safflower Stem-fly.) Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 97, (1917). This has been reported by Ratiram from Mandla, in the Central Provinces, the larva boring in the stems of Safflower and killing the plants. {Safflower Shoot-fly.) Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 97, (1917). This fly has been reported by K. D. Shroff as attacking shoots of saflBower at Mandalay. {Safflower Seed-fly.) Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 97, (1917). The larva of this fly has been reported by Ratiram as attacking safflower seeds, when on the plants, in the Central Provinces. {Juar Stem-fly.) Larvge of this fly were found at Pusa in August 1917 by Ram Saran, boring in young juar stems. This is not the same as the Anthomyiad found in juar, but has not been definitely named as yet. 52 PJaOCEEDIJ^GS OP THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING LEPIDOPTEKA. Amatid^ (Syntomid^). Euchromia polymena, Linn. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 227, f. 143, Cat. I, 297-299, f. 137 ; I. I. L., p. 434, t. 34, f. 6 ; Entl. Note 61 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 291. This species has been leported by the Entomological Assistant, Travancore, as an occasional minor pest of sweet potato, destroying the leaves. It was also found by Green at Peradeniya in January 1903 defoliating various garden varieties of IpomcBa. It is widely distributed within our limits. We have it froiQ Bassein Fort (Bombay), Dacca, Eangpur, and Coimbatore. Mr. Pillay. The eggs are laid on the leaf and the whole life-history is passed on the leaf. It is not so common on the cultivated sweet potato as on the wild variety, but it does do some damage. [Amata jmssalis, Fb.] Syntomis passalis, Hmpsn., F. I. Moths, I, 219, Cat. Phal. I, 86. Amata passalis, Hmpsn., Cat. Phal. Suppl. I, 13. Mr. Pillay. In Travancore we found Syntomis jjossalis this year on Vigna catjang- There were only two or three caterpillars on each plant. Syntomis passalis is common in Quilon, Travancore. On the 31st of August at about 7-30 a.m. a female adult was found resting on the stem of a coconut palm at a height of say 3 feet above the ground-level. There were a few male moths flying about this female probably for mating. At 8 a.m. one of the males mated with this female. Mating was done end to end. While these were in cop. another male came and attempted to mate the female under observation. Finding it is impossible he also left the place. At 2 p.m. the male severed its connection. At about 5 p.m. on 31st of August the moth commenced to lay eggs and the major portion of the eggs was laid by the next morning. This female continued to lay eggs till the 3rd of September. The eggs were laid on the sides and bottom of the cage in 2 layers one over the other. The egg is soft and round without any ornamenta- tions. The colour of the egg is white when newly laid. The total number of eggs laid by this single female was 258. The first lot of eggs laid on the 31st of August changed colour to dark and at about 11-30 a.m. on 6th September 1918, eggs hatched and the young larvae commenced to come out. The top portion of the eggs before hatching became darker still. The young larvae came out of the lids on the top portion of the eggs. PROCEEDI>fGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 53 The larva measures nearly 8 mm. in length, a few hours after emersfence and is dull white ; head round and shiny ; body is thinly hairy with dark hairs.- As the larvae are growing the bodily colour is changed to brown. The caterpillar when full-grown measures little more than 25 mm. in length and is deep brown in colour. The insect feeds openly on Cowpea ( Vigna ca(jang) and is a very slow eater. They destroy the leaves. It is only a very minor pest. The full-grown larvae could be found in nature wandering in the fields. When disturbed the larva falls down from the foodplant and curves itself. A few larvae were found dead in the cage, and it was observed that other larvae were eatmg the dead body of their own species. The larva in nature is as a rule found isolated and not in groups. The insect commenced pupation on the 2nd of October. The newly- formed pupa is .very soft and pink in colour and towards the close of the pupal period the colour became more pinkish. Abdominal spiracles and wing pads are very black. Pupa measures about 12 mm, in length and 35 mm. across the body. The insect makes a slight cocoon with silken threads and remnants of the foodplant. It makes its cocoon on the foodplants in nature. The moths commenced to come out from 16th October and continued for 2 days more. Eggs laid on olst August 1918. Eggs hatched on 6th September 1918. Pupated on 2nd October 1918. Moths emerged on 16th October 1918. The adult is found throughout the year. [Amata passalis is widely distributed throughout India (except the Mr. Fletcher. North) and Ceylon, but we have not had it noted before as attacking any cultivated crop.] Arctiad^. Celama inter nella, Wlk. Hmpsn., Cat. II, 13-14, f. 6. Has been reared at Pusa from larvae eating grains of bajra (Peviniselum typhoideum) and at Mandalay on Cajanus indicus. We have it from Pusa, Chapra, Dhamai (Bengal), Bassein Fort (Bombay), Bellahunisi(Bellary District), Mandalay and Meiktila (Upper Burma). Not a pest. 54 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING- Celama squalida, Stdgr. Hmpsn., Cat. IL 24-25 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 71. Reared at Pusa in December 1914 from larvse found on pods of sann hemp {Crotalaria juncea), but only found in small numbers. It has also- been reared at Pusa from fallen fruits of Ficus glomerata and from larv£& on flowers of Bombax malaharicum: We also have it from Peshawar. Diacrisia nigrifrons, Wlk. (?) Hmpsn., F. I. II., 12, Cat. Ill, 263. Reared in January 1908 at Poona on cotton. Not known to be a pest. Diacrisia ohliqua, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 7, Cat. Ill, 289-291 ; I. I. L., pp. 437-438, t. 35 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 47, 51, 54, 58, 61, 64,65,83,86,89,91,95, 101, 126, 127, 129, 132, 237, 263, 270,274,283,291,294,295. A common and destructive pest in most parts of India with the excep- tion of North- Western India. Our specimens are from the following localities and foodplants : — Poona ..... Chrysanthemum, mulberry, groundnut and Sesamum indicum. Central Provinces . . . Sesamum indicum and castor. United Provinces . . . Sesamum indicum (not common). Saharanpur .... Sunflower. Pusa ..... Groundnut, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, mangold wurzel, lucerne, jute, bean, Phaseolus radiatus, cotton, Abutilon indicum, tobacco, turmeric, sunflower, Jerusalem artichoke, mustard, sweet- potato, soybean and castor. Shillong. Darjiling. Bhagalpur .... Phaseolus radiatus. Nadia District .... Jute. Control : — Hand-picking of larvae in early stages when clustered. [r. Ramakrishna In Madras it is found on sweet-potato, Lantana and a number of hill ^yya^- plants. [r. Kunhi Kannan. In Mysore it is very serious on castor, ragi, etc. It occurs there in the cold weather from October to January, but is not a regular visitor. We control it by hand-picking the caterpillars in the early stages when they are feeding gregariously on leaves. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 55 It was bad [at Pusa] on white nettle, but not for the last four years. Mr. Misw. There is one peculiarity that we have noticed about this insect in Mr. Kunhi Kannan. Mysore. It lays eggs on the more shady crops first and then moves on to the others. It attacks castor by preference. When it occurs in large numbers we find eggs on all sorts of plants Mr. Ghosh, and in all places whether shady or otherwise. That may be so in Pusa, but in Mysore we first find it on castor. Mr. Kunhi Kannan. Diacrisia monfana, Guer. [suffnsa, Wlk.). Hmpsn., Cat. Ill, 302. Has been reported (I, M. N. II, 47) as defoliating plantain and (I. M. N., I. 54-55) on jute. Probably an error for D. obliqiia. ? Diacrisia sp. Bred from larvae found feeding on rice-leaves at Ranchi in Septem- ber 1915. The moth is a small, stoutly-built, immaculate, ochreous species, which has not yet been identified. Estigmene Jactinea, Cram. S. I. I., p. 368, f. 230 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 28, 57, 96, 101, 187, 189, 199, 291. A common and widely-distributed species throughout India (except extreme North) and Lower Burma. Its incidence as a pest appears to vary largely according to locality ; in Baroda, for example, it is stated * to be a serious pest every year, whilst in the Central Provinces it is not common. In most districts it seems to be sporadic and scarcely a pest as a rule. Piepers and Snellen have described the larva on numerous plants in Java {Tijds. voorEnf. XLVIII, 187-188 (1905)) and figure it (t. 7, ff. 1-3). At Pusa it has been found on sunflower, jute, castor, sann hemp, Abufilon sp., maize, sweet potato and Phaseohis mvngo, and in Southern India on cumbu, ragi, coffee, horse-gram, etc. Amsacla lineola, Fb. Hmpsn. Cat. Ill, 324-325 ; Hmpsn., F. I., II, 28 {Creatonotm emiftens, Wlk.) ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 96. Common and widely-distributed throughout India and Burma, the larva occurring on most low-growing crops, especially on Graminese,, 56 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING but not a pest as a rule. In Baroda it is stated to occur on all growing crops, and the Pusa collection contains examples reared at Balaghat (Central Provinces) on rice, at Pusa on tobacco, at Rancbi on rice, and at Palur (Madras) on varagu {Paspalum scrobiculutam). Amsada moor ei, But]. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 27, Cat. Ill, 329 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 47, 53-55, 68, 83, 87, 91, 99, 179, 187, 189, 199, 203. Occurs, together with A. albistriga, in Mysore and Madras, principally in the South Arcot district, on all low-growing crops. Also recorded from SindbyHampson. Amsacta moorei sara, Swinh. This form, sara, occurs in Bombay, where the larvae attack maize at Dohad, and in the Punjab, where it has been reared from larvae on Phaseolus radiatus at Jagadhri. A few of the specimens from Dohad have the abdomen yellow. We have reared this at Pusa from Bombay material and have prepared a coloured plate showing the life-history [exhibited]. I am inclined to think that sara is a good species, distinct from moorei, although I cannot give any morphological distinctions but the male genitalia have not been compared. ; Mr. .Jhaveri. We find it on the Bombay side also. We have used light-traps and caught a large number of moths. We, however, still got a large number of caterpillars attacking plants. We also found Tachinid and Hymenop- terous parasites on these caterpillars. Mr. Kunhi Kannan. Did you find out the proportion of males and females attracted to the light- traps ? Mr. Jhaveri. Yes ; we did count these. The following are the details : — In the year 1917, 7,581 moths were caught and out of these 3,336 were females loaded with eggs and 4,245 were males. For the greater attraction of the moths powerful lights, like Kitson lamps, were also used. In this way a large number of moths was caught before they could lay eggs, and as a result of this measure very much fewer caterpillars were found later on in our experimental fields than in the cultivator's areas. During the season 1918 we caught 3.192 moths by means of light-traps and of these 1,227 were females and 1,965 were males. Mr. Fletcher. The difference in attraction to light in this Bombay form and in that found in Southern India seems to indicate that we are really dealing with different species. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 57 Amsacta albistriga, Wlk. S. I. I., p. 369, t. 17 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 55, 91, 179, 187, 199. Occurs in Southern India, especially in tlie South Arcot and Salem districts in Madras and in Mysore, as a serious and destructive pest of almost all local crops, e.g., cholam, cumbu, groundnut, pulses, castor, etc. Also stated to occur iij Baroda, but I have not seen specimens, and the species concerned here will j)robably turn out to be ^. lineola. For control measures see South Indian Insects, pages 85, 135, and 369. In the Mysore Agricultural Calendar for the year 1915, the life- Mr. Kunhi Kannan, history and simple method of controlling Amsacta albistriga was described. It was stated there that Kumblihulas are the offspring of a kind of moth with white wings and golden banded body, which comes out in the field during the rains and lies helpless until nightfall, when it begins to fly about. As each female lays about 1,000 eggs it was explained that, if the few thousands of moths that emerge in a village are hand-picked and killed, their offspring (the Kumblihulas) will not appear and the crops will be saved from devastation. The value of the remedy has been repeatedly demonstrated in several villages where its adoption by the raiyats has yielded very satisfactory results. Nevertheless there are a few raiyats in every village who refuse to co-operate with the rest in picking work. From this want of co-operation the whole village suffers for the moths are prolific and it is enough that a few moths are left un- picked for Kumblihulas to arise in large numbers and these will be the cause of the pest the following year, whereas if all the moths are picked regularly for three or four years then the chances are that the village should be rid of the pest for a very long time. A whole village is there- fore made to suffer for the neglect of a few. To avoid this possibility a Pest Act was passed in 1917 and it was applied last year to two Hoblis, viz., Santebennur in Chennagiri Taluq and Burmanayakandrug Hobli in Holalkere Taluq. The following regu- lations were drawn up under the Act : — (1) As soon as the earliest mungar rains have fallen a diligent search is to be made daily in the morning or evening for the Kum- blihula moths which are to be picked and placed in a vessel containing water with a small quantity of kerosine floating on the surface. All moths so collected will be handed over to the headman of village for inspection by the fieldman in charge of operations in the village. 58 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING (2) Each raiyat or landholder must arrange for a daily collection of moths on his own lands. (3) The work in each village will be under the charge of a fieldman of the Agricultural Department who will keep a record of work done on each holding and of the number of moths picked. (4) In cases where raiyats or landholders neglect to carry out the above operations a report will be made to the Amildar unless delay is likely to prejudice the operations in which case the fieldman in charge of operations in the village will make the necessary arrangements to pick the moths and intimate the cost to the Amildar. The Amildar will arrange to get the work done by the raiyaf concerned but if he fails this may be done by Government Agency and the expenses incurred will be charged to the raiyats or landholders concerned and collected as arrears of land revenue. (5) Payments will be made for the moths picked at rates fixed by the Director of Agriculture but the total amount paid for picking work in any one village shall not exceed Rs. 20. (6) Picking will continue for 45 days or until such time as in the opinion of the officer in charge there is no danger of further emergence of the moths. (7) Villages in these koblis which are in the opinion of the Director of Agriculture not likely to suffer from the pest will be excluded from the operation of the Regulation. (8) Copies of a circular giving full information with regard to the pest and the measures to be taken against it will be distri- buted to the raiyats of the villages concerned not later than the 10th May 1918. (9) The officer in charge of the operations will be stationed at a central place (Sasalu) throughout the period during which combative measures against the pest have to be continued. He will visit the villages and will explain to the raiyats in detail the requirements for effectively dealing with the pest, the labour required, the period during which operations will have to be carried on and all other information necessary for the efficient control of the pest. Work has already been done in previous years, in several of the villages in these two hoblis so that raiyats were familiar with the operations. Nevertheless, well in advance of the picking season, circulars on the pest and the regulations were printed in Kannada and circulated in all the villages. What the Department proposed to do and what help was PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 59 €xpected was further explained by offieers of the Department. Tem- porary fieldmen were appointed and put in charge of the picking work in the various villages and two officers were stationed— one at Sasalu and the other at Santebennur to organise and supervise the whole work. In spite of these elaborate preliminaries it was some time before the raiyats realised fully the intentions of the Government and the extent of the powers vested in them by the Act. The almost complete failure of the early rains was another obstacle, for it indisposed them to exertions against a pest which they said would die out of itself from the want of crops to feed on. There was however no active opposition and no penalties were imposed on any one even though the cases deserving of these were not a few. In all about 10.000 moths were collected re- presenting nearly five million caterpillars. But for the Pest Act it is certain no picking work would have been done even in villages in the hoblis where work had been done previously and where the raiyats knew very well the advantages of the remedy. Creatonotus gangis, Linn. S. 1. 1., pp. 369-370, f. 231 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 28, 91, 133,206. A minor, polyphagous pest, occurring throughout India and Burma. Mr. Fletcher. Piepers and Snellen have described {Tijds. voor Ent. XLVIII, 188-189 (1905)) the larva from various wild plants in Java. In Southern India it has been found on coffee, groundnut, lucerne, etc., and we have speci- mens reared at Pusa on mama, grasses, and Mimulus gracilis, at Lyallpur on sweet potato, maize, arid and lucerne, and at Mandalay on seedling paddy. Pericallia rkini, Fb. S. I. I., pp. 370-371, f. 232 ; P oc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 75, 84, 86, 101, 237, 267, 298, 299, 303. As is implied by its specific name, this insect is usually found on castor, but it is polyphagous and has been noted in Madras on plantain, pumpkin, gingelly {Sesamum indicmn), cotton, agatlii, Calotropis, Moringa, oleander, and Colocasia. The Pusa collection contains specimens reared at Coimbatore on plantain, at Tynampet (Madras) on castor, at Calcutta on sweet potato, at Howrah on Cucurbifa pepo, at Pusa on castor and Commelina, and at Nagpur on brinjal. AVe have no examples from Burma or from India north of the United Provinces. A minor pest of castor and of garden crops. The larvae may be hand-picked. This species is attacked by a Tachinid parasite. 60 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Utetheisa pulchella, Linn. S. I. I., pp. 371-372, f. 233 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 66 (tab), 71. Occurs commonly everywhere as a serious pest of Sann Hemp {Crota- laria juncea), the larvae eating the leaves and contents of pods. It has also been reared on a wild Crotalaria and at Pusa on Heliotropium indicum. Dr. Gough. Mr. P. C. Sen. Mr. Robertson- Brown. NOCTUID^. Heliothis {Chloridea) obsoleta, Fb. S. 1. 1., pp. 373-374, f. 235 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 44, 49 (tab), 56, 58, 71, 80, 88, 90, 91, 96, 97, 115, 124, 188, 191, 206, 212, 265, 272, 273, 274, 289. This species is the cotton boUworm of America but is rarely found on cotton in India, where, however, it is a serious pest, principally of gram. Its range of foodplants is very wide. It has been reared at Pusa on gram, tur {Cajanus indicus), oats, indigo, lucerne, Malachra capitata, rose-leaves, cotton-bud, cotton-boll, maize cob, saff lower, bajra pod, marua ear, tobacco, tomato, carrot flowers, onion flowers, mangold, castor leaves and capsules, val and sunflower. We have also examples reared at Coimbatore on safilower, at Madras on Indian hemp, at Surat on gram, at Khandesh and Dhulia on cotton-buds, at Anand on tobacco, at Hoshangabad on wheat ears, at Nagpur on gooseberry [probably Cape gooseberry], cotton boll, tur and gram, at Patna on gram, in the United Provinces on poppy heads, at Lyallpur on Kusumba {Carthamustindorius) and on ])ea.--pods, at Peshawar from larva boring young orange fruit, and at Hangu, in the Kohat Valley, North- West Frontier Province, from larvae boring into rose-buds. Control is difficult, owing to the wide range of foodplants and to the larval habit of eating into the pods of gram, which is the crop most seriously attacked — so much so that in some districts gram cannot be grown on account of this insect. In the case of young gram plants, bagging with a bag-net may be tried. Spraying is hardly practicable on a field-scale and is of little use when gram-pods are formed and are being attacked. Fields which have been badly infested with larvae should be ploughed immediately after harvest to destroy the pupae in the soil and prevent the resulting moths from ovipositing on other crops. We get it occasionally in Egypt, but very rarely on cotton. It occurs on ganja at Nowgaon in the Rajshahi district. Hand- picking is done to check this pest. In the North- West Frontier Province it is impossible to grow gram on irrigated land on account of this pest. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 61 Heliothis (Chloridea) assulta, Guen. S. I. I., p. 374, f. 236 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 270 (tab), 271. Widely distributed in India (except extreme North) and Burma. A minor (occasional major) pest of tobacco, the larvae eating holes in the leaves. We have specimens reared on tobacco at Pusa, Nadiad (Bombay), Anand, Madras, and Amarapur (Burma). It has also been reared at Pusa from larvae on tur pods, Physalis minima, and on a wild Physalis. In Ceylon also the larva attacks Physalis peruviana and is found Mr. Senior- White, inside the calyx. In the case of tobacco, the larvae are fairly easily found and hand- Mr. Fletcher, picked. Adisura afkinsoni, Moore. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 173-174, f. 113, Cat. IV, 120, f. 39 ; Proc- Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 54, 56. Has been reared at Pusa from larva on Blumea sp. and at Coimbatore in January and February from larvae boring lah lab pods, on red gram {Cajanus ndicus) and on field beans. A sporadic local pest of pulses. The pupal period is a long one and cultural methods at this time offer the best chance of checking it. Euxoa spinifera, Hb. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 182 [biconica], Cat. IV, 177-179, f. 60 ; Lefroy, Ent. Mem. I, 253-257, t. 14, f. 10 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting pp. 203, 273. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, the larva usually feeding at roots of grasses, especially diibh grass. It was also reared at Pusa in February 1915 from a larva found on leaves of sweet potato and has been sent in from Gujrat (Punjab) as attacking young cotton plants. Usually a very minor pest, it occurs sporadically in enormous numbers at roots of grass. Euxoa segetum, Schiff. S. I. I., p. 375, f. 237 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 29,. 208, 280, 284. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, more commonly in the Hill Districts, in which it is a major pest of garden crops. We have examples from Mysore reared from larvae destroying coffee seedlings in the Coffee Districts, from Ootacamund reared from larvae injuring garden. ft' 62 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING and vegetable crops, from the Shevaroy Hills where the larvae were very destructive to potato in 1912, and from Gulmarg (Kashmir) from larvae attacking potato tubers ; at Pusa this species has also been reared from larvse found on sugarcane roots and on gram, at Rangpur on tobacco, at Nagpur on clover, and at Lyallpur on beetroot and gram. A serious pest of potato in the Hills. Control is difficult, the best remedy being to grub up the larvse which lie hidden by day in the earth around attacked plants. Spraying is not effective in the case of potato as the larvae prefer to feed on the roots and tubers below ground-level. Mr. Ramakrishna At our suggestion one European planter in the Shevaroys tried sliced ^^^^^- potatoes covered with a mixture of Paris Green and sugar as a bait, but it did not prove successful. Agroiis jjpsilon, Rott. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 182, Cat. IV, 368-369, f. 71 ; Lefroy, Ent. Mem. I, 259-274, t. 14, ff. 1-8 ; A. J. I., VIII, 343-354, VIII, 372-389 ; Bengal Qrly. Agrl. Jl., IV, No. 4 ; Bihar Agrl. Jl.. I, 1-19, 78-104, II, 16-35, III, 1-14, ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 8, 48 (tab), 80, 90, 206, 269, 273, 279, 282, 284, 297. • Occurs throughout Northern India and mostly in a belt of about one hundred miles wide and parallel with the Himalayas, stragghng as far as Nagpur and Jessore. Also in Ceylon. Not known in Western or Southern India. We have examples reared at Pusa on gram, tobacco, groundnut, sweet-potato, celery, cauliflower, cabbage, lucerne and wheat leaves ; at Lyallpur on beetroot, at Shahabad on opium poppy, at Nagpur on clover, at Jabbalpur on potato, at Gaya on gram, at Rangpur on tobacco, and at Jessore on mustard and linseed. It occurs regularly every year on the tal lands at Mokameh and has been effectively controlled there by the use of Andres-Maire traps. (See literature cited above.) Mr. H L Dutt ■'■ ^^^^ ^ ^^^ more details to add to the account given at the last Meeting. We have found four or five parasites f)f which two or three are Tachinids and two are Braconids. One Braconid is very promising. It appears along with the pest but the parasitization percentage is about five per cent, in the beginning and later it rises to thirty-two per cent. In 1918 it rose so high as seventy-four per cent. The parasitic grub aestivates from March to September. By the middle of September or early in October cocoons kept in the insectary dry up and we cannot get the parasites out of these. Those that remain in the field get submerged during flood time and remain under water in some cases for a couple of PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 63 months, the result being that we get very few parasites when the pest appears in the field at the beginning of the rabi [cold weather] season. If the parasite could got a good start in the beginning of the season, we might succeed in controlling the pest. Agrotis is found in the Hills and we might be able to get parasites from there in September. Do you find any difficulty in breeding these parasites ? Mr. FiatcUar We breed this Braconid quite well in the insectary up to a certain Mr. H. L. Dutt. time. To have it in sufficient numbers when required, in September, it would Mr. Fistclior. seem necessary to have a regular Hill Station to breed it. When doe- the parasitic grub commence to sestivate ? Dr. Gou^h. In March or April. - Mr. H. L. Dutt, The Andres-Maire trap has given very good results in India. It Mr. Fletcher. seems strange that it did not succeed in Egypt. The Andres-Maire trap was tried and discredited in Egypt. In Egypt Dr. Gough. Agrotis ypsilon is found also on wheat, grass and bersim, but chiefly on wheat. It is found in the basin area. It's habits in Egypt are exactly the same as in India. [See also page 622]. Agrotis c-nigrum, Linn. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 188, Cat. IV, 389-391, f. 7G ; I. I. L., t. 34 ff. 10, 11 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. -284. Occurs at Jabbalpur, usually annually, as a pest of potato. Recorded by Hampson from the Himalayas and Nilgiris. Control : — Hand-picking of larvae. Agrotis fammatra, SchifE. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 189, Cat. IV, 393-394 ; Lefroy, Ent. Mem. I, 258-259 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 48, 03, 94, 122. Occurs throughout Northern India, Pusa being apparently its most southern limt as far as records go. As a pest it is very minor and sporadic in most localities but it is stated to be a very serious pest of almost all low-growing plants (tobacco, gram, etc.) in the spring at Lyallpur and throughout the Punjab. The Pusa Collection contains examples reared from larvse on gram and tobacco at Pusa, on gram and piazi {Asphodelus fistulosi(s) at Lyallpur and on poppy at Gondra (Oudh) in March 1890. VOL. I . F 64 J'ROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING [Agrotis sp. Mr, Pv C. Sen. [An Agrotis was found doing considerable damage to ganja plants inNowgaon (Rajshahi D' strict) last year. Irrigation and hand-picking were found useful in its contol. I cannot say definitely what species it was.] Polia ccnsanguis, Gn. Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. V, 102-103, f. 23. Recorded by Hampson from Sultanpur, Simla, Dharmsala, Sikkim, Nilgris, Ceylon. ' At Pusa it has been reared in some numbers on Graminese. (C. S. 1366andC. S. 1527). Tiracola fagia'a, Wlk. Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. V, 258-259, f. 51. Recorded by Hampson from Sikkim, Bombay, Kanara and Ceylon. It is a common species at Darjiling. At Shillong in 1918 one larva was found on apple, eating leaves. It pupated on 11-12 July and emerged on 2nd August. This species has also been found on tea in Assam, but is not known to be a pest. ^ Brithys crini, Fb. Ghttula dominica, Cr. ; I. I. L., p. 445. Brithys crini, Hmpsn., Cat. V, 448, f. 125 ; Piepers and Snellen, Tijds. voor Ent. XLIX 37 (1906) ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 266, 268 (1917). Occurs throughout India and Burma and is an occasional pest of cultivated lilies. We have specimens reared on lilies at Pusa, Shillong, Daltonganj and Mandalay. Piepers and Snellen describe (Z. c.) the larva, found on Crinum and Cro us in Java. It has the habit of boring into the plants attacked. Bttr. Senior- Whit?. I have not noticed that in cases where I have come across the larvae. Mr. Fletcher. They were feeding much like those of Polytela glorioscE. Poly t la gloriosce, Fb. S. 1. 1., pp. 375-376, f. 238 ; Proc. Second En^l. Meeting, pp. 266, 268. D stributed widely throughout the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon. The black'j^h white spotted larva feeds on Gloriosa superba and on li'ies (Amar/Uidacese), often occurring in large numbers and proving a pest rivOCEEDIMGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOtilCAL ML^TING 65 in gardens. They are easily hand-picked in the early morning and *ven ng. Cirphis inularis. Butl. Hmpsn., Cat. V, 486-487, t. 91, f. 22, F. I., II, 280 [Lea:ama irro aia partj ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 162. Has been bred at Pusa from larvae on Dubh grass and in some numbers from larvse foimd on rice leaves but has never been recorded as a pest. Cirphis Jorr/ji, Diip. PImpsn., F. I., II, 274-275 [Leucania loreyi], Cat. Y, 492, f. 153 ; Piepers and Snellen, Tijds. vojr En!. XLIX, 38-39 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 49, 162 (tab.),179, 189, 195, 198. Occurs throughout India as an occasional pest of most Gramineae, •often occurring together with C. unipuncta and hence liable to be over- looked. We have (or I have seen) examples reared at Coimbatore on ■cholam, at Kirkee (Poona) on juar, at Jalalpur (Bombay) on sugarcane, ;at Surat on maize, at Jabbalpur on gram leaves, at Cawnpur on wheat leaves, at Peshawar on wheat and oats, and at Pusa on bajri {Pennisetum typhoideum), maize, rice, kauni {Selaria italica), sugarcane and guinea- .;grass. We had a few Cirphis loreyi attracted to af Andres-Maire trap at Mr. Misra. Pusa. At least, they appeared to be C. loreyi ; it is difficult to identify insects that fall into this trap. We were using ethyl acetate. Country liquor and molasses makes just as good a bait. Mr. H. L, Dutt. Cirphis compta, Mo. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 272 [Leucania cmnpta], Cat. V, 531-532 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 163. The larva is said to have been found on paddy in Southern India (Coimbatore, Madras), but does little damage. It may be a sporadic local pest. There are no specimens of this species in the Pusa or Coim- batore collections except one from Kandy and one worn and doubtful example found as an imago on a paddy-stem at Melrosepuram, Madras, in October 1907. Cirphis alhisLgma, Mo. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 275 [Leucania loreyi, part]. Cat. V, 543-544, t. 93, f. 23 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 162. Has occurred at Manganallur (Tanjore District) on paddy just ripe lor harvest, the larvse cutting off the ear-heads ; it was in large numbers f2 m PHO'JEEDINGS OF THE I'LlLltU KXTOMOt/JGlCAL MtiETING Ayyax', and did considerable damage. This species has also been bred at Pu ;af irom a larva on rice leaves and on Graminese [species not specified]. We also have moths collected in the Shevaroy Hills and at Pusa. It did not appear in 1918. I have had a coloured plate oE this done-. [(xhibited]. Cir'phis frag His, But I. Hmpin., F. I.. II, 275 [Leucania fragilis]. Cat. V, 5iG, t. 93„ f. 26 ; I. I. L., p. 44G : Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 195. The larva is said by Hampson to do '' much damage to wheat ii> Chhindwara District, Central Provinces," but it is not Icnown to haver occurred as a pest of late years. It is probably a sporadic local pest. M.:, .P. C. Son. Mr. Khare. Mr. a. L. Du(X. Mi;. Fletcher, Cir'phis unipuncta, Haw. S. I. I.,, p. 37G, t. 18 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. IGl, 179,, 189, 195, 198, 202. Occurs commonly throughout India as a major pest of Gramineae,. espec'mllj jtuir and rice. We have examples from the following locaUties. and food plants : — Paliir (Madras) Dharwar . Poona Manjari (Bombay) Sural Peshawar . Pusa Sadar Khas, Chittagong Mymensingh Lakhimpur, Goalpara Dibrugarh Kamrup (Assam) Cholam. Jtiar. Juar, maize, rice. Juar. Juar. Wheat, oats, juar. Maize, j^tar, wheat, rice. Rice. Rice. Rice. Sali dkan (paddy). Rice. It is a very bad sporadic pest of rice in Bengal, cutting the ripening ears by night. It was reported from several districts last year. The period of activity of the caterpillars is not long. Reports are usually received only after the outbreak has subsided. Does this species come in to the Andies-Maire trap ? Yes. It is not attracted in sufficient numbers to hope for any control by this means. At Peshawar the caterpillars of this and allied species of Cirphis are extensively preyed on by the larvae and adults of Calosoma indica, a large Carabid beetle, which frequents the places where the- PROCEEDINGS OF THE T3J1ED ENTOMOLO(;]CAI, MEETING G7 Cirphis^]&Tvse hide away by day. 1 do not think wc have much to add to what was said at the last Meeting regarding control of this insect. I Borolia venalba, Mo. Hrapsn., F. I., II, 279 [Leucania venalba], Cat. V, 067, t. 94, f. 32 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 163. Widely distributed and an occasio.nal pest of rice, especially in Sonthern India. Has been fowid feedinc; on rice at Pusa, Mang-anallur (Tanjore District) and Puraswakam (Madras). In Madras it seems to occur chiefly in May and October. In July 19^32 it was ^ound de^truct've •to rice at Tangalla, Ceylon. Perigea ca-pcmis. <»n. S. I. I., pp. 370-377, f. 239 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 95, 96 (Tab.), 134. Widely distributed throughout India as a sporadic destructive pest ■of SafSower. We have examples reared on safflower {Carthamus tinc- torius) at Coimbatore, Nagpur and Pusa and at Pusa it has also been reared on jute, Niger-seed, Coreopsis, Artemisia and Bbimea balsamijera. Prodsnia lit lira. Fb. S. I. I., pp. 377-378. t, 19; Proc. Second Eutl. ' Meeting, pp. 49,51,53,59,64,75,80,86,89,91,127,133,179, 189, 303, 206, 237, 264, 271, 273, 280, 283, 289, 291, 298. Occurs commonly throughout India, Burma and Ceyon. The larva is remarkably polyphagous but this species is especially a major pest of tobacco and castor. The Pusa collection contains examples from the iollowing localities and reared on the foodplants specified : — Travancore ") Coimbatore ) Bangalore Mysore Dharwar . Kirkee (Poona) Eadiad Anand District Surat Nagpiir Ciittack Daltonganj Kot Chandpur (Jessore) Ratigpni . Plantain (very minor post). Castor. Ro^^c[? bred). Laalana. J uar. Tobacco. Tobacco. Tobacco. Kesar. Dhaincha (Sesbanin ucultala). Maize, Rice. Linseed. tSesbania, tobacco. (58 PROCEEDINGS Of THB THIRD EiVTOM(jL<)Uic'Ali WEEIl>0 South Bihar Bankipur . Muzaffarpur Piisa Ghazipur (United Provinces) Kumaon .... Rabi crops on chars. ' Cauliflower. Tobacco, cabbage, cauUflower. Cabbage, potato leaves, castor leaves^ sunflower, rice leaves, jute, radish leaves,, sweet potato, vrid [Phaseohis radiatus),. lucerne, Jasmintim, groundnut, sugar- cane, Cofev-9, tobacco, cotton (very rarely), tvr (C'ajanvs indicvs), Panicvnp- sp., rose, celery. Opium-poppy leaves. Apple. Mr. Aadrews.-^ Mr. i" c makrishna Ay3''ar. Mr. Fletcher. Dr. Gfough. Mr. Senior -Wh:te. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. G. R. Dutt Mr, Kunhi Kannan. Mr. Fletcher. The moth is attracted to Andres-Maire traps. It did extensive damage to tea in 1918 in the Eastern Diiars. In Madras we find it on onions also. We find it very rarely on cotton in India, but I understand that it is. a regular cotton pest in Egypt. In Egypt it occurs mainly on cotton and bersim, but from Asiatic records we find that it is rarely found on cotton in Asia. In Egypt it occurs on bersim for the first two broods and, if we can arrange that the bershn is not watered, then the subsequent attack on cotton is less- ened. We find it also boring into potato tubers underground ; it is also found on tomato fruits and it is very bad on lucerne. It is not found on castor in Egypt. As regards attraction to the Andres-Maire traps, we find that the female moths only go to the traps after depositing; their eggs, so that this is useless as a means of control. In Ceylon it is also found on Hibiscus. Have any parasites been reared ? We have bred a Braconid and a Tachinid. We have a Tachinid in Mysore also. The differences in foodplants exhibited by Prodenia litura in India- and Egypt raise a suspicion that different species are really implicated. It would be interesting to compare the male genitalia of Indian and Egyptian specimens. Spodoptera pecien, Gn. Hmpsn., F. I, II, 264 [Caradnna j>ectinatal Cat. VIII, 252-253, f. 63. Has been reared at Pusa from larvae on dubh and other grasses and from a larva found on maize leaves. We have also moths from Peshawar, Comilla and Lashio (Upper Burma), so that it is widely distributed and likely to be found anywhere on cereal crops. Hitherto, however., it has not been reported as a pest. rROCKEDIJN'CiS OF THE THIRD EXTOIIOLOGICAI. irLKTlKC; GO Spodoptera abyssinia, Gn. Hmpsn., F. I, II, 259-260 [cilium], Cat. VIII, 254-255, f. 64 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 163. Larvae were found attacking paddy at Coimbatore in August 1916- The Pusa collection contains moths from Peshawar, Pusa and Coimba- tore, and the species occurs throughout Peninsular Ind'a. Has also been reared on Cyperus rotundus leaves at Pusa. Spodoptera manritia, Boisd. S. I. I, p. 378, t. 20 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 153, 179, 194, 199, 203. Widely distributed throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, the larva feeding on various Graminese and often a serious pest, especially of seedUng rice-plants. The following Iccalit es and food-plants will indi- cate its range in India : — Ootacamund Western Ghats near Belgaum Nagpur .... C'lihindwara, Central Provinces Betul .... Jabbalpur Pusa . . Shantipur (Bengal) Daltonganj Darjiling Chittagong Shillong Pegu Barley (doing damage). Sugarcane (occasionally). Rice, jiiar. Rice. Kodon, KutH and Suwan (small millets). Rice, grasses, and Kodon (millet). Rice, grass, sugarcane, wheat seedlings, wheat leaves, cowpea leaves, Paspalum scrobicxdatmn leaves. Rice. Rice, maize. Arnan padd}-. In addition to the control methods indicated in Soidli Indian Insects ploughing should, if possible, be done immediately after any outbieak of larvse, to destroy the pupse. Trenches may also be provided with pots of oil and water sunk level with the floor of the tiench. Spodojjteio nam lit ia is a very serious pest in Travancore, where it Mr. Pilla". occurs annually, but it is only in some years that it is very bad. Treat- ing the fields with kerosine oil, when the caterpillar is in its early stage, has been found useful as a means of control. We pour kerosine on to the water at the rate of four bottles to an acre. Amhallus spinidens has been found predaceous on these caterpillars. In Ceylon it is bad in rice-fieids when the crop is half-grown. Mr. Seaior-White. We have caught the moths in the Andies-Maire trap. Mr. Misra. 70 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. H. L. Dutt. Kt. Fletcher. We had a Imge swarm in 1918 but only on grass and the caterpillars did not attack the cultivated crops. As I have said before, it will be very useful to accumulate exact records of these outbreaks, as, by correlating these, we may be able to discover some underlying cause. Laphygma exigua, Hb. S. I. I., pp. 378-379, f. 240 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 59, 75, 80, 84, 89, 97, 98, 132, 189, 206, 208, 209, 283, 287, 290, 296, 297. Occurs everywhere throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, the larvae often joining swarms of larvae of Spodoptera mauritia. The life-history is very short so that large broods are built up rapidly under favourable conditions and considerable damage may be done, especially to lucerne and occasionally to indigo. In Egypt this species has been noted as a cotton pest, but has not been found to attack cotton in India. The Pusa collection indicates the following range of localities and food- plants : — Coimbatpre Poona Surat Central Provinces Cawnpur . . Lyallpur . Abbottabad Peshawar . Saharanpur Bhagalpur Bogra (Bengal) Pusa Brinjal. Lucerne. Maize leaver, radish, hhindi, Bimada. Linseed, safflower, pea. Gram. Gram. jute. Mr. Ramakrisbna Ayyar. Mi. J ha veil. Shajtal, brr-sim. Lucerne. Lentil. Jute. Lucerne, indigo, Mdllotus parviflora, mung {Phaseolus mnngo). gram leaves, Cehia coromandcUana, ambadi {Hibiscus can- nabinus), Amaranthus gangitus, Amaran- tkus bicolor. castor, jute, maize ears. young sugarcane, cauliflower, mangold. Control "s d ificult, owing to rapid increase and range of foodplants. In the case of crops such as lucerne, shaftal, hersim and indigo, cutting may be adjusted to check damage, precautions being taken to prevent swarming into adjacent areas. At Mokameh and Pusa this species has been found attracted to the Andres-Maire traps put out for Agroiis ypsilon. We have found it on coriander in Madras. It occurs on ma^ze in Sura^. PROCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGIC.iL MEETING 71 Once it was found bad on young jute plants on the Dacca Farm. Mr. P. C. Sen. Handpicking was commenced but fortunately there was a heavy shower of rain soon afterwards, and this cleared of? the pest. AVe got a number of moths attracted to the Andres-Maire trap. Mr. Misra. In Egypt it feeds on cotton and hershn. ^^- ®o-^s^« With us it feeds freely on hersim where this crop is grown, but, is ^^' Fletcher, not known to occur on cotton at all in India. This is another case of a pronounced difference of habit between what is supposed to be the same insect in India and Egypt. It is possible that we may be dealing with two or more insects which are really distinct although they may look alike. In this connection I may call your attention to a recent paper by Colonel Swinhoe in the Annals and Maga:ine of Natural Hisior>/ in which he shows that the moths hitherto known as Antphijvjra pyramidea and supposed to occur in Euiope, North India and Japan, really com- prise no less than four species, the true j^ydr'^'midea from Europe being replaced in the Punjab by magna and in Japan by two distinct species, surnia and yama, these distinctions being based on differences in the male genitalia. These four moths all look much alike and can only be distinguished by making microscopic preparations of the male genitalia. This shows us, I think, that we must not be too ready to assume that the species we are dealing wuth are necessarily identical v^ith others apparently similar, especially when we get differences of habit as v;e have already seen in the case of Amsada moorei and sara, and in Pro- denia litura and LapJiygma exigua in Egypt and India. I shall be glad to give Dr. Gough some Indian male specimens of our Prodenia litura and LapJiygma exigua and it would be interesting if he would compare their genitalia with those of Egyptian specimens and let us know the result. I shall be very glad to do so. 2)r. Gorg Mudaria ccrnijrons, Mo. Mooje. Ir.d. Mu^. Notes, III, G9 figs. ; Hmpsn., F. 1., II, 245, f. lo6, Cat. IX, 22G, f. 87 ; I. I. L., p. 447, f. 307 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 131. Larva} are common at Pusa in Maieh-April in pods of Silk-cotton ^- Fletctcr. {Bcmhax ma^ala icum), devouring the seeds and spoil ng the lint. A minor pes^t in ca.'es wlieie the pods are collected for the cotton. 72 rWvOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Sesamia infer ens, Wlk. S. I. I., pp. 379-380, t. 21 ; Entl. Note, 62 ; Proc. Second Entl- Meeting, pp. 145, 152, 174, 182, 187, 191, 196, 200, 204. Widely distributed in the Plains of India and an important pest of cultivated Graminese, the larva boring in the stem and, in the case of paddy, sometimes deep into the roots. We have specimens reared in the following Iccalities from the fcodplants specified :^- Coimbatore Hagari (Bellary) Navsari (Bombay) Bassein (Bombay) Surat . . ,. Seoai (Central Provinces) Nagpur Bankipur . Pusa Bag! (Elevsine coracana), sorghum- stem tenai {Setaria italica). Paddy stem. Maize. Sugarcane. Maize, juar, wheat. Wheat. Wheat, j«ar, maize, caue. Rice stem. Rice stem, rice stubble, maize, sugarcane, Guinea grass stem. Sesamia uniformis, Ddgn. Dudgeon, B. J. XVI, 402 [Nonagria] ; Hinpsn., Cat. IX, 332, t. 144, f. 25; I. I. L., t. 37, f. 7; Ent. Note" 62 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 145, 191. Apparently not very common' in India. We have examples reared at Lyallpur from sugarcane and maize, and at Pusa from maize and young sugarcane. Attacked canes show only one hole, plugged with frass. Lefroy apparently interchanged this species and the more common S. inferens {Indian Insect Life, p. 448). The differences are indicated, in the case of the moths, in my " First Hundred Notes," and the pupoe a:e easily distinguishable by the spines on anal abdominal segments. Have any parasites been found on the eggs ? In Java and Mauritius Sesamia yionagrioides is attacked by a Proctotrypid parasite that keeps it in check. [There would seem to be some error in this last observa- tion. Hampson {Cat. Lep. Phal. IX 324-325) records S. vuteria {nomi,- grioide'^) from Europe and Africa, including Madagascar and Bourbon, so that this species presumably occurs in Mauritius, but not in Java. Editor.] Mr. Kunhl KaEana. Do these Sesamia larvae attack the plant in all stages of growth ? Mr. Gkosh. Yes. Mr. KuQlii Kaanan. What is the percentage of plants attacked ? Mr. GiiosJi. I Less than one per cent. At Pusa Sesamia. inferens occurs more commonly in rice than in any other crop. Mr. Senior-White. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 73 Enhlemma dimidialis, Fb. PhaJcena dimidialis, Fb., Ent. Syst. Ill, ii, 224 (1794) ; Hmpsn., Cat. X, 797 [EubJemma]. Anthophila secfa, Guen., Noct. II, 249 (1852) ; Hmpsn., Cat. X, 77, f. 35 [Eublemma]. Micra hemirhoda, Wlk., Cat. XXVIII, 799 (1865) ; Hmpsn., F. I., II, 342 [Eiible7)wm] ; Fletcher, Kept. Impl. Entom., 1917-18, p. 104, t. 20 [EubJemma]. We have two specimens labelled " Coimbatore ; on cholam " and Mr. Fletclier. one from Travancore labelled " on cowpea,'' but it is not apparent that these examples were bred. Specimens from Paliir, S. Arcot, were noted as " flying in numbers in the groundnut fields " on 24th April 1907. The moth is common at Pusa and has been bred from larvae eating mimg flowers. We have it also from Gauhati, Eublemma olivacea, Wlk. S. I. L, pp. 380-381, f. 241 ; Froe. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 287 (tab.). Occurs .throughout India as a pest of brinjal. Our specimens are from Pusa and Dharwar, and I have seen it from Lyallpur. It is usually a minor pest, occasionally very destructive. The larva rolls brinjal leaves ; it does not " bore in the green shoots " as stated {Indian, Insect Life, p. 451) by Lefroy, who has apparently described the larva of this species under the name PJotheia nephelotis (/. c, p. 449). Eublemma silicula, Swinh. Swinhoe, A. M. N. H. (6) XIX, 167 (1897) ; Hmpsn., Cat. X, 128-129, t. 152, f. 19 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 222. Reared at Pusa from larvee in flowers of Nyctanthes arbortristis and from mango buds and inflorescence, from castor fiuit and from larvae eating grains in hajra heads, at Nagpu ■ from mango flowers and from larvae in juar heads, and at Coimba*^ore from larvoe in choJam earheads. It is found also on Lantana camara. Mr. Ramacbaudra Rao, Cretonia vegeta, Swinh. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 325, f. 175 [Swinhoa], Cat. X, 388-389, f. 123. Widely distributed throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Has Mc, fletclier. been reared at Pusa from a larva found on rice leaves, but is not known to be a pest. 74 PE,OC'EEDl]SGS OF THE TillED E-NTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Amyna octo, Gn. Hmpsn., F; I., II, 251, f. 142, Cat. X, 468-470, f. 132 ; I. I. L., p. 448 ; Proc. Second Eiitl. Meeting, p. 68. Occurs commonly througliout India, Burma and Ceylon. Has been reared at Dharwar from a larva found boring potato [stem or tuber not stated] in the field, at Palur, S. Arcot, from larvae on sann-hemp, and at Pusa from larvae on indigo and lucerne leaves, on jatadhari leaves {Celo- sia cristata), on Phaseolus aconitifolius (boring pods), on leaves of sann- hemp. Usually a very minor and occasional pest of the crops indicated, but sporadically in large numbers on indigo. Lefroy stated that the larva has been reared on sweet potato also. Amyna j^'-incium, Fb. Hmpsn., Cat. X, 472-474, f. 133. Amyna selenampha, Guen. ; Hmpsn., F. I., 11, 250 ; I. I. L., p. 448. The larva is described by Hampson (Cat. X.. 474) as feeding on Croton iiglium (Croton cdl plant) and C. aromaticiim in Ceylon, sometimes a serious pest of the former (Green). Not noticed as a pest in India, but the species is abundant almost everywhere and the moths often occur in swarms, especially in the Hills. Liihacodia signifera, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 304 [Hyelopsis], Cat. X, 504-505 ; I. I. L., p. 455 [Hyelopsis]. Widely distributed throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Has once been bred at Pusa from a larva on leaves of a millet {Panicum, sp.) and once from a laiva on rice-leaves. Not known to be a pest. Naranga diffusa, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 333-334, f. 177, Cat. X, 631-632, f. 167 ; I. I. L., p. 456. Has been bred at Pusa on two occasions from larvae found feeding on leaves of rice, but is not known to be a pest in India. It has been recorded as found on paddy in Formosa by Shiraki, who figures the life- history. The female moths come to light freely, but the males rarely. PUOCEEDINGS i»l' THt: THILtD I-.MOMOLOGIC AL MEETING Tf. Tarache mormoralis, Fb. Hinp.=-n., Cat. X. 747-749, f. 209. Tmache tropica, Guer. ; Hmpsn., F. I., 11, 314, f. 170 ; I. T. L.„ p. 45G. t. 37. ff. 1-4. Has been reaied at Pusa on leaves of bariar {Sida rhombifolia). May occasionally attack malvaceous crops but not yet noted as a pest. Tarache crocata, Guen. Hmpsn., F. I.. II, 314-315, Cat. X, 754-755, t. 172, fF. 15, IG ; Pioc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 133. 'Widely distributed throughout the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva is sometimes found on jute but is scarcely a pest. A female, captured in a jute-field at Samalkota on 17tli June 1909, is noted by Y. Ramachand a Rao as having laid 220 eggs. Tarache nitidula, Fb. S. I. I., pp. 381-382, f. 243 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 101. Occurs commonly throughout the P'ains of India and is an occasionaT minor pe?t of cotton. Tarache opalinoides, Guen, S. I. I , p. 382, f. 244 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 101, 129. Occurs in Central and Southern India as a very minor pe:;t of cotton. Also on Abutiion indicnm. at Pusa, (C. 584.) Tarache notabilis, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I.. II. 311, Cat. X, 783-784, t. 173, f. 24; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 101. Occurs throughout the Plains of India as a very mine: pest of .cotton. Has al-o been reared on brinjal at Nagpur. Bombo'elia jocosatrix, Guen. S. 1. 1., pp. 382-383, f. 245 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 218. We have specimens from Chandragiri, Koilpatti and Coimbato e in Madias, from Poona and Pusa, reared from larvce on mango leaves. A sporadic minor pest of mango. 76 PEOCEEDIA'GS OF THE THIED EMOMOLOGICAL MEETING Bombotelia sp. Larvae were found at Pusa, feeding on tender mango leaves in some numbers in May 1917. This species is very close to B. jocosatrix but is distinct and is appa- rently undescribed. Chlumetia transversa, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 376, f. 207, Cat. XI, 68, f. 25 ; I. I. L., p. 450 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 220. A minor pest of mango, the larva boring the shoots and sometimes feeding on the leaves and inflorescence. Stated to be a bad pest of young grafted mangoes at Poona, boring the shoots. Occasionally on litchi also. Our specimens are from : — Travancore Coimbatore Chandragiri (Madras) Poona Bombay . Pusa Noakhali (Bengal) Mango shoot. Mango. Mango leaves. Mango shoots. Mango shoots. Mango shoots leaves. (Moth only). and inflorescence, litchi Mr R3,mrao. Chlumetia transversa is a bad pest of mango in Poona. The cater- pillars bore into the shoots and the attacked shoot does not flower the next season even if the larva is extracted. The method of cutting back to 1he point of injury does not seem helpful. We have reared parasites from this species but they do not check it effectually. The younger grafted plants suffer seriously from the a'tack ; the older plants need not be taken into account as the damage in their case is negligible. Symitha nolalello, Wlk. Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal., XI, 244, f. 86. Ml. Fletcher. Hampson gives the distribution of this species as, Calcu /.a, Kaiwar, Ceylon, Java. At Pusa the larvae were found in numbers defoliating Lagerstrcbmia flosregina in August 1917. * Nanaguna breviuscula, Wlk. Hmpsn., Cat. XI, pp. 252-253, f. 90. Cletthara valida, Wlk. ; Hmpsn., F. I., II, 384. Bred at Mandalay in January 1910 from larvae on Cajanus indicus and at Pusa in April 1916 and May 1917 from larvae on mango inflores- PROCEEDINGS OE THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 77 •cence. We have also a specimen from Peradeniya and the species is widely distributed throughout India, from Kashmir to Sikkim and in "Southern India and Ceylon. Giaura septica, Swinh. Hmpsn., Cat. XI, 283 ; I. I. L., p. 4.50 [Cletthara] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 47. Has been reared at Pusa and Surat from larvae on velvet bean and soy bean, of which it is a sporadic minor pest. Also at Pusa from larva on Bntea frondosa flower. Widely distributed throughout India, Bui ma, Ceylon and the Andamans. Sekpa celtis, Mo. Hmpsn., Cat. XI, 298, f. 105 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 218, 229, 246, 264. Plotheia celtis, Hmpsn., F. I., II, 370 ; I. I. L., p. 449, f. 308. The Pusa collection contains reared examples from Coimbatore on Odina wodier and from Pusa on litchi leaves, mango leaves and buds, rose leaves, Terminalia catappa leaves and Lorantlius leaves. Other recorded foodplants are Fkut, glomerata and Gmelina arhorea. The species occurs throughout India and Burma as a spora'dic pest (f^ometimes serious) of the plants and trees mentioned. Plotheia nephelotis, Meyr. MS. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 287. A minor pest of brinjal, on which it has been reared in Travancore and at Calicut, Coimbatore, Tiruvallur and Melrosepuram (Madras), Nagpur, Lyallpur and Pusa ; also at Hagari (Bellary District) on a wild f-olanaceous plant. The larva attributed to this species by Lefioy {Indian Insect Life, p. 449) is probably the larva of Euhlemyna olivacea. Tne specific name nephelotis is an unpublished manuscript name. Brinjal Sanothrlpine. S. I. I., p. .383, f. 246. Has been reared at Coimbatore and in Malabar on brinjal and at Hagari on Solanum xanthocarpum. This is probably the same as the preceding. Dr. Gougli. 78 PROCEEDIXGS OI-' THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Eligma narcissus, Cr/ S. 1. 1., pp. 383-384, ff. 247-248 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 263. Occurs throughout Southern India on AilantJnis, which is sometimes complerely defoliated by the larvae. Farias insuJana, Boisd. S. I. I., pp. 384-385, t. 22; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp, 104, 122, 123. 127, 129, 130. Occurs throughout the Plains of India and Burma a> a serious pesf o: cotton. Also attacks hliindi {Hibiscus esculentus) and has been reared at Pusa fiom buds and flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and on kangJiani {Abutilon indicum). Farias insulana has become are in Egypt since 1912. We ascribe th's to the plant legislation against Pink BoUworm. Farias was a maj(ir pest at one time ; but now it does not trouble us. rir. Seaior-Wliits. Mr. Fletclec 3r. Gougli. Mr. P, C. Gen Farias cupreoviridis, Wlk. Xanthoptera cupreoviridis, Wlk., T. E. S. (3) I, 92 (1862). Farias cupreoviridis, Hmpsn., Cat. XI, 505-506 ; S. I. I., t. 22,. f. 7 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 127, 135. Farias chomataria ; Hmpsn., F. I., II, 133 ; I. I. L., p. 456. Occurs in most parts of the Plains of India. Our specimens are from Hazaia District, Bassein Fort (Bombay), Nagpur, Pusa, Chapra, Cuttack and Dacca. Has been reared at Pusa on bariar {Sida cordifolia) and at Na^ypur on wild malvaceous plants. At Cuttack also the larva has. been found bor'ng into jute capsules as a very minor pest. In Ceylon it occurs on garden hollyhocks. Farias fabia, Stoll. S. I. I., p. 385, t. 23 : Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 104, 122, 123, 127, 129, 130. Occurs throughout the Plains of India and Ceylon as a serious pest of cotton, boring the young shoots and bolls and sometimes feeding on the flowers. Also on bh'ndi, boring the pods, and has also been reared at Pusa on Hibiscus a^.ehnoschus and fiom flower bud of H. rosa-sinensis. Farias fabia does not occur in Egypt. We only get F. iiisulana. Last year Farias fabia was found bad on shoots and bolls of cotton grown on the Dacca Farm. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 79 We shall defer discussion on these Cotton Bollworms until we take Mr. Fletchen. the papers dealing specifically with Cotton Pests. Carea subtilis, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 422, Cat. XI, 542-543, f. 208. Has been reared at Coimbatoie on Ficus and Eugenia jamholana. Not known to be a pest. I have found Carea subtilis commonly on Eugenia jambolana at Coim- Mr. Ramakrishna batore. Ayyar. Beara dichromeVa, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 428, Cat. XI, 581-582, f. 227. Widely distributed in India and Ceylon. Has been reared at Pusa jyij.. Fletcher, from larvae on leaves of Trema sp. and ber {Zizyphus jujuba), but is not a pest. Acontia transversa, Guen. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 323, f. 173, Cat. XI, 654-655, f. 268 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 123. Has been reared from larvae on bkimli leaves at Surat, Nagpur and Pusa, but is scarcely a pest. We have it also from Rangoon. Acontia transversa occurs on hollyhock in Ceylon. jjj.^ Seni-r-White. Acontia intersepta, Guen. Hmpsn.. F. I., II, 323, Cat. XI, 656-657, f. 270 ; I. I. L., t. 37, f. 9 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 101, 123. Has been reared at Nagpur on bhindi and at Pusa on Sida, but is not Mr. Fletcher, known to be a pest. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Acontia malvcB, Esper. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 322, Cat. XI, 658-659, f. 271 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 101, 123, 129. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Has been reared from bhindi at Surat and Nagpur and on Abutilon indicum at Nagpur, but is scarcely a pest. We also have it from Serai Salah (Hazara) and Myingyan (Lower Burma). VOL. I o 80 PROCEEDINGS CF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Acontia graellsi, Feisth. S. 1. 1., pp. 385-386, f. 249 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 101. We have reared examples from the following localities : — Coimbatore Kadambokani (Madras) Surat Akola (Central Provinces) Nagpur Shripur (Bengal) Lyallpur . Cambodia cotton, gogu. Bhindi. Bhindi. Bhindi. Ahutilon indicum. Cotton flower. Bhimli. It is a minor pest of cotton and bhindi. Anna coronala, Fb. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 502-503 [Ophiusa], Cat. XII, 427-428, f. 101. The larva is found commonly on Quisqualis and may be a minor garden pest. We have it from Pusa, Chapra and Darjiling, Insein and Minbu, and the moth is widely distributed in India, Burma and Ceylon. Mr. Senior-White. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Misra. Achcea Janata, Linn. {= Ophiusa melicerta, Drury). S. I. I., pp. 386-387, f. 250 ; Entl. Note 63 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 86, 232, 235, 265. Occurs throughout India and Ceylon as a serious pest of castor. Has also been reared at Pusa on rose and dudhi {Euphorbia pilulifera) and at Nagpur on rose. Achcea jana'.a is a bad pest of rose in Ceylon. In India it occurs occasionally on rose but has never been noted as a pest. With us it is a major pest of castor and we always have trouble with it every year at Pusa on the castor grown for the eri silkworms. It is controlled by hand-picking. There is a parasite which attacks it, but this appears late in the season. Parallelia analis, Guen. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 501 [Ophiusa], Cat. XII, 586, t. 221, f. 1. Was sent in in October 1913 from Mow Bazidpur, Darbhanga Dis- trict, Bihar, as defoliating Phyllanthus emblica. Widely distributed throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, but not otherwise known as a pest. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 81 Parallelia algira, Linn. Hmpsn., F. I., 11, 500-501, f. 280 [Oj)Musa\, Cat. XII, 596-598, f. 133. Occasionally found feeding on castor together with AchcBa Janata. We have a specimen bred from a larva found on castor at Cuttack and it was recorded as defoliating castor at Peradeniya in July 1903 and is likely to occur as a sporadic pest on castor throughout the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon. Grammodes geouie'rica, Fb. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 531, f. 296, Cat. XIII, 18-20, f. 4 ; I. I. L., p. 451. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva is stated {Indian Insect Life, p. 451) to feed on rice and we have a specimen from Balaghat (Central Provinces) labelled " on rice," but it is doubtful whether this was actually bred. Stated to feed on grasses at Nagpur. Hampson gives Polygonum j^ersicaria and Cistus salvifolia as the food- plants in Europe. The larva is figured by Hofmann (Raiipen, t. 36, f. 24). Grammodes stolida, Fb. S. I. I., pp. 387-388, f. 251 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 89. Widely distributed throughout India and Burma and is an occasional minor pest of linseed in Madras. Chalciope hyppasia, Cr. Hmpsn., Cat. XIII, 27-29 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 80, 206. Trigonodes hyppasia, Hmpsn., F. I., II, 527 ; I. I. L., p. 451, f. 311. Common throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, but not. known as •a pest except on one occasion when it was found defoliating indigo at Champaran on 1st April 1901 ; the Pusa Collection contains one of these moth^ reared on indigo and the identification is certain. It also feeds on lucerne. Pe'.amia Jrugalis, Fb. Hmpsn., Cat. XIII, 87-89, f. 23 ; S. I. I., pp. 388-389, f. 253 [Remigia]. Occurs abundantly throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva feeds a; a rule on wild grasses but occasionally invade ^ cultivated areas as a minor pest of Graminea). It has been reared at Kannapuram (N. Malabar) on paddy, at Nagpur on juar and grasses, and at Pusa on paddy, sugarcane, Qypzrus rotundus and Phaseolus mungo radiatus. In Ceylon it attacks Guinea-grass. Mr. Senior- White. g2 82 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEIiTING Pelamia unda*a, Fb. S. I. I., p. 388, f. 252 [Remigia] ; Hmpsn., Cat. XIII, 91-93, f. 25 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 80, 102. Remigia archesia, Cram. ; Hmpsn., F. I., II, 526, f. 293 ; I. M. N., V, 159 ; I. I. L., pp. 450 451, f. 309. Mr. Fletcher. Occurs abundantly throughout India, Burma and Ceylon and is a m^nor pest ot pulses as a rule, feeding mostly on the lower leaves, but is sometimes extremely abundant on indigo. The Pusa Collection con- tains examples from the following localities and reared on the food- plants noted : — Palur (South Arcot) . . . Indigo. Dharwar (Bombay) . . . Boring into potatoes in the field. Na»pur ..... Cotton (very minor pest). Pusa ..... Vrid, cowpea, arhar. Pericyma glaucinans, Guen. S. I. I., p. 389, f. 255 [Homoptera] ; Hmpsn., Cat. XIII, 303-304, f. 76. A minor pest of Sesbania spp. We have it from Rangpur on Ses- bania, from Cuttack on Dhaincha {Sesbania aculeata), and from Coim- batore on Sesbania cegijpiaca. Plusia ni, Hb. Hmpsn., Cat. XIII, 468-470, f. 121 [Phytometra] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 282. Occurs throughout India. We have it from Pusa and Lahore on cauliflower and from Surat and Kumbharia (Bombay) on cabbage. Other larval foodplants include safEower, nettle and Solanum, and in the United Provinces and Gujarat it is said to occur on opium poppy also. It is scarcely a pest. Plusia limbirena, Guen. Hmpsn., Cat. XIII, 472 [Phytometra] F. I., II, 568 ; I. M. N.,. V, 162 ; I. I. L., p. 452 ; Ent. Mo. Mag. 1900, 127 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 80. Has been recorded as feeding upon indigo in Bihar. Possibly the identification is incorrect, as this species is recorded only from the Nil- giris and Ceylon in Hampson's Catalogue. PllOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 83 Plusia daub 31 Boisd. Hmpsn., Cat. XIII, 477-478 [Phjtmnetra] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 50. Has been reared at Pusa from larvae on mint leaves and from piipas found on cress, but is not a pest. Occurs throughout India. Plusia chalcijfes, Fb. Hmpsn., Cat. XIII, 484-486, f. 122 [Phytometra] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 51, 53, 68, 306. Plusia eriosoma, Doubl. ; Hmpsn., F. I., II, 509-570, f. 321. Occurs throughout India and Ceylon. The larva is polyphagous and is a minor pest of various crops. The Puf^a Collection contains specimens from the following localities and foodplants :■ — . Palur (South Arcot) . .' . Groundnut, sann hemp. Kumbliaria (Bombay) . . Cabbage. Nagpur ..... Jute. Pusa ..... Clitoria ternatca, mint, hicerne, senj'i, sann hemp, mama leaves, urid leaves, titoth leaves {Phaseolus aconitifolius), pea, Coleus sp., Icadu leaves (bottle gourd, Lageiiaria vulgaris). It has also been recorded on indigo in Champaran in September 1901 and at Kotagala (Ceylon) as defoliating tomato plants in January 1905. In Ceylon we get it on onion and brinjal. Mr. Senior- White, Plusia signata, Fb. S. I. I., pp. 392-393, f. 259 ; Hmp^n., Cat. XIII, 491, t. 237, f. 24, [Phytometra] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 68, 91, 271, 282. Recorded on cabbage, as an occasional pest in Bihar (Lefroy), on Mr. Fletcher, tobacco, groundnut, green gram and sann-hemp in Southern India. There is, however, some doubt regarding identification. (See also P. chalcytes). Plusia albosfriata, Brem. aiul Grey. Hmpsn., Cat. XIII, 496, t. 237, f. 29 [Phytometra]. Plusia oxygramma, Hmpsn., F. I., II, 575. Found in August 1913 in some number on cultivated asters at Hebbal Jarm, Bangalore. Also occurs at Pusa but not bred there. 84 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Plusia nigrisigna, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 570, Cat. XIII, 536-537 [Phytomefra] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 49, 271. Occurs throughout India and is a sporadic minor pest, chiefly of gram. We have examples from : — Peshawar . Lyallpur . Cawnpur . Kaira (Bombay) Pusa Bersim. Gram, foria (rape ; Brassica campestris). Gram. Lettuce. Gram, mint, tobacco, pea, lucerne. Plusia peponis, Fb. S. I. I., p. 394, f. 261 ; Hmpsn., Cat. XIII, 573-574 [Phyto- metra] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 50, 303, 307. Plusia agramma, Guen. ; Hmpsn., F. I., II, 574 ; I. I. L. p. 452, t. 37, f. 11. Occurs throughout India, Ceylon and the Andamans and is a minor pest of gourds. We have it from Pusa on bottle gourd and from Pu?a and Coimbatore on snake gourd. Plusia orichalcea, Fb. S. I. I., pp. 393-394, f. 260 ; Hmpsn., Cat. XIII, 580-581 \Phyl07netya] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 47, 59, 63, 80, 89, 95, 280, 282, 283, 285, 298. Occurs throughout India and Ceylon : apparently not recorded from Burma, although it occurs in Assam and probably in Burma also. The larva is polyphagous and is a minor pest of garden crops especially. Our examples are from : — Palur (South Arcot) Poona Nagpur Jallandhar Lyallpur . Patna Muzaffarpur North Bihar Pusa Parachinar Peshawar . Indigo. Cabbage. Cabbage, radish. Cauliflower. Turnip. . Pea. . Brassica sp. . Flax. Pea leaves, linseed, carrot, senji, lucerne- salad [probably lettuce], celerj', potato, cabbage, sarson (Brassica campestris), cauliflower, gram, Carthamus tinctoriusy Nigerseed, wild ajivain plant. Hclianthtts tuberosa leaves. Bersim PROCEEDIIN'GS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 85 Plusia orichalcea is one of the few insects that feed on umbelliferous Mr. Senior- White, plants, such as carrots and aniseed. It is highly parasitized. Rivula bioculalis, Mo. Hmpsn., F. I., 11, 334-335, f. 178. Widely distributed throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. The Mr. Fletcher. larva has been found at Pusa on leaves of rice and Panicum, but it is not known as a pest. Cosmophila fulvida, Guen. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 409-410, f. 226 ; 1. 1. L., p. 453 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 129. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Has been reared at Pusa on Abutilon indicum and Sida sp., and Hamp.-on gives Walfheria indica as a food-|!]ant. Not yet noted on cultivated plants but may be expected to be found on Malvaceae (cotton, hollyhock, etc.). Cosmophila sabulijera, Guen. S. I. I., pp. 390-391, f. 256 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 133. Occurs in all jute-growing districts as a major pest of jute. It is known from South Arcot, Godavari District, Samalkota, Dharwar, Belgaum, Poona, Nadiad, Nagpur, Pusa, Dacca and throughout Bengal. If the plants are sufficiently young and water is standing in the field, control may be effected by running a film of kerosine over the water and disturbing the plants, when the larvae drop. Cosmophila sabulijera is a regular bad pest of jute in Bengal du ing Mr. P. C. Sen. the rainy season. As far as remedial measures are concerned, on the Dacca Farm hand-picking is done although it is tedious. Dragging a rope shghtly moistened"^ with kerosine so that it may not injure the plants was also tried but was not found to be of much use, as the cater- pillars, which fall down at the time of operation, crawl up the plants again and feed on the leaves. This, of course, disturbs them when feeding. Cosmophila indica, Gn. S. I. I., p. 391, f. 257 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 100, 123, 125, 126. [C. erosa, nee Hb.]. Occurs throughout India as a sporadic pest of cotton. We have Mr. Fletclier. examples reared on cotton from Dharwar, Poona, Jalgaon (Khandesh) 86 PROCEEDINGS OP THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Senior- White. Mr. Pillay. Mr. Fletcher. Bassein Fort (Bombay), Surat, Ajmer, Narsingpur, Cawnpur and Pusa. It has also been found on hhindi {Hibiscus esculentus) at Lyallpur, Pusa and Surat, and at Pusa on ambadi {Hibiscus cannabinus), bariar {Sida cordifoUa), hollyhock, urid and Bombax malaharicum. The larvae are best controlled by hand-picking. In Ceylon it occurs in the North-East but not in the South- West. It breeds in October. In Travancore it occurs on Hibiscus. Lyncestis amphix, Cram. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 479, f. 267 ; I. I. L., p. 447, f. 306 [Euscotia sp.]. Has been found at Pusa feeding on Ocimum sanctum and 0. canum but is scarcely a pest. Mr. Ramrao. Catephia inqu-ieta, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 484 ; I. I. L., p. 454, t. 28, ff. 4, 5 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 291. A minor sporadic pest of sweet potato in North Bihar. Also reared at Pusa on young sugarcane. We have also moths from Myingyan (Upper Burma) and from Coimbatore and Siruguppa (Bellary). Azazia rubricans, Boisd. S. I. I., p. 389, f. 254 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 51, 59. A minor and sporadic pest of pulses in Bihar and Madras. Has been reared at Pusa on cowpea, wid, guar, and moth {Phaseolus aioniti- jolius). Ophideres fullonica, Linn. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 560-561, f. 317 ; Entl. Note 64 ; Tryon, Queensland Agricl. Journ. II, pt. 4, t. 18, 20, 21, 22''^ (April 1898) [Otkreis] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 212, 235. The moths have been recorded {Indian Museum Notes, V, 118) as piercing pomelo fruits at Tardeo, Bombay, causing a loss of 25 to 33 per cent, of the fruits, which drop off the trees. Also stated to damage orange fruits around Poona and at Nagpur, and to suck grape-fruit in the Punjab. The species is widely distributed throughout India and is undoubtedly a pest in all fruit-growing districts. At Poona I have not been able to find the larvae although the adults come in large numbers and puncture the fruits at night. We burn the moths off by means of torches and collect them by means of a small PHOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 87 "hand-net by the light of a lantern. I have tried to trap the moths with fermented toddy but only caught one specimen in fifteen days. .^.^^^The early stages were described and figured in Moore's monograph of Mr. Fletcher, the Ophiderinse of the Indian Eegion in the Transaction'^ of the Zoological Society and also by H. Tryon in the Queensland Agricultural Journal, Vol. II, t. 18, 20, 21, 22' (April 1898) ; Tryon states that the larvae feed on several distinct species of Menispermacea3. How did you try the trapping of the moths ? I placed the fermented toddy in narrow-mouthed earthen vessels, Mr. Ramrao. •one jar to every five trees. What is the percentage of loss to oranges at Poona ? Mr. Fletcher. I have calculated that on an aveiage, taking one season with another, Mr. Ramrao. from twenty to forty per cent, of the fruits drop off when nearly ripe. Punctures are made by these moths and only occasionally fruit-flies lay eggs in the wounds so caused. Fruit-flies do not harm oranges in Poona to any extent, as out of several hundred fruits examined only a few were found to contain fly maggots. Perhaps oil of bergamot might be used to attract these moths. Dr. Gough. At Nagpui' we tried spraying the trees with phenyle as a deterrent Mr. Khare. but I am not sanguine of the results. What is the nature of the iniurv caused? Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. The moths probably inoculate some bacillus whilst sucking the fruit Mr. Ramrao. and this sets up fermentation from the point of puncture and this extends right up to the stalk, so that the fruit drops down within three days of the puncture. Uninjured fruits also drop down. There is some relation between Mr. Kunhi Kannan. the watering of the orange plants and the falling of the fruits. I have not been able to find the caterpillars so that I do not know Mr. Ramrao. where the moths come from. The caterpillar feeds on jungle creepers and is not easy to find, as a Mr. Fletcher, rule. I doubt whether much can be done"to check it in the larval stage. Similar fruit-piercing moths have been noted in South Africa. Did you ever come across any when you were in South Africa, Dr. Gough ? No ; I never heard of any there. Dr. Gough. Calpe ophideroides, Guen. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 564, Entl. Note 04 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 240-250. Has been recoi'ded as a destructive pest of nectarines and peaches Mr. Fletcher, in the Kumaon Government Gardens, the moths piercing and sucking the fruit in exactly the same way as in the case of O.fullonica. 88 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Raparna nebuhsa, Mo. Hmpsn., F. I., Ill, 25 ; I. I. L., p. 457 ; Proc. Second EntL Meeting, p. 80. Recorded by de Niceville as found abundantly on indigo in Cham- paran during the rains, but not noted of late years. Perhaps a sporadic pest. Simplicia robustalis, Guen. Hmpsn., F. I., Ill, 36, f. 16 ; S. I. I., p. 395, f. 262. Widely distributed throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Not a pest of growing crops, the larva feeding on dry vegetable matter, but it occasionally does some damage to house-thatching and may also attack crops (e.g., cholam) if stacked after harve'st. Has been reared at Pusa on rice and on dry leaves of sissu {Dalbergia sissu), at Coimbatore on roof -thatching, and at Baddagama (Ceylon) on dry tea-prunings. Nodaria externalis, Guen. Hmpsn., F. I., Ill, 56. Has been reared at Pusa from larvae on rice leaves. Not a pest. HyhlcBci piiera, Cram. S. I. I., p. 392, f. 258. A serious pest oi teak {Tectona grandis) in all teak-growing districts. Has also been i eared on Millingtonia at Bombay and Kodanur (Kurnul District, Madras). Lymantriad^. Orgijia postica, Wlk. S. I. I., pp. 395-396, f. 263 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 77, 87. Occurs throughout India except the North- West. The larva is poly- phagous and has been found at Coimbatore on castor and Enjihrina indica and at Pollibetta (Coorg) on Erythrina lithosperma and geranium. Also recorded on rose (B. J. XIII, 412). A sporadic minor pest of the plants mentioned. Mr. Ramakrishna It damages castor at Coimbatore. We have done a coloured plate ^yyar. showing its life history [exhibited]. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 89 LceJia devestifa, Wlk, Hmpsn., F. I., I, 441. Has been reared at Pusa in small numbers from larvae found on Mr. Fletcter. sugarcane and Guinea-grass. Not a pest. Thiacidas postica, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 445-446, f. 307 ; 1. 1. L., p. 459, f. 313 ; B. J. XVI, 199 [laiva] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 253. Occurs throughout India and Burma. The larva is common on Zkyphus but is scarcely a pest. Our examples are from Pusa, Bilaspur and Coimbatore. Dasychira horsfieldi, Saund. Hmpsn., F. I. I, 448, f. 309 ; B. J., XIII, 414 [larva]. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva feeds on tea and sometimes becomes a pest in the Tea Districts. One specimen reared from apple leaf (without locality). Dasychira mendosa, Hb. S. I. I., p. 396, f. 264 ; Proc. Second Entl, Meeting, pp. 21, 28, 87. Widely distributed throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva is polyphagous. Our records shovr the following localities and foodplants : — Pusa Sibpur Ficus rjlomerata, mango leaves, . Potato leaves. jute leaves, sann hemp peach leaves. Nagpur Hollyhock. Poona Surat Ganja. . Linseed. Hagari (Bellary) Colombo . . Castor. . Cinnamon. Mandalay . Cajamis indicvs. Also recorded from coffee in Southern India and on Tennina^ia catajypa by de Niceville. A minor pest, of Uttle importance, as a rule. The larva can be hand- picked. In this case probably at least four species are mixed up under the Mr. Senior- White, name mendosa. The foodplants and larvae differ in the various forms. That is quite possibly the case. There may be several species mixed Mr. Fletcher, up under tnendosa. 90 PEOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Pil'ay. Mr. rietcher. Dasychira securis, Hb. S. I. I., p. 397, f. 265 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 148, 163 (tab.), 179, 195, 199, 204. Occurs througliout India and Burma as a minor pest of cereals and sugarcane. Kobus has also recorded it as a pest of sugarcane in Java and described and figured the life history {Tijds. voor Entom. XXXIX, 121-125, t. 4, ff. 1-7 (1896) ). The Pusa Collection contains examples from the following localities and foodplants : — Peshawar . Lyallpur . Nagpur . . Pusa Manickganj Gauhati Samalkota Shoranore (Malabar) Shillong . Mandalay (Moths only). Rice. Wheat. Rice, sugarcane, dahJii grass, gram, wheat. Rice leaves. Rice leaves. Paddy. Rice. (:\Ioth only). Wheat, rice. Mr. Ramrao. The larvse may be hand-picked. In Travancore D. securis has been reared on gram. ■ Dasychira sp. This is an unidentified species which was reared from larvae found on apple leaves at Jeolikote by Mr. N. Gill. I do not know how far it 's a pest. Lymantria ohfuscata, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 400-461. Specimens (in poor condition but probably of this species) were received in July 1916 from the Director of Agriculture, Kashmir, the larvae being stated to damage apple, apricot, poplar and willow. The larvae rest during the day time in cracks and holes in the trunks of the trees on which they are feeding and may be sought out and killed off. Artificial hiding places may also be provided by placing bands of sacking, etc., on the trees affected Lymantria beatrix, Stoll. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 463-464 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 218. Occurs throughout India and Ceylon. The larva has been found feeding on mango at Poona and Pusa, but cannot be considered a pest. At Poona I have found the larvae feeding on mango flowers. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 91 Lymanfria concolor. We have moths from Turzum and Shillong. It is probably this Mr. Fletcher, species whose larvae occur on apple at Shillong. The larvae are at present under rearing, January 1919, from eggs laid by a female caught at Shillong. Euproctis latifascia, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 472. The larva has been recorded as found on tea (B. J, XIII, 420). The species occurs all along the Himalayan region, from Kashmir to Manipur. Euproctis subfasciata, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 472. Has been reared at Pusa in small numbers from larvae found on castor leaves ; also once from a larva on Tropceolum. Not yet noted in des- tructive numbers. Euproctis lunata, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 472-473 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 218. Occurs throughout India and Ceylon. Our records show the follow- ing locahties and foodplants : — Lyalljiur .... Dharwar .... Mysore .... Coimbatore Usually a very minor pest. Castor, bcr {Zizi/phiis). Cotton. Defoliating mango and other trees in June 1902. Mulberry. Euproctis fraferna, Mo. S. I. I., pp. 398-399, ff. 266, 267 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 87, 102, 232. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. The Pusa Collection contains examples from the following localities and foodplants : — Peshawar . . Pear. Lyallpur . . Castor, cotton, rose. Poona . Rose, cotton. Dharwar . . Castor. Coimbatore . Tylophora asthmatica A sporadic major pest of castor. 92 riiOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. Mr. Senior-White. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Pillay. Mr. Senior- White. We have had a coloured plate done showing the life-history. [Ex- Jiibited.] In Ceylon it is found on Eutacese and does some damage to various species of Citrus, but it prefers Feronia elepJiantum. We have not found it on Citrus in India. This seems to be another case of a difference in locality meaning a difference in food, with the implication that we may not really be dealing with the same species of insect. In Travancore we find it on sunflower, castor, plantain, croton, and Vigna cafjang. With us the larvae prefer Feronia and, if these trees be planted in orange gardens, damage to oranges will be reduced. Eu'proctis scintillans, Wlk. S. I. I., p. 399, f. 268 Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 68, 87, 90, 126, 221 ; Andrews, Q. J. Ind. Tea Assocn., 1918, pp. 31-32. Mr. Fletcher. Occurs throughout India. Burma and Ceylon as a sporadic minor pest of linseed. The larva is, however, polyphagous and has been reared at Pusa on linseed, castor leaves, Loranthus leaves, cov/pea leaves, til {Sesamiim indicum) leaves, pumpkin leaves, pomegranate and Ficus hengalensis ; at Jerruck (Sind) on habid {Acacia arabica) ; at Nagpur on linseed ; on leaves of Cassia fistula at Tocklai (Assam) in June ; at Poona on cJiavli {Vigna catjang) and bajri ; at Saidapet on mango, at Shillong on apple, and at Coimbatore on jute. The larvae may be hand-picked. Mr. Ramrao. It is found throughout the Ratnagiri district feeding on mango flowers. Mr. Jhaveri. It is found on castor on Gujarat. Mr. Fletcher. Porthesia xanthorrJiwa, Koll. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 485, f. 322 ; I. I. L., pp. 460-461 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 204. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, and in Java. It is often abundant but does not seem to do much damage as a rule. Has been reared at Nagpur on castor and cholai, and at Pusa on castor. Sor- ghum, grass, and marua {Eleusine coracana) ear-head. Lefroy also gives sugarcane, bajra. juar and Guinea-grass as foodplants. PROCEEDIi\GS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 93 Perina niida, Fb. Hmpsn., F. I.. I., 486, f. 323 ; I. M. N., IV, U [larva] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 251. Occurs throughout India and Ceylon, and in China. The larva is sometimes found in small numbers on leaves of mango, Ficus and Arto- carpus integrijolia but is scarcely a pest. HypsiDiE. Hijpsa coni'plana, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 500-501. Has been reared at Coimbatore from larvae on Ficus glomerata and may occasionally be a pest of other species of Ficus. We have it from Kotmalie (Ceylon), Chapra and Darjiling. It occurs throughout India (except North- West), Burma and Ceylon. Hyiisa alci'pliron, Cram. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 502-503 ; I. I. L., t. 39, ff. 3, 4. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, the larvse feeding on various species of Ficus. A minor pest of Ficus carica in Bihar and has been reared at Pusa on F. hengalensis and F. glomerata and at Abbot- tabad on wild fig leaves. Hypsa ficus, Fb. S. I. I., p. 400, f. 269. Occurs throughout India and Ceylon. The larva feeds on Ficus sip-p. and may sometimes strip even large fig-trees (see South Indian Insects, fig. 57). Not yet noted as a pest of cultivated figs but is likely to occur thereon. Our records are from : — Trichinopoly .... Banyan {Ficvs religiosa). Nagpur ..... Castor [probably error of food-plant]. Pusa ..... Ficus infecforia. F. carica, F. glomerata. Lyallpur'^. .... Banyan (JF". religiosa). The moth^is attracted to Andres-Maire traps. 94 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Argina argus, KoU. Hmpsn., F. I., II, 51 ; I. I. L., p. 463, t. 39, ff. 8, 9 ; Proc. Entl. Meeting, p. 68 ; Andrews, Q. J. Ind. Tea Assocn., 1918, 30-31. Occurs throughout Inda and Ceylon. The larva is occasionally found on pods of sann-hemp {Crotalaria jiincea) but is scarcely a pest. Also boring in pods of Crotalaria sericea in April and on leaves on 6*. striata and C. sp. in May-June at Tocklai (Assam). Mr. Ramrao. Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. Mr. Fletcher. Argina syringa, Cram. S. I. I., p. 401, f. 271 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 68. Occurs principally in Southern India and Bombay as a minor pest of sann-hemp, occasionally abundant. Stated to be a serious pest every year around Poona where sann-hemp is grown as a green-manure crop. Argina syringa is a serious pest of sann-hemp in the Deccan, where it takes the place of Utetheisa pulchella. We also find A. cribraria on sann-hemp, but our worst pest is A. syringa. In Madra-; we get all the three species of Argina but none of these approaches Utetheisa in the extent of the damage done. We do not get S. syringa at all at Pusa and our collection is very poor in material of this species. Perhaps some of you may remember that when you next find it abundantly. Mr. Ghosh. Mr. P. C. Sen. Mr. Fletcher. Argina cribraria, Clerck. S. I. I., pp. 400-401, f. 270 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 67, 71 ; Andrews, Q. J. Ind. Tea Assocn., 1918, 31. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon as a serious pest of sann-hemp, the larva devouring the pods and leaves. W"e have it from Coimbatore, Poona, Bassein Fort (Bombay), Surat, Balaghat (C. P.), Gorakhpur and Pusa — in all cases reared on sann-hemp. Attacking leaves of Crotalaria sericea at Tocklai (Assam). At Pusa Argina cribraria is a pest of sann-hemp, but inferior to Utetheisa jndcliella. It was found bad on ataslii {Croialaria sp.) grown for seed last year. Hand-picking was found useful to check it. The life-history has been worked out at Pusa and is shown on a coloured plate [exhibit^J]. / PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 95 Sphingid^. Herse convolvuli, Linn. S. I. I., pp. 401-402, f. 272 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 51, 291 (tab.) ; Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 11-15. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. A minor pest as a rule, occasionally in large numbers on sweet potato and pulses. Our records include the following localities and foodplants : — Samalkota .... Green gram. Kendrapara (Orissa) . . . Urid leaves. Bhagalpur (Bihar) . . . 8oy bean. Pusa . . . . . . Sweet potato, sunflower, groundnut, Cli ■ torea ternatea, Quamodit plnnata, Jeru- salem artichoke. . (Moths). Darjiling Shillong (Moths; Acherontia lachesis, Fb. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 67-68 ; Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 17-18 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 77. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, but more common in the Hills where it tends to replace A. siyx. The moth is sometimes found in bee-hives, robbing honey. The larva may be a pest of Erijthrina where this is grown for green- manure or shade (as amongst tea and cof?ee). In such cases the larvae may be hand-picked. Acherontia styx, Westw. S. I. I., p. 402, t. 24 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 55, 84, 287 ; Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 21-23. Occurs throughout the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon. The moth is often found in bee-hives, robbing honey and disturbing the bees. The larva is a minor pest of Sesanium indicum {til ; gingelly), brinjal and labJah. The Pusa Collection contains examples from the following localities and foodplants : — Peshawar .... (Moths only). Gujarat Sesamum indicum. Poona ' ' ?5 Nagpur • ?J Bhagalpur . Potato. Pusa Coimbatore . Sesamwm indicum, brinjal, cowpea, Jas milium sp., bhant (Anisomdes ovata). , Brinjal. Minbu (Lower Burma) Sesamum indicum. •The larvaj may usually be hand-picked. •VOL. I H 96 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Oxijamhulyx sericeipennis, Butl. (Plate 2, fig. 1.) Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 195-196, t. 9, f. 2. At Shillong the larva occurs in July on walnut (cultivated) in some numbers, but each larva defoliates considerably, so that the damage may be fairly considerable in the case of young trees. The larva is shown in the accompanying photographs and the larva, pupa and moth on a coloured plate [exhibited]. Leucophlebia lineata, Westw. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 74-75, f. 46 ; Entl. Note 65 ; Proc. Secondi Entl. Meeting, p. 149 ; Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 230-231. Occurs in the Plains of Southern and North-Eastern India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva has been reared on sugarcane but has not been noted to do any damage in India. Pohiptychus dentatus, Cr. Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 240-241. Recorded by Rothschild and Jordan from Ceylon and South India, as far north as Karachi and Calcutta ; the larva on Cordia sebistena. At Coimbatore the larvae have been found on Cordia subcorda'a. [Mr. T. V. Ramakribhna Ayyar read a paper on this species, which is printed separately.] Cephonodes picus, Cram. Hmpsn., B. J. XV, 645 ; Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 469-470. Apparently confined to Ceylon and Southern India. The larva occurs on coffee but is not a pest. We have examples from Ceylon (Trincomali and Diyatalawa), Coim- batore, Nellikuppam, and Bilaspur. Deilephila nerii, Linn. S. I. I., pp. 403-404, ff. 273, 274 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 267; Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 507-509. Occurs throughout India and Ceylon as a minor pest of ornamental; oleanders. Also reared at Nagpur on Jasminum sambac and at Pusa on TaberncBmontana wallichii. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 97 Deilephila hypofJious, Cr. Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 509-510. Occurs throughout India and Ceylon. The larva sometimes does considerable damage to Cmchona, stripping the leaves. We have specimens from Darjiling. Hippotion celerio, Linn. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 87 ; Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 751-753 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 235, 297. A minor pest of the grape-vine in most parts of India. Has also been - reared at Pusa on a wild Vitis and on Beta vulgaris, and at Poona was found in October 1916 feeding on the leaves of Rumex V3-icarius (a vege- table grown extensively for the Bombay markets). In Egypt it is a minor pes: of cotton. Dr. Gough. In India we do not know it on cotton at all. jUIr, Fletchec Hippotion echeclus, Boisd. Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 754-755. Chcerocampa eson ; Hmpsn., F. I., I, 85 ; B. J. XVI, 142. Stated to be found on til {Sesarmim indicum) as a minor pest in the Central Provinces. Not otherwise known as a pest in India. Theretra gnoma, Fb. Hmpsn., B. J. XVI, 145 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 298 ; Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, p. 770. Has been reared at Pusa and Poona on leaves of ' Elephant's foot,' to which it is stated to do considerable damage at Poona. Also found on grape-vine at Pusa and Jeolikote, and is a regular feeder on vine. Theretra alecto, Linn. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 85, B. J. XVI, 145; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 335 ; Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 776- 778 ; Scott, B. J., XXVI, 299-300 (1918) [Early stages]. Has been reared at Pusa on grape-vine, a wild Vitis, and on Boer- haavia, but is not known to be a pest. Eggs and larvae were found on cultivated vine at Rae BareH (United Provinces) at the end of October and in November 1917 by Captain F. B. Scott. (B. J., XXVI 299-300.) h2 Mr. Senior-White. Mr. Fletcher. 98 rROCEEDIlSGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Theretra oldenlandioe, Fb. Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 781-783 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 268. Has been reared at Pusa on balsam, a wild Yitis, sweet potato and bansal {Ariesema tortuosmn). A pest of Balsamifera impatiens in Bihar. We have it from Abbottabad, Pusa, Darjiling. Theretra pallicosta, Wlk. R. and J., Rev. Sphing, p. 788. Recorded from Ceylon to Burma and Hongkong by Rothschild and Jordan. Major F. C. Fraser informs me that this species is common in every vineyard in Sind, the larva feeding on leaves of grape-vine, of which it is a decided pest. It has, however, never been reported as a pest. Rhyncolaba acteus, Cram. Roths, and Jord., Rev. Sphing, pp. 789-790 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 298. Theretra actcea ; Hmpsn., F. I., I, 100, B. J. XVI, 147. The larva is recorded {B. J . XI, 415) to feed on Colocasia but is not known as a pest of cultivated plants. We have it from Pusa, bred from larvae on Chakirt, Cofnmelina bengalensis and Pythonessa wallichii. In Ceylon the larva attacks varieties of Caladium and unfortunately prefers the best kinds. It is parasitized by a Tachinid. Rhagastis albomarginatiis, R. & J. Roths, and Jordan, Rev. Sphing, p. 798, t. 14, f. 8. At Shillong the larva is a serious pest of Hydrangea, often completely defoliating the plants. Pupation in a slight cell of net-like silk threads. There seem to be two broods of larvae, in June-July and September- October. We also have a moth in the Pusa Collection from Turzum, Darjiling. [Undetermined Sphingid.]* (Plate 2, fig. 2). At Shillong, the larva is a serious pest of apple, and to a less extent of pear, about the end of June. It does considerable damage, as the larvae are not easy to see in spite of their size, and one larva will strip * This species has since been determined as Langia zemeroides, Mo. — Editor. Page 98. \ PLATE 2. 1 ^ JSW M ^ Fig. 1.— Larva of (jxyambuiyx seviceipenms on walnut at Snillong. / Fig. 2 — Sphingid {Larifjia zenxeroiclesj larva on apple at Shillong. Page 99. PLATE 3. Fig. 1.— Larva of Aetiffs sclene. Fig. 2.— Laiva ot Anthcnxa loi/ki. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 99 a whole branch of leaves. Pupation probably takes place under dead leaves in natural conditions ; no cocoon is formed and larvae refused to enter soil. There is only one brood annually, the pupse hibernating. Larvee (in spirit) have been sent in as infesting apple at Kulu also. The moth has not been reared out as yet. EUPTEROTID^. Eupterote mollifera, Wlk. S. I. I., pp. 404-405, f. 275 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 299. A pest of Moringa ptenjgosperma at Coimbatore and Chingleput. The laivse may be burnt off when clustered on the tree-trunk during the day time. Eupterote geminata, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 60 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 163. The larvse occurred in destructive numbers on Hibiscus rosa-sinensis at Peradeniya in March 1902. It has been reared at Coimbatore on Moringa leaves. At Matale it is bad on Cajanus indicus and also on young leaves of Mr. Senior-White. cacao. Nisaga simplex, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., I., 63, f. 36, B. J. XV, 630 ; I. I. L., p. 471. Occurs in most grassy areas in Western and Central India. Our Mr. Fletcher, examples are from Belgaum, Poona, Pachmarhi, Ranchi and Pusa. The larvse are found on wild grasses and sometimes occur hterally in milhons, but seem to do little harm to crops. Occasionally they have been knowm to invade paddy areas and to do a Ktt'e damage. Saturniad^. Actias selene, Hb. (Plate 3, fig. 1). S. I. I., p. 405, f. 276. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, more especially in submontane districts, but it is not very common as a rule. The larva feeds on various shrubby plants and small trees. It is recorded on " wild cherry " {B. J., XI, 242) and has occurred as a pest defoliating Odina wodier at Coimbatore [B. J., XXIII, 792-793) ; also found on Mormga pterygosperma. At Shillong it occurs on Betula ahwides, apple, pear, walnut, etc. It is a decided pest of apple in the Khasi Hills and Kumaon. It occurs regularly every year on Odina wodier at Coimbatore. We Mr. Ramakrishna have shown the stages on a coloured plate [exhihited]. Ayyar. ilr. Fletcher. yir. Ghcsh, Mr. Fletcher. 100 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Anfhercea roylei. (Plate 3, fig. 2.) Hmpsn., F. I. Moths, I, 18 ; B. J., XI, 243. Hampson records this from Masuri, Kangra, Sikkim, and Khasis ; larva on " Mahowah, " oak and birch. At Shillong the larva feeds on Betula ahioides and less commonly on apple and pear, when it does some damage by defoliating branches. Cricula trifenestrata, Heifer. S. I. I., pp. 405-406, f. 277 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 218, 255. Occurs throughout Southern and North-Eastern India and in Burma, usually on mango but also on various wild trees {Terminalia, etc.). In Assam it occasionally strays onto tea. In Eastern Bengal it is a serious pest of mango. The hairs of this caterpillar cause irritation. Hand-picking is conse- quently out of the question. In Eastern Bengal the people light a bundle of straw and hold it below the leaves on which the caterpillars are feeding gregariously. The caterpillars are crushed when they fall down. BOMBYCID^. Ocinara varians, Wlk. S. I. I., p. 407, f. 278 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 251. Occurs throughout India, Burma, and Ceylon as a minor pest of figs {Ficus spp.) of various sorts, sometimes repeatedly stripping every leaf in the case of young trees and so stunting growth. Andraca bipunctata, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., I. 40 f. 23 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 21. Occurs in Assam, Cachar and Sylhet as a serious pest of tea. There are two broods, in January-February and in April-May. The whole of the tea-leaves may be eaten off. The larvae cluster conspicuously and are easily hand-collected. NOTODONTID^. Dinar a combusta, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., I. lib [Anticyra]. Has been reared at Pusa in small numbers on maize but is not known to be a pest. In Java the larva is common on sugarcane and the life Paac ioi. TLATt 4. Fig. 1.— Notodontid larva on apple at Shiifong. Page 10 1(1) ■ PLATE 4. ^ Fig. 2. Boarmianc (No. 2) larva on apple at Shiilcng. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 101 history has been described and figured by Kobus {Tijds. voor Ent. XXXIX 125-129 1. 5 ff. 1-5 (1896)). Siauropus altemus, Wlk. S. I. I., p. 408 ff. 279, 280 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, *pp. 18, 42, 257, 264. Occurs throughout India and Ceylon, but is rather scarce as a rule, odd examples of larvee being found on Cajanus indicus, tamarind, Trewia nudiflora, tea, rose, etc. It has once occurred in Ceylon on tea in alarming profusion ; in Assam only odd specimens are found on tea. We look on it as a curiosity in Assam. Mr. Andrews. {Undetermined Notodontid.) (Plate 4, fig. 1.) The larvee are found at Shillong on apple in small numbers at the Mr. Fletcher, end of June. Pupation takes place in a slight cocoon in which hiber- nation occurs in pupal state. The larvte eat the leaves from one side and are very difficult to detect, as their coloration is highly procryptic, resembling a withered edge of the leaf attacked. The caterpillar is shown in the photographs and coloured sketch [exhibited], but the moth has not emerged as yet. Geometrid.^. {Undetermined Boarmiane.) The larv^ of this feed on apple leaves at Shillong in June. They occur in small numbers and this species is scarcely a pest. The moth has not yet been determined but seems to be allied to Hyperythra. {Undetermined Boarmiane, No. 2.) (Plate 4, fig. 2). Another undetermined Boarmiane was found at Shillong, the larva feeding on apple in small numbers, but it does a good deal of damage, as the larvee are stick-like and large and not easy to see. Biston suppressaria, Guen. S. 1. 1., p. 409 f. 281 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 18. Occurs in the Tea Districts of Assam, South India and Ceylon, usually as a minor pest of tea and Cassia auriculata. In Assam it is sometimes a serious pest of tea, three broods occurring ; the control-method usually employed is to hand-fork around the base of the bushes in the cold weather to collect the pupse, and this is stated to be quite successful. 102 PROCEEDIIN'GS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Andrews. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Ramrao. Mr. H. L. Dutt. Mr. Fletcher. The moths are killed in Assam as they sit on the bark of trees.i Children go round with a long stick and tap the moths and kill them. It is becoming quite a rarity with us now. Sferrha sacraria, Linn. Hampsn., F. I. Ill, 424, f. 199 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 297. Occurs commonly throughout the Plains of India. In October 1916 the larvae were found feeding in large numbers on and destroying the leaves of Rumex vesicarius (a leafy vegetable grown extensively for the Bombay markets) at Poona, Craspedia defamataria , Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I. Ill, 435 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 207. Occurred at Pusa on lucerne in some numbers in 1906. Not known otherwise as a pest. Thalassodes quadraria, Guen. Hmpsn., F. I. Moths III 507, f. 225. The larva occurs, usually in small numbers, on mango and Polyaltliia longifolia at Pusa. It occurs on mango at Poona. I found it in numbers last year on mango at Sabour. Thalassodes veraria, Gn. Hmpsn. F. I. Moths. Ill, 508. Lefroy, 1. 1. L., p. 475, f. 325, t. 41, f. 7 [quadraria, nee Gn.] The larva occurs usually in small numbers on mango, Utchi, rose, and Lagerstrcemia flos-regince at Pusa, where in January 1909 it occurred in large numbers on mango. This species has hitherto been confused with quadraria, which is the scarcer species of the two at Pusa. They may be distinguished by the colour of the frons, which is green in veraria and red in quadraria. Lasiocampid^. Taragama siva, Lef. Hmp?n., F. I., I. 405-406 ; 1. 1. L., p. 497, t. 41 ff. 8-11. Occurs throughout the Plains of India and is a sporadic pest of various trees It has been reared at Coimbatore on mahogany, when it did. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING lOS slight damage to young trees, and at Pusa on Acacia arahica, rose Zizyphus jvjifba, Poh/althia longijolia, and Tamarix gallica. Melanastria hyrtaca, Cram. S. I. I., pp. 409-410, f. 282 ; Entl. Note 66 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 38, 249. Occurs throughout the Plains of India (except in North-West). The larva is polyphagous and is scarcely a pest as a rule, but occasionally occurs in large numbers, when it strips even large trees. The Pusa Collection contains examples from the following localities and food- plants : — Travancore .... Eugenia jambolana. Calcutta ..... Acacia arahica, Mimusofs. Pusa ..... Albizzia stipulata, Mimuso-ps elengi, Sapota (in some numbers, June 1916). Raj pur (Champaran District) . Kadam {Anfhocephalus cadamba). The larva has also been recorded on Schima wallichii {B. J. XIII 407). TrabaJa vishnu, Lef. Hmpsn., F. I., 1. 421-422, f. 293 ; I. M. N., V. 107 ; 1. 1. L., p. 498 t. 46 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 87, 246. Occurs throughout India and Burma as a sporadic pest of castor. The larva also feeds on Eugenia jambolana and Tarminalia catappa and has been reared at Pusa on Quisqualis and at Shillong on rose, gera- nium, and other garden plants. The egg-clusters and larvae may be hand-picked. LlMACODID^. Nafada nararia, Mo. Hmpsn., F. I., I. 381-382. Occurs in Southern India and Ceylon. Recorded by Rutherford on tea in Ceylon {Trop. Agric, July 1914) and at Coimbatore has occurred as a pest on Sideroxylon subsiJatum and Pithecolobium dulce. Spraying with Lead Arsenate was found successful at Coimbatore. Natada velutina, KoU. 1. 1. L., p. 500 f. 335 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 218. The larva sometimes occurs on mango but is not a pest. "V 104 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING- Coniheyla rotunda, Hmpsn. . Hmpsn., B. J. XVI, 196 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 20, 259. This species, originally described from Kanara, occurred as a pest of coconut in S. Malabar in February and March 1916, the larvae damaging the fohage and sometimes the flower-shoots and rinds of young nuts. When full-fed, the larva pupates in a small, oval, hard, shell-like cocoon, numbers of which are found on badly attacked tree-fronds. Spraying with Lead Arsenate was tried but found impracticable, and the preventive measures of cutting off first-attacked fronds and the destruction of the shell-like cocoons found on the trees before an outbreak raiyats were suggested and taken up by the raiyats (Madras Monthly Report for March 1916). It has also recently been reported as doing some damage to tea in the W5maad. Parasa lepida, Crani. S. I. I., pp. 410-411, ff. 283, 284 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 19, 28, 87, 217, 232, 234, 258, 262, 299. Occurs throughout India (except North- West) and Ceylon asa sporadic major pest of mango, Ficiis spp., coconut, rose, plantain and various other plantg. The young larvae are gregarious and may be destroyed en masse ; later on, they scatter and feed solitarily. The round shell- like cocoons are often seen clustered in large numbers on tree-trunks and the enclosed larvae and pupae may be destroyed by crushing. Unless the hands and body are covered whilst doing this, an irritation is caused. The larval spines are highly poisonous and the larvae should not be handled. Pkycita dentilinella was found predaceous on this insect at Coimbatore. Our records include the following locahties and foodplants : — Peradeniya Kumbalengna (Cocliin)< Coimbatore Poona Bankura (Bengal) Defoliating rose, January 1902. Defoliating coconut. Ficus benjamini. Flacourtia. mango (especially on young plants, doing damage). Mango leaves. Mr. Ramakiisbna Ayyar. Parasa lepida is pretty bad on young mango trees in Madras, have done a coloured plate of it [exhibited]. We Mr. Fletcher AltJia nivea, Wlk. S. 1. 1., pp. 411-412, f. 285 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meetmg, p. 87. Occurs throughout India as a very minor pest of castor. PaQe ids. PLAtE 5. Fig. A.—IieUpiKf larva on apple at Shillong. Fig. 2. -Limacodid larva; on apple at Shillong. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 105 Belippa laleana, Mo. (Plate 5, fig. 1.) 1. 1. L., p. 501, t. 28, f. M ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 28. The fat slug-like, pale-green, yellow-dotted larva is common on ,-- eofiee in Soutli Coorg, but is scarcely a pest. Also occurs on apple, pear, walnut and other fruit-trees at Shillong and does shght damage by feeding on the leaves. In Assam about eighty per cent, of the larvae are parasitized. Mr. Andrews. {Unidentified Limacodid.) (Plate 5, fig. 2.) At Shillong in June 1918 the larvae occurred on apple in some numbers, Mr. Fletcher, but the moth could not be reared out. Several different species of Limacodids attack apple and other fruit- trees in Shillong. Nymphalid.1;. ^ Mijcalesis perseus, Fb. Bingham, F. I.. I. 57-58, f. 17 B ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 163. The larva is sometimes found in small numbers on rice at Pusa, but is not a pest. Mycalesis mineus, Linn. Bingham, F. I., I. 58-59, f. 17-A, t. 2, f. 8 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 163. Pupae have been found at Gauhati on rice-leaves. Not known to be a pest of rice. Melanitis ismene, Cram. S. I. I., p. 412, t. 50, ff. 7-9 ; Entl. Mem. V, 3-7, t. 1 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 163, 180. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon and is a minor pest of rice. The larvae are also less commonly found on juar and mania ; also on various wild grasses. In Java the larva is noted, under the name Cyllo leda, by Kobus as found on sugarcane {Tijds. voor. Ent. XXXIX, 129-130, t. 6 ff. 1-5 ;,{1896). Elymias undularis, Dr. Moore.Lep.Ind.il, 145-148, 1. 133 ff. 1 (larva), 1 A.C ; Bingham, F. I. Butt. I., 171-172. This species occurs along the Himalayas from Masuri to Bhutan in Assam, Lower Bengal, C. India, Burma to Malaya. 106 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING The larva feeds on palms, often doing some damage to ornamental; specimens. It is usually extensively parasitized. Euihalia garuda, Mo. Bingham, F. I., I. 282-283 ; I. I. L., p. 411, t. 30 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 218. Occurs throughout India and Burma. We have it from Dehra Dun, Pusa, Rajapatti, Burdwan, Insein and Myitkyina. The larva feeds on leaves of mango, at times in some numbers, but does little damage and cannot be considered a pest. Mr. Pillay In Travancore the larva occurs on mango leaves but it is not a pest. Jimonia lemonias, Linn. Bingham, F. I., I. 357-358 ; I. I. L., p. 413, f. 283. Mr. Fletcher. Occurs commonly throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva- has been found at Pusa on Sida rhomhifolia and at Nagpuron jute, but has not yet been noted as a pest. Junonia orithyia, Linn. Bingham, F. I., I. 358-359. The larva has been found on sweet po\ato on two occasions at Pusa and also at Coimbatore. Also reared on Justicia at Pusa. Not a pest. Junonia almana, Linn. Bingham, F. I., I. 361-362 ; 1. 1. L., p. 413, f. 282 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 163. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Has been reared from larvae found on rice and on Mimulus gracilis. Scarcely a pest of paddy as a rule but has been found in large numbers destroying rice-fields together with larvae of Spodoptera mauritia. Kallima inachus, Boisd. Bingham, F. I., I. 395-397, t. 10, f. 76 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 244. The butterfly is said to suck peach fruits at Pachmarhi, Central. Provinces, but the record seems doubtful. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 107 Argynnis hyperbius, Johannsen. Bingham, F. I., Butt. I., 438-440, t. 5, f. 36 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 268. Occurs throughout N. India (replaced in S. India by castetsi). Larva on violet and pansy, sometimes doing considerable defoliation to cultivated plants. Found in numbers at Shillong in October 1918, and at Pusa in February 1919 defoliating Viola odora. Ergolis merione, Cram. Bingham, F. I., I. 462-463 ; 1. 1. L., p. 415, t. 31 ; Entl. Mem. V, 8-15, t. 2 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 87. The typical form merione occurs throughout the Northern half of India, in Assam and Burma. The larva feeds on castor and as a rule is of very minor importance as a crop-pest, but is often found on isolated self-sown plants which may be almost completely defohated. In Southern India and Ceylon it is replaced by the form taprobana, Westw., which has not been noted as a pest of castor. Telckinia violce, Fb. Bingham, F. I., I. 471-472, f. 85 ; I. I. L., p. 415 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 126. The larva has been found on Hibiscus cannabinus in Bihar as an occasional minor pest. It also feeds on wild Passion-flower {Modecca palmata) and has been reared at Cuttack on mustapat {H. cannabinus). Papilionid.^. Papilio machaon, Linn. Bingham, F. I., II, 36-38 f. 6. The larvae were found in small numbers on cultivated fennel at Han»u, Kohat District, North-West Frontier Province, in May 1916. Not a pest. Papilio demoleus, Linn, {erit/ionius, Cram.). S. I. I., pp. 412-413, t. 25 ; Entl. Mem. V, 33-48, t. 6 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 210, 216. Occurs throughout the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva feeds on various species of Citrus and is sonitetimes a serious pest, stripping the leaves. It has been reared at Pusa on lime, orange, bael 108 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE XniRD E\TOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Senior- White. Mr. Robertson- Brown. {Mgle marmelos) Psoraha corylijolia and Murraya Koenigi. The eggs and larvae may be hand-picked and in small areas catching the butter- flies in hand-nets has been found practicable. The larva of Papilio demoleus prefers Feronia elephantum to species of Papilio demoleus is found to attack Malta orange rather than other varieties in the North-West Frontier Province. Hand-netting of the butterflies has not been found effective at Peshawar. Mr, Fletcher. Mr. Pillay. Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. Papilio helenus, Linn, Bingham, F. I., II. 41-43, f. 8 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 210. The race daksha, Hmpsn,, which is confined to the Hill Districts of Southern India, is sometimes a serious pest of orange trees in South Coorg (fde Hannyngton). The typical form helenus is also a minor pest of orange at Shillong. Davidson and Aitken give XantJioxylon rJietsa as a foodplant. Papilio memnon, Linn. Bingham, F. I.. II, 47-49, f. 9 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 210. Butterflies were observed to be ovipositing on cultivated pomelo trees at Myitkyina, Upper Burma, in September 1914. Probably a very minor pest of Citrus. Papilio polymnestor, Cram. Bingham, F. I., II, 50-51, 1. 12, f. 85 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 210. The larva is sometimes a serious pest of orange in South Coorg (Me Hannyngton). Davidson and Aitken give Atalantia sp. and Garcinia xanthochrymus as wild foodplants, but it may be noted that Moore quotes Citrus decu- mana as the food of the Sinhalese form parinda, Mo. At Quilon Travancore, Papilio polymnestor occurg on orange and Murraya koenigi. We have found Papilio polymnestor and P. helenus on wild Citrus trees on the Western Ghats. Mr. Senior- White. Mr. Fletcher. Papilio agamemnon. In Ceylon Papilio agamemnon occurs on Anona muricata. The larva is figured by Kershaw {Butt. Hongkong, p. 114 t. 4a ff. 10) who says that in Hongkong it feeds on Uvaria inicrocarpa and Unona PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD INTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 109 discolor (Anonacese), Michelia cJiampaca and th,e custard apple (4 wowa reticulata). We have however, no record of its having damaged any cultivated plant in India.] Papilio polytes, Linn. Bmgham, F. I.. II, 61-63, f. 13 ; Entl. Mem. V, 33-42, 48-52. t. 7 [pammon] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 210, 216. Occurs throughout the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva feeds on various species of Citrus (orange, lemon, etc.) and is occa- sionally a minor pest of cultivated Citrus. It has also been reared at Pusa on Murraya kcenigi. PlERID^. Pieris hrassicce, Linn. Bmgham, F. I., II, 170-171, f. 43 ; I. I. L., p. 418 ; Agr. Jl. Ind. Jan. 1912, t. 1 ; Entl. Mem. V, 20-26, t. 4 ; Entl. Note 68 \. - Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 9, 269, 279, 282, 284. Found all along the Himalayan Region from Chitral to Bhutan and Assam, penetrating into the Plains in the winter months in an area about one hundred miles wide and parallel with the Hills, straggling as far South as Cuttack. At Pusa adults appear regularly about 1st February and two or three broods occur in February and March, the butterflies all disappearing by the end of April. At Peshawar the butterflies appear in October and are on the wing and breed until about the end of May. Our specimens are from Bhagalpur, Pusa, Lyallpur, Akalgarh (Punjab), Peshawar, Abbottabad, and Shilloug. Larva on cabbage, cauliflower, mustard, TropcBolum (nasturtium) and other Cruciferse. A serious pest of cabbage and cauUflower. Control : — Hand-picking of the yellow egg-masses and of the young larvee whilst these are still gregarious. This year I saw P. hrassicce at Laheria Serai on 8th and 9th January Mr. Inglis,. 1919. Pieris canidia, Sparrman. Bingham, F. I., II, 172-173 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 279. Occurs commonly in the Hills (Himalayan Region, Southern India, Mr- FletcLei. Assam, Upper Burma). We have it from Peshawar, Simla, Ootacamund, Shillong, and Lashio (N. Shan States). no PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING The lan'^a is said to damage cabbages at Maymyo, Upper Burma, but the record seems doubtful. Mi. Andrews. Mr. Ramakiishna Ayyar. -Mr. Fletcher. Catopsilia pyranthe, Linn. S. I. I., p. 413, f. 286 ; Entl. Mem. V, 29-32, t. 5, ff. 7-11 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 72, 75, 76. Occurs throughout India, Assam and Burma, mostly in the Plains. The larva feeds on Cassia fistula. C. tora and C. occidentalis and has been found at Pusa on Sesbania [sp.] flowers. Scarcely a pest as a rule but may do damage to species of Sesbania and Cassia when these are grown as ornamental or shade trees. In Assam Catopsilia pijranthe sometimes does considerable damage to Cassia fistula trees, which are planted along roadsides for shade pur- poses. We find it in Madras damaging dhaincha which is grown for green- manure, Colias hyale, Linn. Bingham, F. I., II, 234-235 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 208. Said to be an occasional minor pest of clovers {Trifolium spp.) at Peshawar, but there seems to be no exact record. Colias croceus, Fourcroy, race fieldi, Men. Bingham, F. I., II, 243-244, t. 15, f. 103 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 208. Said to have occurred as an occasional minor pest of clovers {Trifolium ■spp.) at Peshawar, where the butterfly is common in April. The butter- fly penetrates into Bihar in the cold weather but is a scarce visitor as XI rule. Terias Jiecabe, Linn. S. I. I., p. 414, f. 287 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 72, (tab), 75, 76, 79. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Larva on dhaincha^ agathi and various species of Sesbania and Cassia. Our records include — Poona . Common on Sesbatiia. Coimbatore Dhaincha. Cuttack . Dhaincha Pusa , Cassia tora. Rangpur . . /Sesbania aculeata. Duars . Sesbania^B^. (in large numbers in 1912) PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 111 Sometimes in large numbers on species of Sesbania when grown for green manure, Terias sUhetana, Wallace. Bingham, F. I.. II, 257-258, ff. 65, 6G ; Proc. Second Entl- Meeting, pp. 72, 75, 79. Occurs in Sikkim, Assam, Burma, and Central and Southern India. In November 1915 I found the larvae defoliating Sesbania grown for green-manure amongst coffee in Coorg. The gregarious larvae are green, with a black head. Pupa blackish ; pupation in a cluster on stem. (In T. hecabe larva has green head, pupa greenish, not clustered gre- gariously). Lyo^nid^. Zizera lysimon Hb. Bingham, F. I., II, 357-358 ; 1. 1. L., p. 426 [Z. karsandra.] "Breeds frequently on lucerne {Medkago saliva) in the Plains where this is grown Davidson and Bell reared it on a vetch, Zornia diphylla " (Lefroy, I.e.). Not known to be a pest. Chilades laius, Cram. Bingham, F. I., II, 365-367, t. 19, f. 135 ; 1. 1. L., p. 426 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 210. Occurs practically throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Larva on orange, lemon, lime, pomelo. Has been reared at Pusa on several occasions from larvge on topshoots of orange, but is scarcely a pest. In the Godavari district we once had it very bad on orange shoots. Mr. Ramakriihna Ayyar. Chilades trochilus putU, Freyer. Bingham, F. I., II, 367-368 ; 1. 1. L., p. 426 ; Moore, Lep. Ceylon. I, 77, t. 35, ff. 4, 4a 10. [putli] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 80. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, mostly in the Plains. Mr. Fletcher. The foodplants include HeUotropium strigosum, Zornia diphylla and indigo. It has been reared on several occasions from larvse found on indigo leaves in North Bihar, but can scarcely be considered a pest. Also reared at Pusa from larvge boring pea pods. VOL. I T 112 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Lyccenesthes e?nolus, Godt. Bingham, F. I., II, 373-374. Occurs in Sikkim, Assam, Burma, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Nortli Kanara. De Niceville gives the foodplants in Calcutta as Nephelium litchi, Cassia fistula and Heynea trijuga. It has been reared in small numbers at Pusa from larvae' feeding on mango leaves, but is not a pest. Lampides elpis, Godt. Bingham, F. I., II, 407-408 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 37. Occurs throughout the Hills of Southern India, Ceylon and Burma. The larva feeds on the flowers and fruits of the cultivated cardamom and also on those of Kaempjceria pandurata ; pupa in the fruit or in cluster of dead flowers above the fruit. A decided pest of cardamoms in districts where these are grown. Mr. Andrews. Euchrysops cnejus, Fb. S.I. I., pp. 414-415, t.26 ; Entl. Mem. V, 59-66, t. 8 [Catochry- sopsl ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 44, 52, 56, 58, 60, 65. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva has been found at Pusa on tur {Cajanus indicus), mung, urid, moth, Yigna catjang and Sword-bean {Ganavalia ensiformis). It may occur on practically any pulses and when in numbers (as it often is) may do serious damage, the contents of the pods being eaten out. At Jorhat I found it on Phaseolus radia'us. Catochrysops pandava, Horsf . Bingham, F. I., II, 413-415 ; Rutherf., Trop. Agric, Sept. 1914 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 266. Mr Fletcher. Occurs in most parts of the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva feeds on Cycads. De Niceville found it on Cycas revoluta in Calcutta and it has been sent to us from Bombay as damaging Cyeas circinalis, and Rutherford found it as a pest of Cycads at Peradeniya. It disfigures ornamental Cycads but is otherwise scarcely a pest. [See also pages 897-898.] TEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 113 Polyonimalus boeticus, Liini. S. 1. 1., pp. 415416, f. 288 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 44, 56, 58, 64, 71 ; Andrews, Q. J., Ind. Tea Assocn., 1918, 29-30. Occurs abundantly thioughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Larva ■on Crotalaria striata, Dolichos lahlab. Cajanus indicus, Pisum and other Leguminosae. It has been reared at Coimbatore from larvse on pods of Cajanus indicus and flowers of Bnlea frondosa. It may be a serious pest of Crotalaria Avhen this is grown for seed. In Assam we had it on gram last year and the attack was rather bad. Mr, Andrews. I have had a request from Java for egg-parasites of P. hocticus ; so, Mr, Fletcher. if anyone comes across any Trichogramma or other parasite of the eggs, I shall be glad to be informed. Tarucustlieophrastus, Fb. Bingham, F. I., II, 417-419, t. 20, f. 151 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 253. Occurs practically throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva feeds on the young leaves and buds of Zizyphus jiijuba. It is scarcely a pest as a rule but is stated to be a minor pest of grafted ber-tvees in the Central Province ^ Deudorix epijarbas, Mo. Lep. Indica IX, 33-34, t. 711, ff. 3, 3 a-c, Ihoc. Second Ent!. Meeting, p. 233. The larvae are destructive to pomegranate fruit in Kumaon in June and July, so that " in some years scarcely a pomegranate escapes their attacks " (Hannyngton, B. J. XX, 369-370). It is common as a borer of pomegranate fruits in the Dehra Dua Mr. Beesoa. district. Virachola isocrates, Fb. S. 1. 1., p. 416, f. 289 ; Lep. Indica IX, 64-69, t. 719, ff. 3, 3a-6 ; Bell, B. J. XXIV, 184 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 213, 231, 232, (tab.) 234, 245, 250, 257. Occurs throughout the Plains of India {'I except northwards of United Mr. Fleicber. Provinces). Not noted in Burma. i2 114 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING A major pest of pomegranate, the fruit being bored by the larva,, which also occasionally attacks guava, orange and other fruit'. Our records include the following localities and foodplants : — ■ Coimbatorc .... Pomegranate, wood-apple, orange. Bangalore .... Apple (boring in fruit). Surat ..... Pomegranate. Puaa ..... Pomegranate, guava fruit, plums (alu bo- khara) {Primus communis), peach fruit. Nagpur ..... Orange, dekamali fruit {Gardenia gummi- fera. Also attacks tamarind fruits and Bell gives fruits of Gardenia and Randia and Strychnos nux-vomica . jUj._ (gg^ In Bengal it is a very common pest of pomegranate. The cater- pillars are found on guava also, but in very small numbers. Hesperiad^. Parata alexis, Fb. Lep. Indica IX, 253-255, t. 752, ff. 3, 3a-d. iflr. Fletcher. Widely distributed in the Plains. Has been reared at Coimbatore and Chepauk from larvge on leaves of Pongamia glat^ra and also on castor and at Nagpur from larvae oa " Kanji." Not known to be a pe-t. Spialia galba, Fb. Lep.. Indica X, 99-101, t. 781, ff. 1, la-c. Widely distributed throughout the Plains. Has been reared at Pusa from larvae on Sida rhombifolia, on hollyhock leaves, and on soybean {Glycine hispida). Davidson, Bell and Aitken. bred it fiom Waltheria indica. Not a pest. Ampittia d'oscorides, Fb. Hesperla dioscorides, Fb., Ent. Syst. Ill, 329, (1793); Swmh., Lep. Indica X, 125-126, t. 780, ff. 1, \a-d [Ampittia] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 164. Eesperia maro, Fb., Ent. Syst. Suppl. p. 432, (1798). Occurs in Sikkim, Burma, South India and Ceylon. It was reared by Davidson, Bell and Aitken from larvae on rice and grasses and has been reared on paddy at Coimbatore and Samalkota,- Probably a veiy minor pest of rice. rEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 115 Suastu! gremiu>, Fb. S. I. I., pp. 418-419, f. 293 ; Lep. Indica X, 152-154, t. 793, ff. 1, la-c; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 258, 262. Widely distributed in the Plains, the larva feeding on various palms, mostly on palmyra, also on coconut and date. A minor pest, sometimes occurring in considerable numbers. Gangara thyrsis, Mo. S. I. I., p. 417, ff. 290-291 ; Lep. Indica X, 161-163, t. 795, ff. 1, la-c ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 258. A common species throughout the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon; We have this from Coimbatore and South Coorg. The larva feeds on palms of various kinds and may do some damage to ornamental plants and in nurseries of young coco-palms, etc. Gangara thyrsis is a pretty bad pest of nurseries of young coconut- Mr. Ramakrishqa palms in South Kanara. Ayyar. Matapa aria, Mo. I. M. N. V, 115 ; 1. 1. L. p. 431 ; Lep. Indica X, 171-172, t. 797, ff. 1, la-c; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 204. A common species in most parts of India, Burma and Ceylon. It '^^' Fletcher, occurs commonly at Pusa, the larva rolling bamboo leaves, but is scarcely a pest. It is found at Coimbatore also. Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. Udaspesfolus, Cram. S. 1. 1., p. 420, f. 295 ; Lep. Indica X, 205-207, t. 805, ff. 1, la-c ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 294, 295. Widely distributed in the Plains — we have it from Pu^a, Raugpur, Mr. Fletcher. Nepal, Hopin (Upper Burma), the Northern Circars of Madras, and Coimbatore ; not common as a rule but sporadically abundant, when it may be a serious pest of turmeric and ginger. Davidson. Bell and Aitken found the larva on Curcuma aromafica. In Travancore it is a very minor pest of ginger. Mr. Pillay. The caterpillars are generally parasitized. - Mr. Ramakrishna As a rule it is of no importance, but occasionally it occurs in very ]^^y^*Q{«j,g- large numbers and does a good deal of damage to ginger and turmeric. 116 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Telicofa augias, Linn. S. I. I., pp. 419-420, f. 294 ; Lep. Indica X, 246-247, t. 813, ff. 2, 2a-c ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 149, 164, 204. Common throughout the Plains of India. We have it from Pusa, Cuttack, Palur and Coimbatore, in all cases reared from sugarcane. The larva feeds commonly on cane-leaves, and is also said to feed on bamboos and rice rarely, but is scarcely a pest. Calforis colaca, Mo. S. I. I., p. 413, f. 292, [Pamara] ; Lep. Indica 316-317, t. 831^ ff. 1, la-c ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 164. Common throughout the Plains. Our specimens are from Pusa (lar\''a on rice), Chingleput (larva on paddy) and Bassein Fort, Bombay (larva on grasses). Scarcely a pest of paddy. Caltoris bevani, Mo. Lep. Indica X, 318 1. 831, ff. 2, 2a-b ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 164. Occurs throughout the Plains of India (except South) and Burma. We have examples reared from larvae found on rice leaves at Pusa and Samalkota. Not known as a pest. Chapra mafhias, Fb. S. I. I., pp. 417-418, t. 27 [Pamara] ; Lep. Indica X, 320-321, t. 831, ff. 3, 3a-c ; Entl. Mem. V, 67-72, t. 9 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 164, 180. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. We have butter- flies from Peshawar, Bassein Fort, Pollibetta, Coimbatore, Ootacamund, the Anamalai Hills, Mandalay, Maymyo, and Mptkyina, as well as examples bred from laivao on rice at Nagpur, Pusa, Daltonganj, Poona and Thana District. It has also been reared at Pusa on juar and once on sann-hemp leaves (collected on sann-herap in field). A minor pest of paddy as a rule, and sporadically bad in most districts. BIr. Ghosh. X found one caterpillar on a leaf of sann-hemp. Mr. Fletcher. Sann-hemp is a very unusual food-plant. Possibly it had wandered ofi grass. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 117 Parnara bada, Mo. Lep. Indica X, 329-330, t. 834, ff. 1, la-c ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 164. Common throughout the Plains of Southern India, Burma and Ceylon. We have this from Pusa, Ootaeamund, Bassein Fort and Maymyo, and also examples bred from larvse on rice leaves at Ranchi, Daltonganj and Karwar. Not hitherto recorded as a pest of paddy, but often occurs on this crop in large numbers ; probably overlooked and confused with other species. That brings us to the end of the butterflies, unless anyone has any Mr. Fletcher. more butterflies to bring forward ? [Delias aglea. There is a wild mistletoe, a species of Loranthus, which is a pest on Mr.' Andrews, tea, in so far as it checks its growth. It is especially bad on tea-bushes reserved for seed and planters have to spend a lot of money in cutting this out. The larva of Delias aglea eats this parasite right down and as such it is a beneficial insect. At Pusa we have Delias eucharis which feeds on Loranthus in a similar Mr. Fletcher. ' way, but I am afraid it does not check the Loranthus very much. Indeed, I have never seen so much Loranthus as there is here just at present on the mango and Sissu trees.] * Pyralid^. Trachylepidia fructicassiella, Rag. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 4, f. 2. The larva bores commonly in pods of Cassia fistula at Pusa. Stenachroia elongella, Hmpsn. Hmpsn., B. J. XII, 94 fig. ; S. 1. 1., p. 421, f. 296 ; Picc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 183. Has been reared in Madras from larvse on cholam ear-heads at Coim- batore and Hagari and at Pusa from larvae on Sorghum ear-heads and stems, maize cobs and marua ear-heads. A sporadic pest of these crops in Madras and Bihar. Apparently not known in Western or Northern India. 118 TROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Ramakrisbna Ayyar. Tiratliaha sp. nov. Annl. Rept. 1917-18, p. 98, t. U, ff. 2 (1918). Larvae were found at Pusa boring young coconut fruits in the bunch ■on the tree and causing the young fruits to drop ofi. Tirathaha (Wlk., Cat. XXX, 961) is the Mucialla of the Fauna volume (IV, 5). A very similar species of this genus has been recorded to attack young coconut fruits in Fiji in a similar way and it is probable that this Indian species is widely distributed in India and does more damage than is at present suspected. Here at Pusa we are not in a coconut-growing district, and have only a few odd coconut palms here at all ; so we have little opportunity of going into this question. But those of you who work in coconut districts might look to see whether this insect is not present. Mr. Sampson was telling me some time ago about an injury to very tender coconuts which was very similar to that described just now. The young fruits had punctures in them and all such punctured fruits dropped down. This insect may have been responsible for the damage. Mi. Retcher. Biatrcea saccharalis, Fb.* Hmpsn.,B.J.,XII,306fig. Recorded by Hampson from Ceylon. This is the species notorious as a cane-pest in America and the West Indies. It seems very doubtful whether it really occurs in India. Diatraea venosata, Wlk. Diatraea venosata Wlk., Cat. XXVII, 144 ; Hmpsn., P. Z. S. 1895, 954 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 142 ; Annl. Rept. 1917-18, pp. 90-93, t. 5. Diatraea striatalis, Snell., Tijds. voor Ent. XXXIV, 349, t. 19, ff. 1-4. Probably occurs everywhere in the Plains of India, the larva boring in sugarcane and less commonly in cereals such Sbsjuar, maize and rice. We have specimens of the true D. venosata from Pasoeroean, Java, and these appear very similar to Indian examples reared at Pusa from sugarcane and less commonly from maize and juar stems, at Ramnad from sugarcane, at Jalalpur (Bombay) from sugarcane and juar stems, at Surat from sugarcane and maize, and at Cawnpur from juar. * Note. — The discussion on this and the following species of cane-borers will be found on pages 387 et seq. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 119 The nomenclature of this species is doubtful. It is perhaps sacchari- ]}hagiis, Bojer, described from Mauritiu'^ (whither it was imported from Ceylon) ; if so, Bojer's name antedates those of Walker and Snellen (assuming that these two belong to the same species, which is also doubt- ful). Diatrcea sp. (C. S. 1610).* Annl. Kept. 1917-18, pp. 90-92, t. 6. We have this from Sylhet, Dacca and Pabna. It is injurious to cane at Dacca and was sent in August 1911 from Pabna (cane). Diafma sp. (C. S. 1674). Annl. Kept. 1917-18, p. 90-92, t. 7. Annl. Kept. 1917-18, p. 90 [? Chilo in rice (C. S. 1768).] Dacca. — Injuriously prevalent in cane in July 1917. Pusa. — Larva in rice-stem (C. S. 1768), once only. DiatrcBa auricilia, Dudgeon. CJiilo auricilia, Ddgn., B. J. X\T[, 405. Diatrcea auricilia, Annl. Kept. 1917-18, pp. 90-92, t. 4 Biatrcea suppressalis, nee Wlk.,' Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 142. Pusa. — The larva boring cane. This is probably the commonest species at Pusa and we have numerous examples from other localities which are probably the same but requiap further study before venturing an opinion. Diatrcea sp. (C. S. 1769). Annl. Kept. 1917-18, p. 90. Pusa. — Larva in SaccJiarum aru7i(linacemn, moth emerged 29, III, 18 ; only a single specimen reared so far. ? Diatrwa sp. (C. S. 1835). Pusa. — Larvse in Saccharum fuscum, moths emerged 25, VIII. — 3, IX, 1918. Pupa with strong row of spines on all abdominal segments. * Since described as Argyria tumidicostalis, Hmps. 120 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Ramakrisbna Ayyar. Mr. Fletcher. Chilo simplex, Butl. S. I. I., pp. 422-424, ff. 299, 300 ; Proc. Sepond Entl Meeting, pp. 143, 174, 181 (tab.), 187, 191, 200 ; Ann. Rept. 1917-18, pp. 90-92, t. 3. . Occurs everywhere throughout the Plains as a major pest of maize and juar, less commonly in rice and sugarcane, the larvse boring in the stems. In Western India, where seed is sown in excess and thinning practised,, the first-attacked plants may be thinned out. Chilo oryzce, n. sp. (M. S.). Ann. Eept. 1917-18, pp. 88-89, 90-92, t. 8 [" Rice Chilo "]. The larva occurs in rice at Pusa, boring stem. ? Chilo sp. (C. S. 1795). [? Chilo suppressalis, Wlk.] Pusa ; larva in Saccharum fuscum, moth emerged 29, IV, 18 ; only one bred so far. ? Chilo sp. (C. S. 1831). Pusa ; larvse in Saccharum spontaneum stem ; moths emerged 21, VIII~18, IX, 18. Ancylolomia chrysographella, Koll. S. I. I., pp. 424-425, f. 301 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 165. Occurs throughout India and Ceylon as a minor pest of paddy, the larvse living in silken tubes usually constructed at about ground-level. Has been reared on paddy at Pusa, Nagpur, and in North Malabar, and at Pusa also on dabhi grass. The life-history has been worked out at Pusa and sho\ATL on a coloured plate [exhibited]. Specimens of moths from the Hills of Southern India and from Ceylon usually have the hindwings dark fuscous (form taprohancnsis, Z.). Have you found it again in Madras ? No ; we had trouble from it only once. Scirpophaga xanthogastrella, Wlk. {=.auriflua, Z.). S. I. I., pp. 425-426, f. 302 ; Entl. Note 69 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 144. Occurs in most parts of the Plains of India as a pest of sugarcane, the larvse boring the stems. Also in shoots of Saccharum arundinaceum. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 121 Usually not very serious but a major pest of cane at Sindewahi, Central Provinces. Apparently unknown in Bombay, Our specimens are from Cawnpur, Saran, Chapra, Dumraon, Pusa, Sindewahi, and Hagari (Madras). Control methods include prompt cutting out of dead-hearts and collec- tion of egg- masses. In the Central Provinces early planting of setts in October-November, instead of in February-March, has been found effective in mitigating attack. Scir-pophaga monosfigma, Z. S. 1. 1., p. 426, f . 30.3 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 144. Widely distributed in the Plains and is occasionally a minor pest of sugarcane but not common as a rule. Our specimens are from Pusa and Saran in Bihar. Scirpophaga gilviberbis, Z. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 46 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 174. Found very commonly in paddy areas in Lower Burma where it will probably prove to be a specific pest of paddy. Specimens also from Pusa, Bengal and Assam. Schccnohius immeri talis, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., lY, 47 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 174. Reared at Trivandrum, Travancore, from larvse boring in rice-plants. Tliis species does not seem to have been bred otherwise. It is widely distributed and may prove to be a minor pest of paddy. Schcenobius bipunctifer, Wlk. S. I. I., pp. 426-427, t. 29 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 171-174. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon as a major pest of paddy, the larva boring in the stem. This is the most important insect pest of paddy in India and Burma, usually destroying about ten per cent, of the total crop and doing damage totalling hundreds of millions of rupees annually. The female moths are attracted to light in large numbers but systematic trials of Hght- traps have shown the inefficacy of this method as a means of control. The hand-picking of egg-masses and first attacked shoots is not practi- cable on a large scale over extensive areas, and hardly feasible in small plots. In districts where this can be done the growing of pulses or 122 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Ghosh. Mr. Deshpande. Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. Mr. Fletcher. shaftal under irrigation over the rice stubble helps to check this pest by rotting the rice stubble. The destruction of stubble by fire after harvest is probably the most efficacious control-measure that can be recommended at present and this should be combined with the control of wild grasses on field-bunds and areas adjacent to paddy lands ; this last measure will also be effective against Lejjfocorisa. Our experience is that Schcenobius and other borers of rice occur in large numbers at the time when the plants come into ear. All the borers put together damage rice in this district to the extent of about four per cent. At Ratnagiri our chief pest of rice is ScJioenobms and the damage done by this insect is about seventy-five per cent, of the crop. In Madras Schcenobius is our chief rice-borer and the damage during its worst attacks is as much as ninety per cent. The damage done around Pusa is certainly very low but then this is not much of a rice-growing district. Taking the Indian Empire as a whole I should certainly say that Schcenobius destroys ten per cent, of the whole rice-crop on a general average. I consider it is far and away the worst pest we have so far as loss to the country is concerned. The loss caused by this one insect must run into several hundreds of milhons of rupees annually. I might also draw your attention to the interesting monograph on this species by Dr. T. Shiraki, issued since our last Meeting. ^ Rayhimetofiis ablutella, Z. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 56 ; I. I. L., p. 512, t. 47, ff. 8, 11 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 146 [Anerastia]. Hmpsn., P. Z. S., 1918, 78. Has been recorded as a cane-pest in North Bihar but is probably sporadic and does not seem to be known as a pest in normal years. Only once bred at Pusa from larva boring cane shoots (C. S. 1801). Old records probably refer to E. depressella. Said to have been reared from Cyperus rotundus. Saluria inficita, Wlk. S. 1. 1., pp. 427-428, f. 304 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 200, 201. Occurs commonly in ragi-stems at Coimbatore about August, the larvse boring low down in the stem, near the roots. Probably widely distributed but not yet noticed elsewhere. Also bores into tenai. PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 123 Emmalocera depressella, Swinh. Polyocha depressella ; Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 63, B. J. XXI, 1251. Polyocho saccharello, Ddgn., B. J. XVI, 405 ; I. I. L., p. 512, t. 47 ff. 7, 12, 19. Papua deinessella ; Entl. Note 70 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 141, 145, 182. Emmalocera depressella, Hmpsn., P. Z. S., 1918, 128. Widely distributed in Northern India. We have specimens from Pusa, Saran, Tharsa. Jehanabad (Bengal), Cawnpur, and Lyallpur, in all cases bred from borers in sugarcane roots ; from Lyallpur also in Sorghum and maize. A very minor pest of sugarcane as a rule, chiefly found in roots of ratoon cane. Occasionally, as at Pusa in 1916 and subsequent years, boring into new shoots of young cane and doing considerable damage. Heterogrophis bengalella, Rag. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 70, B. J. XII, 313 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 257. Recorded from Bhutan and Calcutta. The larva tunnels into fruits of Custard Apple {Anona squamosa) and occurs at Pusa about September-October, but is not common as a rule and can scarcely be called a pest. At Dacca it is a pest of custard-apple and bullock's-heart. Mr. P. C. Sen. Enzopliera perticella, Rag. S. 1. 1., p. 428, t. 30, ff. 1-4 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 289, 290. Occurs commonly throughout the Plains of India and Ceylon. We Mr. Fletcher, have examples from Pusa, Penukonda (Anantapur District), Bellary, Coimbatore, Dharwar, Poona, Surat, Baroda and Peshawar, all bred from larvse boring stems of brinjal ; also from Pusa and Coimbatore, boring in stems of Chilh plants ; and it has also been found boring potato tubers at Coimbatore and Ranchi, in stems of a wild Physalis at Pusa, and in tomato at Surat. A common pest of brinjal, often doing serious damage. Destruction of afiected plants or attacked portions, easily recognizable by the wilted appearance caused by the larva boring inside, is the only remedy. 124 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Senior- White. Ml: Fletcher. Mr Senior-White. Mr. Fletcher. Euzophera punicceella, Mo. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 73; I. M. N., II, 28. Recorded as boring fruits of pomegranate in Baluchistan. Apparently not known elsewhere. No specimens in the Pusa Collection. Evzophera 'plumbeifasciella, Hmpsn. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 73. Bred commonly at Pusa from bael fruits {.-Egle marmelos) and at Coimbatore from fruits of Wood-apple. Scarcely a pest. In Ceylon we find a species of Euzophera in Wood-apple. 'N eplioflenjx eugraphclla, Rag. Hmpsn., F. I., moths, IV, 77. Recorded by Hampson from Punjab and Calcutta, larva on cured tobacco [?] and Mimusops elengi. Pusa. — Reared in numbers on Achras sapota leaves and once on Mimusops. NepJiopieryx minutella, Rag. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 81-82 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 288. Recorded from South India, Burma and Ceylon. We have specimens reared at Pusa from larvae on brinjal leaves ; it was bred in small numbers in August and September 1912. Not a pest. In Ceylon the larva webs together the topshoots of brinjal. Nephopteryx semiruhella, Scop. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 84-85. We have specimens reared at Pusa on Sij leaves {Eupliorhia sp.), on Jatropha and on the green bark of Pedilanthus tithymaloides, from Nagpur on " raubatam," from Surat on maize leaves, and from Mandalay on Jatropha fjlanduUfera. According to Hampson, the larva feeds on Lotus, Hippocrepis, Trifolium, etc. Not a pest. Myelois pectinicornella , Hmpsn. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 88-89, f. 55, B. J. XV, 29. Originally described from Bhutan but since found in Ceylon, where the larva bores in cacao pods after attack by squirrels. Also bred by TEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 125 Green from pods of sword-bean {Canacalia ensijormis) at Peradeniya in July 1903. Plvjcita infusella, Meyr. S. I. I., pp. 428-429, t. 31 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 100, 125, 126. Probably occurs throughout the Plains of India. The Pusa Collec- tion contains examples bred at Pusa, Surat and Lyallpur on cotton and at Pusa on top-shoots of Malvastrum tricrepidatum. Also reared in Madras on Hibiscus spp. A minor pest of cotton, the larvae sometimes doing appreciable damage to young shoots, especially in the Surat District. The affected shoots should be picked ofi and destroyed. At Surat we find it every year as a serious pest. Mr. jhaveri. At Pusa it is controlled by an unidentified parasite. Mr. Misra. PJiycita clienfella, Z. Hmpsn., F. L, IV, 94 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 288. Recorded from Calcutta, Bombay and Ceylon. We have specimens Mr. Fletcher, reared at Pusa and Hagari (Bellary District) from castor fruits and at Pusa from larvae rolhng brinjal leaves. Scarcely a pest. Rhodophcea heriyigi. Rag. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 99, f. 58. Recorded from the Nilgiris and Ceylon, in which island the larva has been found destructive to fohage of ErythrGxylon coca at Matale. We have specimens from Gammaduwa, Ceylon. Cryptohlahes ephestialis, Hmpsn. Hmpsn., B. J. XV, 32. Originally described from Matale in Ceylon. It has also been bred by Green from larvae in fruit-capsules of castor at Peradeniya and is likely to be found under similar circumstances in India. 126 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Etiella zinckenella, Tr. S. I. I., p. 429, i 305; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 44, (tab.); 57, 58, 60, 64, 71. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, and is a destructive pest of sann-hemp and pulses, the larvae boring in the pods and devouring the seeds. Our records include : — Coimbatore Hagari Virar (Bombay) Jalalpur (Bombay) Mirpurkhas (Sind) Saharanpur Pusa Bankura . Amarapura (Burma) Horse-gram, cow-pea, red-gram and sann- hemp pods. Horse -gram pods. Lablab pods. Sann-hemp pods. Saidi beans. Pea -pods. Sann-hemp, kulthi, tur, pea, khesari {Lathyrus satlvus), sweet-pea. Khesari pods. Lablab pods. Macalla moncusalis, Wlk. S. I. I., pp. 429-430, f. 306 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 218. The larva has been found webbing mango leaves and shoots and des- troying the young leaves at Coimbatore, Salem, Madras and Samalkota, also said to occur on sal in the United Provinces. It has been bred at Pusa on Lager sir cemia f.os-regincB and we have it from Nagpur also. A minor pest of mango. The webs are conspicuous and the enclosed caterpillars easily collected- and destroyed. Nymphula flvctuosalis, Z. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 193-194, f. 115 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 165. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, but has apparently only been bred at Taliparamba, Malabar, when it was reared from a pupa found on paddy. It is perhaps a pest of paddy, together withA^ depunctalis, but has not been definitely recorded. Nyni'phula depunctalis, Guen. S. I. I., pp. 430-431, t. 32 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 164. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, usually as a minor pest of paddy, sometimes serious. Said to have been bred in the Central Provinces from larva on leaves of garari {Lehidiero^ms mbicularis). PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 127 The larvae may be controlled in some cases by spreading a film of kerosine oil over the water in the paddy-fields and dragging a rope or bamboo over the crop. In Mysore we have tried the kerosine treatment with success. Plants Mr. Kunhi Kannan, should not touch the kerosinized water. Hymenia fascialis, Cram. S. T. I., pp. 431-4,32, f. 307; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 296. Occurs commonly throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. We have Mr. Fletcher. examples reared on AmaranfJws at Pusa, Cuttack, Surat and Trivandrum ; at Coimbatore on Trianthyna monogyna and Silver Beet ; at Pusa on mangold wurzel leaves, on mung, on Coku.s and on jatadhari (Celosia cristata) leaves ; at Poona on beet ; and at Mandalay on White Beet. Usually a minor pest of Amaranthus, sporadically serious in gardens. Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, Guen. S. I. I., p. 432, f. 308 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 166. Occurs commonly throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. We have examples reared on paddy from Pusa, Poona, Surat, Belgaum, Palur and Parlakimedi (Ganjam District). A minor pest of paddy, sporadically ratlier serious. Marasmia venilialis, AVlk. . • Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 276, f. 167. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Has been reared at pusa from larvae rolling Guinea-grass leaves and on Panicum sp. Scarcely a pest. Probably feeds on wild grasses normally. Marasmia bilinealis, Hmpsn. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 277. Occurs in Assam, the Nilgiris and Ceylon. It was bred at Peradeniya from larvse on rice-plants in November 1902. Not noted in India but, likely to be found on paddy. Marasmia ira'pezalis, Guen. S. I. I., pp. 432-433, t. 33 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 149, 180, 187, 190, 199. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, the larva rolhng and feeding upon leaves of various Graminese. VOL. I • ' K 128 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING The Pusa Collection contains examples fromPusa, on maize, saivai^ juar, bajra and hauni {Setaria italica), from Nagpur on jiiar, from Surat on maize, and from Coimbatore on sugarcane. A minor pest as a rule, sporadically serious. Picking of rolled leaves is the only practicable means of control. Pilocrocis barcalis, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., Moths IV, 313 [Nacoleia]. Bred at Pusa in some numbers from larvae rolling Cassia fistula leaves. Occurs throughout India and Ceylon. Caprinia conchylalis, Guen. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 295, f. 174. Distributed throughout India (except North-West), Burma and Ceylon. In Ceylon the larva has been found by Green at Peradeniya defohating Kicksia africana (Kickxia rubber), Porilandia grandifiora and Funtumia. Dichocrocis punctiferah's, Guen. S. I. I., p. 433, t. 34 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 37, 88, 221, 231, 240, 294, 295. Occurs commonly throughout the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva is polyphagous, boring into various fruits, but is a specific pest of castor, often serious. Our records include the following localities and foodplants : — Peradeniya North Malabar . Taliparamba (Malabar) Coimbatore Saidapet (Madras) Bangalore Poona Surat Nagpur Pusa Mr. Senior- White. Hopin (Upper Burma) In Ceylon it attacks Sorghum heads. Cacao pods, castor seed-capsules. Arrow-root. Ginger stem. Turmeric stem, guava fruit. Castor seed-capsules,. Mulberry fruit. Boring pomegranate fruits. Castor seed -capsules. Castor capsules, mango flowers, jttar ear- l.ead. Castor seeds and seed-capsules and boring in castor stem, in mango flower buds, in ripe peach fruit, in pomegranate fruit, in sunflower, in alu bokhara {Prmms communis), in guava fruit, and eating grains in juar heads. In wild turmeric stems. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING l29 Lamprosema indicata, Fb. S. I. I., pp. 433-434, f. 309 [Nacoleia] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 51, 57, 207 [Nacoleia]. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon as a minor pest of various Mr. Fletcher pulses, etc. We have it from Saidapet on horse-gram leaves, from Nagpur on Chrysanthemum leaves, and from Pusa on imd leaves, bean leaves, soy-bean, moth leaves, lucerne (rolHng top-leaves), groundnut (pupa on leaf), snake-gourd, sann-hemp, Justicia, and Florida Beggar- weed (rolling leaves). Lamprosema diemenalis, Guen. S. I. I., f. 310. Occurs probably throughout the Plains of Central and Southern India, in Burma and Ceylon. It has been reared at Pusa from larvge rolling Florida Beggar-weed, arJiar and wid leaves, on soy-bean leaves and on " chimri,'' but is not known as a pest. Sijlepta derogata Fb. S. I. I., pp. 434-435, t. 35 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 100, 123, 125, 130. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon as a minor pest (some- times serious) of cotton and other Mahacece. We have examples from practically all districts, bred from cotton and bhindi, and it has also been reared at Pusa on hollyhock, Sida sp., Hibiscus farvijormis, Ahvtilon indicwn, Corchorvs leaves, Urina lohata and jafadhari [Cclosia crisfafa). The larva) roll the leaves and may be hand-picked. Whenever cotton is introduced into Travancore, it is badly attacked Mr. Pillay. by Sylepta. At Dacca it was very bad on cotton last year. Hand-picking was Mr. P. C. Sen. done and this kept the pest in great check. It is found on bhindi also. In Cawnpur it is bad, so much so that we cannot experiment with Mr. David. American cottons. Even netted plants do not escape injury. It is bad in Bombay too, but in Khandesh it is controlled by para- Mr. Jhaveri. sites. It is fairly easily controlled by picking off the rolled leaves or even Mr. Fletcher, by squashing the larvse inside the rolled leaves. K i 130 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Sylepta lunalis, Guen. ' ■ Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 339 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 235. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Our examples are from Pusa and Shripur, Bihar, bred from larvae on grape-vine leaves and from Bassein Fort (moths). It also occurs on grape-vine at Coimbatore. A minor pest of grape-vine, the larva rolling the leaves into a funnel and dropping to the ground on the least disturbance. Margaronia negatalis, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 347 [Glyfliodes]. Found throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva feeds on various species of Ficus but is not known to be a pest. Margaronia marginafa, Hmpsn. Hmpsn., F. I. IV, 348-349 [Glyphodes]. Hmpsn., B. J., XV, 216 [Larva]. Occurs throughout North-Eastern and Southern India and Ceylon. Has been bred at Pusa from larvae on leaves of Bombax malabaricum, from larvae boring galls on leaves of chatwan {Alstonia scliolaris). Not known to be a pest. Margaronia vertwmmlis, Guen. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 349 [Ghjphodes]. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Our records include the following localities and foodplants : — Pusa ..... Gardenia forida, Tabernamontana wallichii and on an Apocynaceous plant. Sabour ..... Tabernamontana sp» Mandalay .... Taberneemontana cretsm. Not known to be a pest. Margaronia sfolalis, Guen. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 354 [Ghjphodes]. Found throughout India (? except North-West), Burma and Ceylon. The larva rolls leaves of various species of Ficus, but is not known to be a pest. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 131 t Margaronia bivitralis, Guen. Gh/phodes bivitralis; Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 355. GhjfJwdes alitalis, Hulst, Tr. Am. Ent. Soc. XIII, 158. Has been reared at Pusa in February 1915 from larvae on pods of arhar {Cajanvs indiciis), but is not known to be a pest. We have speci- • mens also from Peradeniya, Chapra and Lumding. Hampson describes the larva and gives Ficvs oppositifolia as a foodplant. In Ceylon it is bad on species of Ficiis. Mr. Senior-White. Margaronia ccesalis, Wlk. S. I. I., p. 435. f. 311 [GlypJiodes]; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 252. Occurs throughout India (except North- West), Burma and Ceylon- Mr. Fletclier. The larva bores in the flower-buds and young fruits of jak and feeds on the leaves also. A minor pest of jak in Southern India and Assam. Margaronia cantlmsalis, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 357. Common throughout India (except North- West). We have it from Pusa and Chapra in Bihar, and from Coimbatore where it was bred from larvse on Ficus religiosa. Not known to be a pest, but likely to occur on Ficiis spj). Margaronia indica, Sauncl. S. I. I., pp. 435-430, f. 312 [Glyjjhodes] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 303 (tab), 307. Occurs abundantly everywhere in the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva feeds on various cucurbitaceous plants and is a minor pest of such. The Pusa Collection contains examples from the following localities and foodplants : — Coimbatore . Snake-gourd. Surat . Cucumber, pumpkin leaves, turia {Lvffa wgyjdiaca) leaf. Pusa . Cucumber leaves {-khira leaves), boring Lvffa fruits. Howrah . Cvcurbita fcpo. Lyallpur . Kaddu. 132 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Leucinodes orbonalis, Guen. S. I. I., p. 436, t. 30, ff. 5-9 ; Entl. Note 71 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 286, 288. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon and is- a pest (sometimes serious) of brinjal, the larva boring in the growing topshoots, causing them to wilt, and in fruits. At Poona and Dharwar the larva was also found boring in potato shoots and at Coimbatore it was reared on Solanum nigrum and S. xanthocarpum. Crocidolomia binotalis, Z. S. I. I., p. 437, f. 313 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 276 (tab), 277, 280, 282, 284. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, usually as a minor pest (sometimes serious) of cruciferous crops. It may be a serious pest of mustard, the larvse webbing and destroying the flowers and leaves of the whole plant and boring the pods and eating the green seeds. Our records include the following localities and foodplants : — Peradeniya Coimbatore Saidapet Dharwar Poona Surat Pusa Lyallpur Mandalay Cabbage. Radish (boring). Radish. Cabbage loaves. Cabbage (a serious pest). Mustard. Cabbage leaves, radish leaves, mustard' turnip, cress (halim ; Lepidium sativum)- Mustard. Turnip. Mr. Senior- White. In Ceylon I had an extraordinary experience once when chilU plants, on being transplanted, were attacked by this pest. Mr. Fletcher. Helhda imdalis, Fb. S. I. I., pp. 437-438, f . 314 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 276 (tab), 280, 282, 283. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon as a minor pest of cruciferous crops. We have examples from : — Coimbatore Nagpur Cuttack Pusa Mandalay Cabbage (boring bud), radish (boring). Knol-kohl. Cabbage stem and leaf. • Cabbage, beet, cauliflower (buds and leaves), radish (leaves and boring) knol-kohl (leaves and boring). Cabbage, radish. PKOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOeilCAL MEETING 133 In Egypt Helhda undalis is common with us on young cabbages. Dr. Gough. When the damage is noticed it is too late to take any control measures. With us it comes late in the season on cabbage. Mr. Ghosh. They have a boring habit. I have seen them boring riglit throug"h Mr. Ramrao. the heads of cabbages and it is very difficult to reach them. Terastia meticulosalis, Cuen. S. I. I., pp. 438-439, f. 315 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 77. Recorded from Ceylon. The larva is cojnraon at Coimbatore, boring Mr. Fletcher, shoots of Erythrina indica, and may be a bad pest, checking new growth. Probably throughout South India. Also occurs at Poona. At Poona it is found damaging the shoots. Mr. Ramrao. Terastia egialealis, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., Moths. IV, 381. Andrews, Q. J. I. T. A., 1918, 33-34. Hampson gives the distribution as Dharmsala, Sikkim, Java. Mr. Fletcher. The larva bores into young stems and shoots of Erythrina indica in January at Tocklai (Assam). Omphisa anastomosalis, Guen. S. I. I., pp. 439-440, f. 316 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 292. Recorded from Sikkim, Khasis, Burma, Andamans, Nilgiris and Ceylon. Bred at Coimbatore from larva in stem of Ipomoea and has occasionally occurred as a pest of sweet potato, boring the main stem. Crocidophora ptyophora, Hmpsn, Hmpsn., F. I., Moths, IV, 389, f. 210. Pusa. — Has been reared in small numbers from larvae rolhng leaves of bamboo. Maruca tesfulalis, Geyer. S. I. I., p. '440, t. 36 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 44, 52, 56, 60, 65. Occurs throughout Incha, Burma and Ceylon as a pest of pulses of various kinds. Not noted in Bombay. In Assam the larvae have been found on pods of sword-bean, and at Pusa they have been bred from dhaincha flowers, soy-bean, velvet-bean, tur {Cajanus indicus) buds, flowers and pods,' mung pods, Vigna catjang pods and cowpea pods. On cowpea it is sporadically a serious pest. 134 PROCEEDIIS-GS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Senior-White. It is sporadically bad in Ceylon. Mr. Pillay. I have bred a hymenopterous parasite from it. Mr. Fletcher. Collection and destruction of affected pods effects the most practi- cable means of control. Psara bi/punctalis, Fb. Pachyzancla bipunctalis, Fb. ; Hmpsn., P. Z. S., 1899, 204; Entl. Note 72 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 288. Pacliyzancla cegrotalis, Z., S. I. I., pp. 440-441, f. 317. Occurs throughout India (except North-West) and Ceylon. Has. been bred at Pusa on AUernanthera sessilis and on croton, and at Coim- batore on brinjal and in brinjal shoots. It does not seem to have been. noted as attacking any crop-plant except in Southern India. Mr. Senior-White. ^^ Ceylon it is found on brinjal, but prefers the wild Solanmn indicmn. ( TJ n determined Pyraustine.) Mr, Fletcher. Reared at Pusa in numbers from larvse rolling AmarantJms leaves. This was placed in the collection under Psara bipunctalis, but is distinct. Loxosiege massaUs, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 408, f. 221 [Plilydcenodes]. Occurs throughout the Plains of India and Ceylon. The larvse have been found at Pusa feeding on tender top-leaves of maize, but this species, is not known to be a pest. Antigastra catalaunalis, Uup. S. I. I., p. 441, t. 37 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeeting, p. 84. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon as a regular minor and occasional major pest of Sesamum, indicmn {til ; gingelly), the larva rolling and webbing the leaves and boring in the shoots and pods. We have it, reared on Sesamvm, from practically all districts. Noorda blitealis, Wlk. S. I. I., pp. 441-442, f. 318 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 229. Occurs throughout the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon as a very minor pest of Moringa, the larva attacking the leaves, shoots and small pods. We have it from Hagari (Bellary District) on Moringa, from Nagpur on " Munga " [probably intended for Moringa], and moths- from Puasa nd from Myingyan, Upper Burma. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 135 Mefosia coniofalis, Hmpsn. Hmpsn., B. J., XV, 220 ; I. I. L., p. 520, t. 52, ff. 1-4 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 293. Eecorded from Tibet, Kashmir, Simla, Ferozepur and Pusa. At Pusa it was found as a pest in March 1907, the larvse boring into sweet- potato tubers underground. It has not since been noted to do damage although moths occurred in July 1910 and March 1915. Hcqialia ferrugalis, Hb. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 422-423, f. 234 [Pionea]. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Reared at Pusa from larvse on cabbage, violet, and hihaiinda {Blvmea balsmnifera). Not a pest. Pyravsfa macharalis, Wlk. S. I. I., pp. 442-443, f. 319. Occurs commonly throughout the Plains as a pest of teak. We have it from Darjiling, Pusa and Nagpur on teak and it has also been reared at Pusa on Plvmeria acutijolia. Pyravsta nvbilalis, Hb. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 435. This species is recorded from the North- West Himalayas, Sikkim, Khasis and Manipur. In Russia it has been recorded {Rome Bull., Dec. 1912, pp. 27G7-2768), under the name sllacealis, Hb. (quoted as a synonym of nnhihlis in the " Fauna " volume), as very injurious to maize, hemp and millet. It may therefore be expected to occur as a pest of cereals in the montane districts of Northern India, but has not yet been recorded as a pest in India. Pyrausta mtbilalis occurs in Egypt, but we do not know it as a pest Dr. Gough. there. Pyrausta codesalis, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., IV, 441, f. 235. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon as a minor pest of bamboo, the larva rolling the leaves. We have it, reared from larvae on bamboo, from Coimbatore, Poona, Nagpur and Pusa, and at Pusa it has also been reared on sugarcane. 136 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Pyrausta bambucivora, Mo. Hmpsn., F. L, IV, 442. Recorded from the Khasis, Jubbiilpur and Ceylon. The larva " lives in rolled-up leaves of bamboo " (Hampson). Not known to be a pest. [{Undetermined Pyralid.) Mr. Ramakrishna There is another Pyralid which is very bad on cultivated chrysan- ^^^^* themums in the Madura district. Mr. Fletcher. Possibly it is Hapalia ferrugalis.] Pterophorid^. Diacrotricha fasciola, Z. Pusa. — Larva, AverrJioa carambola. Bores into flowers and destroys them. Galle. — Larva, Averrhoa bilimbi. Bores into flowers and destroys them. SpTienarcTies cajfer, Z. S. L L, pp. 443-444, f. 320 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 44, 56, 306 (tab.). Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon as a minor pest of cucur- bits and pulses. The larva is polyphagous and feeds on various wild plants, e.g., BiopJiytmn sensitivum. The Pusa Collection contains examples from the following localities and foodplants : — Coimbatore Surat Pusa Allahabad Cawnpur . Lyallpur . Lablab [also on bottle -gourd]. White gourd. Kaddu (bottle gourd) leaves, Cajanus indicus pods.. Hibiscus mvtahilis petals. Luffa buds. Kaddu. Kaddu. Ur. Senior- White. Has also been reared at Galle from larvae on flowers of Averrhoa bilimbi. At Matale I have reared it from larvae on young shoots of cacao and on cultivated Geranium flowers. Mr. Fletcher. Oxyptilus laducce, Fletcher MS. Reared in small numbers on lettuce at Dehra Dun by Mr. Ollenbach in October 1906. PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 137 Exelastis atomosa, Wlsm. S. 1. 1., pp. 444-445, t. 38 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 44, 56. Occurs throughout Madras, Bombay, Baroda, the Central Provinces and Bihar. I have not seen any specimens from Northern India, Assam, Burma or Ceylon (previous records from Ceylon probably all refer to E. plihjctoenias, Meyr.). An important pest of Cajamis indiciis and Dolichos lahlab, the larva eating the flower- buds and flowers and boring into the pods and devouring the seeds. In the Sholapur District control is practised by shaking the plants over baskets and a small proportion of larvae and pupse is collected in this way. PteropJwnis lienigianus, Z. S. I. I., p. 445, f. 322 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 288. . Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Has been reared on brinjal at Coimbatore and in the Godavari District but is scarcely a pest. We have moths also from Ootacamund, Peshawar, Maymyo, Shillong, and Bankipur, and it has been reared at Pusa on leaves of " Khagra." [" Khagra " is given in Watt's Dictionary as Saccharum sponianeum, but this seems unhkely.] PSYCHID.^. Maliasena graminivora, Hmpsn. Hmpsn., T. E. S., 1895, 286; F. I., IV, 472-473 ; I. M. N., IV, 18-19,t.3,ff.la-c. ~ Originally described from Calcutta as destructive to thatching grass. Occasionally occurs on paddy in some numbers as a minor pest in Bihar, Orissa and Bengal. We have it, reared from larvae on Saccharum sponta- neiim, from Pusa and Mukhtapur in North Bihar. Mahasena theivora, Ddgn. Acanthopsyche (Metisa) theivora, Ddgn., B. J., XVI, 400 fig. Mahasena theivora, Hmpsn., B. J., XX, 96-97. Occurs in Sikkim, the larva on tea in a case composed of fragments and whole leaves attached to a rather soft case. Apparently not a pest. 138 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Clania crameri, Westwd. S. I. I., p. 448, f. 325; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 19, 87, 274. Occurs commonly in the Plains of India, usually on Acacia arabica and sometimes on castor. Dudgeon (B. J. XII, 643) records the larva on tea and it is said to be a destructive pest of tea in Assam, where it is controlled by hand-picking. Clania destructor, Ddgn. Mahasena destructor, Ddgn., B. J., XVI, 401 fig. Clania destructor, Hmpsn., B. J., XX, 95. Dudgeon states that this is the most destructive tea Psychid in the- Darjiling and Terai Districts, often confounded with C. crameri but distinguished " by the fore wing wanting red markings and by the posi- tion of the elongate pale marginal or submarginal spot, a conspicuous one filling the the whole fork between veins 4 and 5 in crameri, whereas destructor has the largest conspicuous pale spot between veins 3 and 4 and has only a marginal speck between veins 4 and 5." Also a pest of tea in Chittagong. Known to occur in Sikkim, Bhutan, Chittagong andJ Borneo. Clania antrami, Hmpsn. Hmpsn., B. J., XX, 96. Recorded from Cachar. Larva on tea, in a case covered with frag- ments of dry leaves. Acanthofsyche hilars, Wlk. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 293, f. 202. The larva has been recorded as a tea-pest in Sikkim {B. J., XII, 6M)". Also known from Bombay. Also found jceding on apple leaves at Shillong. AcantJwpsyche {Brachycyttarus) subteralbata, Hmpsn. Hmpsn., 111. Het. IX, t. 159, f. 23 (male), t. 176, f. 12 (case), F. I., I, 295, B. J.. XI, 284. The larva has been recorded as destructive to tea in Chittagong.. Originally described from Colombo. Psyche vitrea, Hmpsn. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 299. We have a single specimen reared on mango leaves at Bakerganj in- February 1906. Probably not a pest at all, but most Psychids are Hable % PROCEEDI^'GS OF THE THIKD E>TOM0L0GICAL MEETING 139 to occur sporadically in large numbers and to do damage when they feed on leaves. Manathascotopepla,HvLV^^n. Hmpsn., B. J., XX, 96. Has been recorded from Cacliar, the larva on tea in a case covered with scales of bark. (Psychid — on Palms.) Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 263. We have specimens of an unnamed Psychid reared from larvse sent in June 1910, as destructive to palms in Calcutta. Larvae were also noticed as destructive to ornamental palms in Calcutta in September 1916. In the case of small ornamental plants, the larval cases are easily seen and picked off. In the case of large trees, spraying with a stomach- poison, such as Lead Arsenate, may be done. (Psijclnd — on Orange.) A second unnamed Psychid was reared at Pusa in April 1913 from larvae feeding on orange twigs. Scarcely a pest as a rule. (Psychid — on Rose.) . Sent in by Superintendent of the Gardens, Fyzabad, as feeding on Tose in 1918. [ ( Undeterm ined Psycli ids. ) We get two more Psychids, one on Acliras sapota and the other on Mr. Ramakrishna castor. The former is very bad but the latter appears only sporadically.] Ayyar. ZYG-^NIDiE. Heterusia magnijica, Butl. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 261 ; B. J. XVIII, 431 tab.; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 19-20. A sporadic pest of tea in the Duars and Assam. Infested patches of Mr. Fletcl:er. bushes may be isolated by means of lines of fresh wood-ashes, which the larvae will not cross ; but of course in wet weather this method is ineffective. 140 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Heterusia edocla, Doubl. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 261, B. J., XII, 298. The larva occurs on tea, as a sporadic pest, in Assam, Sikkitn and Cacliar. Antram (B. J., XVIII, 431) suggests that this species is identical with magnifica. Heterusia virescens, Butl. S. 1. 1., pp. 448-449, f. 326 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 19-20. A sporadic pest of tea in the Nilgiris and Wynaad. Soritia leptalina, KoU. Hmpsn., F. I., I, 252, f. 168. The larva occurs on rose, tea, etc., in Sylhet {B. J. XII, 296). We have specimens from Dungagah (Hazara District), Masuri, Darjiling, Khasis and Maymyo and also one specimen labelled " Pusa " [probably by error]. Also on apple at Shillong in some numbers. Zeuzerid^. Zemera coffew, Nietn. S. I. I., p. 446, f. 323 ; Proa Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 21, 34, 121. Occurs in most parts of India and has been recorded from Sikkim,. the Naga Hills, Kangoon, Nilgiris and Ceylon. In Assam the larva is said to be a bad pest of tea, boring the stems and branches, and is con- trolled by cutting back the affected parts. In Southern India the larva attacks tea and coffee bushes and seems to be not uncommon in coffee bushes. In Burma the larva has been found boring cotton plants. Fhragmatwcia sp. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 152. Has been reared at Pusa from larvae bormg in stems of Saccharum spontaneum. Not known to be a pest. Azygoflileps scalaris, Fb. S. 1. 1., pp. 446-447, f. 324 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 73, 75, 76. Occurs in the Plains of Southern India and Burma as a pest of agathi {Seshania grcmdijlora), dhaincha {S. acideata), and chithagathi {S. rEOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 141 cegypiiaca). We have examples reared from agathi at Hagari and Nandyal, and from J/iamc/i« at Palur, Cuttack, Pusa and Mandalay. Teeagrid.e = Arbelid.^. " Arhela " tetraonis, Mo. S. I. I., pp. 453454, t. 41 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 211, 227, 230, 231, 244, 252, 254. Widely distributed in the Plains, the larva boring into various trees and feeding on the bark under cover of a gallery composed of silk and fragments of wood. Our records include the following localities and foodplants : — Coimbatore .... Ilorivga. Bangalore .... Orange-, rose. Poona ..... Citrus. Nagpur ..... Orange, [a !^ X /X h^ ^^ Report of Impl. Entom. 1917-18, p. 102, t. 17 ff. 1 a-d (1918). Tlie larvse are common at Piisa in July and August boring into new shoots of bamboo, completely hidden under the protection of the leaf- sheaths. They seem to damage the young shoots to some extent. I took a moth at Gauhati in May 1918, so that this species is pro- bably widely distributed in the Plains. Laspeyresia hemidoxa, Meyr. Meyr.. B. J. X\^TI 145; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 300. A single specimen was reared on 2ik1 August 1909 from a larv^a found boring in pepper-vine shoots at Taliparamba, Malabar. The species is otherwise only known from the Khasi Hills. Laspeyresia leucostoma, Meyr. Meyr., B. J. XXI 876 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 20. Larvae were found at Hillgrove, Nilgiris, in May 1915, in some num- bers, rolling tea leaves. Also from Munaar rolling tea leaves. The species is also known from Ceylon (Maskeliya), the Palnis and Khasis, and occurs in Assam. , Laspeyresia fr {centra, Meyr. S. I. i. p. 451 t. 40 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 70. The Pusa C^ollection contains moths from Surat, Bassein Fort and the Shevaroy Hills. Also reared at Coimbatore from larvae in cow-pea pods. This species apparently accompanies L. pseudonectis as a pest of Crotalaria in Western (and Southern ?) India. Laspeijresia pseudonectis, Meyr. Meyr., B. J. XVIII 146-1—7; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 69. Widely distributed in the Plains of India as a pest of sann-hemp {Crotalaria juncea), the larva tunnelling in the stem and webbing top- shoots. Originally recorded from Surat. We have examples, bred from larvae in sann-hemp stems, from Pusa and Coimbatore. Also moths from Peshawar. / 148 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIED EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Laspeijresia torodelta, Meyr. S. 1. 1, p. 451, f. 329 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 56. Apparently confined to Southern India, where it is a minor pest of Dolichos lablab, the larva boring into the shoots, especially of young, plants. The affected top-shoots may be picked o£E. Dr. Gough. Mr. Fletcher. Dr. Gough. Mr. Senior- White. Mr. Fletcher. Dr. Gough Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher. Laspeyresia pomonella, Linn. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 249. This insect, the notorious Codling moth of Europe, North America and Australia, has been recorded from Dras Ladak (7,000 feet) in Kashmir, but I have as yet been unable to obtain any evidence of its occurrence- in any apple-growing districts in India. I have found this insect in Syria and the Greek islands and also in South Africa. These places are worth guarding against in India. But we do not find it in Egypt. It occurs also in Australia and there is some importation of Australian apples into India and I think, Ceylon also. There is some danger of the importation of this insect with fruit but it is probably very sUght as there is little chance of this infected fruit being sent to any of our apple-grcwmg districts. It might be brought in from the Levant. Is it a specific pest of apples ? If it has any alternative foodplant, it may crop up in Ceylon. It occurs principally in apples and pears but attacks many other fruits also. It is a very bad pest in apple-growmg districts. In America it causes a loss of two to three million sterling a year, what with damage and control. We do not want to get it in India. Does it occur in quince ? In America it has been found in fruits of j)each, prune, plum, cherry, quince and apricot. [ Unidentified Torlricid.] Whilst discussing Lasjyeyresia pommiella, I may mention that when I was in Kumaon last year I found a Tortricid larva boring into apple fiuits. It was said to be common at Ramgarh in one orchard but I was only able to secure one larva, which was brought back to Pusa but which we were unable to rear out. I cannot therefore say definitely what this is, but I had a drawing made of the larva and the arrange- ment of the tubercles is dift'erent to that found in pomonella and so we may presume that it is not pomoneUa although the type of damage done is almost exactly similar. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 149 Laspeyresia 'ptychora, Meyr. Meyr., B. J. XVIII 147. Reared at Coimbatore in February 1915 from larva on pods of Cajantis indicus. Also Icnown fi'o.m North Coorg, Queensland and South Africa ; in Rhodesia it has been reared from larvae feedinsr in pods of Vigna sinensis. COSMOPTERYGID.^:. Anatmchyntis simplex, Wlsm. {coriacella, Snell.) S. I. I. pp. 458-459 f. 334 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 114. Occurs throughout the Plains of India and Burma. Has been reared in some numbers from cotton-bolls at Pusa, Coimbatore, Chidam- baram (Madras), Shibpur Farm (Bengal) and Surat, and more occasion- ally from cotton-leaves at Pusa, from maize cobs and stem of Capparis dicersifolia at Coimbatore, from mango inflorescence at Pusa, from ])alas lac in Berar, from a rotten pomegranate at Gobichettipalayam (Madras), fi'om rotten bamboo stalk (Pusa), juar ear-heads (Pusa), dry Vigna catjang pods (Pusa). It seems rather doubtful how far this is a pest of cotton bolls and seeds. Perhaps it occurs only on dried-up bolls and leaves. At present it appears to be a general feeder on dry vegetable refuse and hardly a pest. Anatrachyntis falcatella, Stt. Gmcilaria ? falcatella, Stainton, T. E. S. (n.s.) V 121 (1859). Pyroderces spodochtha, Meyr., B. J. XVI 607 (1905). Anatrachyntis falcatella, Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 114. Has been bred in small numbers at Pusa from larvae on cotton shoots " on Dactylopius on cotton " [probably eating the dried dead scales], and from a rotten pomegranate at Gobichettipalayam (Madras). Has also been bred from lac. Probably a rubbish-feeder and not a pest. Anataractis plumigera, Meyr. Meyr., Exot., Micr. I. 565-566 ; Entl. Note 83 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 81. Reared at Pusa and Coimbatore from larvae feeding in galls produced in stem of Indigojera. Not known to be a pest. 150 rEOCEEOINOS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Pyroderces semicoccinea, Stt. Cosmopteryx ? semicoccinea, Stainton, T. E. S. (n. s.) V, 123 (1859). Bred at Pusa from galls in stems of fur (Cajanus indicus), but other moths, including Phycitines, were also bred from these stems,. and this species was perhaps only a scavenger. Pyroderces albilineella, van Dev. Has been reared at Coimbatore from indigo pods in some numbers. Also from Virajpet (S. Coorg). Pyroderces promacJia, Meyr. Pyroderces promacJia, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc, N. S. W. 1897. 351. Said by Lefroy {Indian Insect Lije, p. 536) to have be6n " reared from a leaf-mining larva found in Phaseolus mungo ; the orange larva pupates in a thin cocoon of white silk." This is probably an error, the leaf-miner being perhaps CyphosticJia coerulea. P. promacha seems to be a rubbish-feeder and is not a pest, so far as is known. We have it from Pusa, Coimbatore and Peshawar. Cosmopteryx bambuscc, Meyr. The larva mines blotches in bamboo leaves at Pusa. It is scarcely a pest. Cosmopteryx phceogastra, Meyr. Has been reared at Pusa in some numbers from larvae mining bean leaves, but is not a pest. Gelechiad^. Sitotroga cerealella, Oliv. S. L I. p. 456, f. 331 ; Entl. Note 79 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 183. Occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Usually a pest of stored grains but also occurs in the field on ripe ears of paddy, choJam, etc. Phthorimcca Jieliopa, Low. S. I. I. pp. 454-455 t. 43 [Gnorimoschema] ; Entl. Note 81 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 272. Occurs throughout the Plains of India (except North- West) and Ceylon as a minor (major in some districts) pest of tobacco, the larva boring in the stems. We have records from Hanguranketa (Ceylon), PPOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 151 Ooimbatore, Shevaroy Hills, Ha"gari, Penukonda (Anantapur District), TLarsa, Gujarat, Anaiid Districtr, Pusa and Rangpur. Control is best effected by removal and burning of all attacked plants in nurseries and by careful cleaning up of all stumps and stray plants after harvest. Slitting the galls with a knife is useless as a rule as it is only by chance that the larva is killed in this way. It is an important pest in some districts of the Madras Presidency. Mr. Ramakrishna It is a bad pest in Gujarat also. Mr. Jhaveri. In the lanl-as [islands in the Godavari delta] there is a lot of tobacco Mr. Ramakrishna cultivation. This pest occurs chiefly in the seed beds. The cultivators Ayyar. recognize the attacked plants and these are not transplanted but are collected and destroyed. How are these young attacked plants recognized ? Mr. Fletcher. The leaves fade and the characteristic swelling is seen on the tender Mr. Ramakrishna stem. Ayyar. Do not these islands go under water in flood time ? , Mr. Fletcher. Tobacco is grown only during the cold weather and the land is then Mr. Ramakrishna irrigated. These islands go under water very rarely and then silt is Ayyar. deposited and makes the soil very fertile. We have tried making slits in the affected plants to kill the cater- Mr. Jhaveri. pillars but it has not been found successful as there may be several caterpillars in one plant. We find the pest present right up to the harvesting-time and then it remains in the stubble. The removal and destruction of the stubble has been found very useful. We also find it in the stubble. Has it been found in any other plant ? Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. It is only known from tobacco so far. Mr. Fletcher. It is a regular pest of tobacco, but is not found in the nurseries at Mr. Misra. Pusa. The cultivators reject the seedlings if they find a swelling on the Mr. Ghosh, stem. Tobacco is a very thin crop and if at the time of transplanting a Mr. Misra. swelling comes up, the cultivator takes out the grub and kills it. Very probably they reject the seedlings. Mr. Ghosh. In Gujarat also they reject the affected seedlings. Mr, Jhaveri. The ste}n is also used for smoking and therefore it is not thrown Mr. Misra. away. As far as my experience goes the swelling stunts the growth of the Mr. Ramrao. plant and, if once the swelling comes up, the plant is useless, whether you cut open the swelling and kill the grub or not. The plant is-useless, but not quite so. Mr. Misra. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Ramakrisbua Ayyar. 152 PROCEEDINGS "OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Phthorimcea blapsigona, Meyr. Meyr., Exot. Micr. I, 569 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 288. Has been reared at Coimbatore, Saidapet and Nagpur from larvae boring and feeding in flower-buds of brinjal. Probably widely distributed in the Plains as a minor pest of brinjal. Five per cent, of brinjal buds are attacked by this insect. Mr. Fletcher. Dr. Gough, Mr. Ramrao. Mr. Kunhi Kannan Mr. Ramrao. Phthorimcea operculeUa, Z. S. 1. 1, p. 455, t. 44 ; Entl. Note 77 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 286, 288. Introduced with potatoes into Bombay, this moth has spread until it is now found in practically all parts of India. It is a serious pest of stored potatoes and the larvae w^ere found at Dharwar mining leaves of brinjal. It is likely to be found as a leaf-miner in tobacco plants. In Egypt it was introduced by the military authorities, but with us it remained restricted to the plants in the field. We store no potatoes in summer, so it died out again. We find it attacking the crop whilst it is still standing in the field. The larvae work as leaf-miners to begin with and later on attack the tubers. It is very rare in the tubers in Mysore. When there is a break in the monsoon, the soil cracks and the larvae get down into the cracks and attack the tubers. (See also page 763.) Kt Fietcner. Phthorimcea ergasima, Meyr. Meyr. Exot. Micr. I. 568-569 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 288. The larvae mine brinjal leaves at Pusa in February and March. Probably widely distributed in the Plains as a minor pesr. Stomojiteryx nerteria, Meyr. S. I. I. pp. 457-158 f. 333 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 43, 47, 92. [Ajyrocerema.] Widely distributed in most parts of the Plains of India but apparently not kno-wn in Bombay. Well known in Madras, under the name Surul- fuchi, as a serious pest of groundnut ; also occurs on Cajanus indicus^ PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 153 soy-bean, and Psoralea corylijolia. Our records include the following localities and foodplants : — Peradeni\'a . Groundnut (Destructive in February 1905)j Coimbatoro . Groundnut. Hagari . Groundnut top-leaves. 'j SiinHarlinns Nagpur . Soy-bean, Psoralea oyrylifolia. Pusa , Psoralea coryllfolia. Soy-bean (rolling leaves). Peshawar . . (Moths only). Mandalay . Groundnut. This moth comes to light in large numbers. At Pusa we have not found it on groundnut. Platyedra gossypiella, Saund. Mr. Ramakrisbna Ayyar. Mr. Ghosh. S. I. I. p. 454. t. 42, Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 10, 111- 114, 127, 129, 130 [GelecJiia]. Occurs throughout the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon as a pest Mr. Fletcher, of cotton, serious in most localities, especially so in the United Provinces. In all districts exotic varieties seem to be most subject to attack. The larva bores into the bolls, feeding on the seeds and spoihng the hnt, and also does some damage to buds and flowers. As regards control it is important to sow uninfested seed. The seeds should be fumigated or spread in a thin layer in the sun to drive out or kill any larvae contained in them. (See also pages 472 et seq.) ' Bradimia arotrcea, Meyr. Meyr., T. E. S. 1894. 15 (Cladodes) ; Proc. Second Entl. Meetmg, p. 1G4. Bred in small numbers from larvae on rice leaves at Pusa and Kaiui (Central Provinces). We have it also from Cuttack and Palamau. Also occurs in Burma and Ceylon. Not a pest. Bmchmia idiastis, Meyr, Meyr., Exot. Micr. I. 577 (1916). Bred at Pusa from larvae feeding on leaves of Panicum in June. Not a pest. Bmchmia insulsa, Meyr. A very common species at Pusa. Has been reared from larvae found at the base of juar shoots. Also from Peshawar. 154 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Brachmia engrapta, Meyr. Has been reared at Lahore from larvae on sweet potato. Not known to be a pest. Brachmia effera, Meyr. Has been reared at Coimbatore from larvae on sweet potato leaves. Not known to be a pest. Helcystogramma liihisci, Stt. Gelechia hibisci, Stainton, T. E. S. (n. s.) V 117 (1859). Brachnia hibisci ; 1. 1. L. p. 533. Helcystograynma hibisci, Proc. Second Entl. Meeting pp. 123, 265. Has been reared at Pusa from larvae on leaves of bhindi {Hibiscus esculentus), at Nagpur on rose, and at Pollibetta (S. Coorg) the moths were found associated with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. We also have it from Shillong. Not a pest. Paraspisfes paljiigera, Wlsm. Originally described from S. Africa. We have it from Puttalam, Pollibetta, Coimbatore and Bhamo. At Coimbatore it has been reared from pods of indigo, Cassia flora and C. corymbosa. Also on lablab at Coimbatore. Also at Manganalliir, reared on wild indigo. Dichomeris ianthes, i\Ieyr. S. I. I. pp. 456-457, f. 332; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 61, 80 (tab), 207. Occurs throughout the Plains of Ceylon, Madras, Bombay and Bihar — probably throughout India. We have examples reared on indigo from Palur (S. Arcot), Champaran, Muhammadpur, Pusa, Gondra and Dalsing Serai in North Bihar. Also reared at Pusa on lucerne and ■guar bean {Cyamopsis psoralioides). A sporadic pest of indigo and lucerne. PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 155- Anarsia ephippias, Meyr. 1. 1. L. p. 534, t. 56 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 51, 53, 91. Occurs probably tliroughout the Plains of India as a very minor pest of pulses. AVe have it from the following localities and food plants : — • Coiinbatore Virajpet (Coorg) Nagpur Gondra (Bihar) Pusa Red-gram {Cajanus indicus). Wild Acacia flowers. Vrid. Indigo. C4roundnut leaves and top-shoots, moth leaves and top-shoots, tirid top-shoots,. Dolichos biflorus, soy-bean, mu7ig (boring, flowers and pods). Control : — Hand-picking of spun-up leaves and shoots. Anarsia acerata, Meyr. Meyr., B. J. XXII, 169 (1913). Bred at Saidapet in October 1906 from larva on Red-gram {Cajanus indicus). Not a pest. Anarsia melanoflecta, Meyr. Meyr., B. J. XXII 774 (1914) ; I. I. L. p. 534 ; Entl. Note 78; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 221. At Pusa the larva burrows in young mango shoots but it is not common as a rule and scarcely a pest. Also reared at Nagpur from mango flowers [? from twigs in cage with the flowers]. Anarsia omoptila, Meyr. MS. Bred at Coiinbatore in October 1908 from larva folding leaves of Red-gram {Cajanus inclicus). Not known to be a pest. Anarsia exallacta, Meyr. MS. Bred at Pusa, 7 October 1912, from larva in top-leaves of Cajanus indicus. Anarsia sagittaria, Meyr. Meyr., B. J. XXII, 774-775 (1914). Bred at Pusa in June- August from larvee in top-shoots of ber Zizyphus jujuha). Not a pest. 156 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETINO Chelaria spathota, Meyr. Meyr., B. J. XXII, 165 (1913) ; Entl. Note 82 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 219. The larva has been found eating tender mango leaves at Pusa and Koilpatti. It is not common, however, and not yet noted as a pest, Chelaria rhicnoia, Meyr. Meyr., Exot. Micr. I. 580-581. Bred from larva in mango flowers at Panapakam, Chittur District' in February, 1914. Also recorded from the Shevaroy Hills. Not known to be a pest. CECOPHORID^. • Tonica niviferana, Wlk. Binsitia niviferana, Wlk., Cat. XXIX 832 ; I. I. L. p. 535 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 131 (tab). Has been reared fairly common at Pusa and Chapra from larvae boring young shoots of Bombax malabaricum, of which tree it is a very minor pest. Probably widely distributed in the Plains, but overlooked. I have seen a moth from Nagpur. Mr Ramrao. Tonica zizyphi, Stt. S. 1. 1, p. 459, f. 335 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 211. Occurs throughout the Plains of India as a minor pest of orange and lemon, the larva rolling the young leaves. It also feeds on Mtirraya koenigi. We have it from Coimbatore, Nagpur, Pusa, Chapra and Peshawar. At Poona it occurs on orange in large numbers rolling the young leaves. We find the caterpillars particularly on young trees when they are putting out new leaves. Mr. Fletcber. PortJimologa 'paradina, Meyr. Meyr., Exot. Micr. I. 261 (1914). Has been reared at Pusa from larvae rolling leavea'and boring shoost of ber {Zizyphus jujuha). Not a pest. peoceedixgs of the thied entomological meeting 157 Xyloryctid.^. Procometis trocJiala, Meyr. Pusa. The larvae usually feed on dry sugarcane stems, dry arliar Btalks, etc. Once bred at Pusa (C. S. 1708) from a larva found boring into stem of sugarcane. Probably not a pest. Nephantis serinopa, Meyr. S. I. I. p. 460, f. 336 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 259, 262. Occurs throughout the Plains of Ceylon, Southern India, Bengal and Burma as a pest of palms, often serious, especially on coconut and palmyra. In Travancore it was very bad last year on coconut palms. Nearly Mr. Pillay. 5.000 tre:s were attacked. It spreads very rapidly and completes its whole hfehistory on the leaf. Cutting and burning the affected branches has been found very effective. We engaged a teipporary fieldman and treated the whole lot in this way. Ptochoryctis smihleuta, Meyr. Meyr., B. J. XVIII 150-151 ; I. I. L. p. 535 {Metatlirinca:\. Recorded from Gazepore (Assam). The brick-red larva feeds, beneath Mr. Fletcher, a web covered wath refuse and pieces of bark, on bark of tea-shoots, eating right through the c ambium and thus killing the branch or plant. Stenomid.e. Bynclialara rhombofa, Meyr. Meyr., B. J. XVII 982 [Agriophara]. Occurs in the Khasis, Silchar, and Assam Tea Districts. The larva is yellowish-red, sides yellow-orange, subdorsal stripe broad, blackish, head and prothoracic segment black ; it feeds between spun leaves of tea and, when foliage is stripped, will attack the bark, doing great damage (Antram). Control consists in leaving leaves on the bushes when pruning. All prunings should be buried or burnt immediately. For the last three years we have had no trouble from this insect. Mr. Andrews. It can be controlled by collecting the pupa. 158 pkoceedings of the thied entomological meeting Blastobasid^. Blastohasis crassifica, Meyr. Meyr., Exot. Micr. I 595-596. Mr. Fletcher. Bred at Pusa in March from pods of Crotalaria juncea. Probably a refuse-feeder, eating dried seeds rather than attacking the crop in the field. Not noted as a pest. Also occurs at Coimbatore. Prosintis florivora, Meyr. Meyr., Exot. Micr. I. 598. Bred at Pusa in June and August from larvae feeding on mango in- florescence. Not noted as a pest. Heliodinid^. Slathmopoda theoris, Meyr. Meyr., B. J. XVII, 410-411 (1906) [Moloscelis] ; I. I. L. p. 537 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 96. Reared at Pusa from sunflower-heads. The larvse are probably merely rubbish-feeders, eating the dried remains of the flowers and not- the seeds. Also reared at Coimbatore from palm-fibre chewed by Oryctes grub, from rubbish, and from cholam heads. Not a pest. Stathmo'poda sycastis, Meyr. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 251. The larva of this species occurs in cultivated figs in the Peshawar Valley in May and June, the moth emerging in July. The larva? are well-known locally, so much so that the country-folk are chary of eating the fruit on account of the presence of the larvae. Eretmocera imfactella, Wlk. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting p. 296. Occurs throughout the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon. In Bihar the larva webs up Amaranthus plants, especially single plants, sometimes badiy, and eats back the tops. PltOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 159 ^GERIAD^. /Egeria ommaticeformis, Mo. Trochilium ommaticBJorme Moore, I.M.N. II. 16, figs. (1891) ; Hmpsn., Moths. Ind. I. 189 , fig. (1893). This species has been recorded as doing extensive damage by boring willow trees in Baluchistan. Melittia eurytion, Westw. Hmpsn.. F. I. I. 203, f. 131. Bred at Pusa in small numbers from stems of snake-gourd {Tri- chosanthes anguina) in which the larva bores and forms an elongate gall. Also bred from stems of Cephalandra indicu. Scarcely a pest. Glyphipterygid.^. Hilarographa caminodes, Meyr. S. I. I. p. 464 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 37. Occurs in Ceylon as a pest of cardamoms, the larva boring in the bulbs. Likely to occur in Southern India also, although not hitherto noted. Phycodes minor. Mo. « Moore, P. Z. S. 1881. 378 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 251. Apparently widely distributed in the Plains of India and Burma. We have examples from Lahore, Pusa, Gauhati, Nowgong, and Minbu (L. Burma). The larva rolls and spins up leaves of various species of Ficus. It occurs as a rule on wild species but may attack cultivated varieties, especially in the Punjab, in which case it is decidedly a pest. Phycodes radiata, Ochs. S. 1. I. p. 463, f. 339 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 251. Occurs probably throughout India. Our examples are from Pesha- war, Kulu, Gurdaspur, Pusa, Gauhati, Nagpur and Hagari. Has been reared at Pusa on wild figs {Ficus religiosa, F. glomerata, etc.), at Gauhati on Ficus indica and at Hagari on Ficus tisela. It also occurs on cultivated fig {F. carica), the larva rolUng the leaf, and is sometime* a serious pest of young fig-trees. VOL. I M IGO FEOCEEDINGS Or THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING H YPONOMEUTID^ . Prays citri, Mill. Entl. Note 89 fig. ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 17, 212. A well-known pest of various species of Citrus, the larva devouring the flowers, boring in the shoots and tunnelling in the rind of fruits. Has been recorded as a pest in S. Europe, E. Austraha and the Philip- pines. It occurs in Ceylon and Coorg and at Pusa, but has not yet been noted as a pest in India, although it probably is so. Atteva fabriciella., Swed. S. I. I. pp. 461-463, f. 338 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 263. A common pest of Ailanthus at Coimbatore, the larvae hving in a common web. Also reared at Nagpur on salai (Bostvellia serrata). Also from Ahmadabad on Ailmiihus. AUeva mveigutfa, Wlk. Wlk., Cat. II 526-527 (1854) ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 263. The larva has been recorded as webbing and defoliating Ailanthus in Bikkim and Svlhet. Mr. Pillay. Mr. Fletcher, Mr. PUlay. .Ether astis circulnta, Meyr. Bred at Trivandrum. Travancore, in May 1914 from larvae found making galleries on the bark of Eugenia jamholana. Not known to be a pest. The caterpillars are found feeding on the bark of Eugenia making galleries on the stem. , Do you find them in any numbers ? Yes, I have found in some numbers. Comocriiis jiieria, Meyr. Meyr., B. J. XVII, 416 (1906). • Kr. Fletcher. Recorded from Ceylon and Assam, the larva in galleries on bark of Para Rubber [Hevea hrasiliensis). Its status as a pest seems doubt- ful. [See also Mr. Senior-White's paper on this species (No. 53 of these Proceedings. )] s'roceeding^ of the thikd extomological meeting 161 Gracillariad^. Lithocolletis friarcha, Meyr. Meyr., B. J. XVIII 811 (1908) ; I. I. L. p. 537 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 102. The larva mines leaves of cotton (not only tree-cotton as might be implied from the statement in Indian Insect Life). Not common and -not yet seen in sufficient numbers to do damage. AVe have examples from Pusa only. Lithocolletis ganodes, Meyr. This has been found at Parachinar where it was reared from apple leaves collected on 17th September 1917. It is not known how far it is a pest. Phrixosceles plexigrapha, Meyr. Meyr., Exot. Micr. I. 623. Bred at Coimbatore in March 1915 from red-gram {Cajanus indicus) -pods. Also occurs at Pusa. Not known to be a pest. Acrocercops ordinatella, Meyr. Entl. Note 85 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 38. Occurs in Ceylon. Mysore, Coorg and Burma, the larva mining leaves of camphor and sometimes a considerable pest. Acrocercops supplex, Meyr. At Pusa the larva mines Terminalia catappa leaves in small numbers. Acrocercops prosacfa, Meyr. At Pusa the larva has been found mining leaves of Ipomoea batatas in small numbers. Acrocercops phceospora, Meyr. " At Pusa the larva has been found mining Eugenia jambohna leaves. Acrocercops terminalicp, Stt. Stainton, T. E. S. (3) I 298-299, t. 10, f. 8 (1862) [Gracilarial Reared at Calcutta from leaf- miner on Country Almond (Termi- nalia catappa) but not known as a pest. m2 162 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Acrocercops cathedrcea, Meyr. Entl. Note. 84. Probably widely distributed in the Plains. We have it from Coim- batore, Pusa and Rajshahi. The larva mines mango leaves but is scarcely a pest. Also reared from larvae mining leaves of " chichri " {Achyranthes aspera). Acrocercops gemoniella, Stainton. Has been reared at Pusa from larva mining Achras sapota leaf. Not a pest. Acrocercops hierocosma, Meyr. Entl. Note 86. Reared at Pusa in September and October from larvae mining leaves of NepheUum litchi. Described from Queensland, so that the species is probably widely distributed in India. Acrocercops auricilla, Stn. Bred in September 1915 from leaf-miners received from Belgachia where they were doing considerable damage to leaves of mahogany. Also at Pusa from miners in Swietenia mahogani leaves. Acrocercops telestis, Meyr. Entl. Note 87. Reared at Pusa from larvae mining leaves of Eiigenia jambolana and Gmelina arbor ea. Also reared at Coimbatore from larvae on Trewia. We also have it from Moulmein. Acrocercaps syngramma, Meyr. •Entl. Note 84. Reared at Pusa. Saidapet, Coimbatore and Chittur from larvae mining young mango leaves. We also have it from Bankipur. Scarcely a pest. Acrocercops isonoma, Meyr. Meyr., Exot. Micr. I 625 ; Entl. Note 84. Once reared at Pusa in May from larvae mining mango leaves. Not known as a pest. TBOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD E^'TOMOLOGICAL MEETING 163 Liocrobyla paraschista, Meyr. Meyr., Exot. Micr. 11 5 (1916). Reared at Pusa in February 1916 from leaf-mining larvse on ftir '[Cajawts indicus). Not a pest. Also reared from Desmodivm gangeti- cum. Cyphosticha ccerulea, Meyr. Meyr., Exot. Micr. I. 26 (1912) ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 42, 56. Bred at Coimbatore from larvae mining leaves of DoUchos lablab and at Pusa from leaf miners on cowpea, nmng, sem. Dolichos lablab, Cajanus indicus and Vicia faba. May at times be a minor pest of pulses. Probably widely distributed in the Plains, but overlooked. Gracillaria zachrysa, Meyr. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 248 [Apple Gracilariad]. A decided pest of apple, the larva at first mining in young leaves and afterwards tying up the leaves, fastening the edges together and living inside, g.iawing the green substance on the upper side of the leaf. Sometimes practically all young leaves may be destroyed in this way. Has been found at Parachinar, Abbottabad and Peshawar and also at Shillong, so that it is probably widely distributed along the Hill "^ districts of Northern India. Gracillaria theivora, Wlsm. I. M. N. II 49 ; Meyr., B. J. XVIII 829. Common in the tea Districts of Ceylon but apparently scarcely a pest. We have an example from Lebong, Darjihng District. The larva mines and rolls leaves of tea. Have you come across this as a pest of tea ? Mr. Fletcher. I have never had it from tea gardens except those situated near Mr. Andrews. Dehra Dun and from these it has t^vice been sent in to me as doing damage. Gracillaria, soyella, van Dev. Entl. Note 88 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 42. Has been reared commonly at Pusa and Coimbatore from larvse rolling leaves of Cajanus indicus and at Pusa also on Phaseohis nwngo. It may also be expected to occur on soy-bean in India. 164 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Plutellid^e. Plutella 7naculipennis, Curt. S. I. I. p. 464, f. 340 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 276" 277, 280, 282, 283. Occurs everywhere, both in the Plains and Hills, throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. The larva gnaws holes in leaves of cabbage, cauli- flower, radish, mustard, turnip and other Cruciferse. Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar, Lyonetiad^. Ph'yUocnistis toparcha, Meyr. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 235. The larva mines leaves of grape-vine at Coimbatore, where it is a- minor pest. It was found at Coimbatore in grape-vine leaves. Although not in large numbers, yet it may be put down as a minor pest. Phyllocnistis citrella, Stt. S. I. I. p. 465, f. 341 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 209, 210, 216. Mr. Fletcher. Occurs in every locality where species of Citrus are cultivated in India. We have no specimens from Burma. The larvse may occur in large numbers, especially in young plants, mining the leaves and the epidermis of green shoots, and doing considerable damage. Also bred from larvse mining leaves of bael {Mgle marmelos) at Pusa and Sibpur, and on Murraya koenigi. Control — spray of Crude Oil Emulsion mixed with tobacco extract. Mr. Khare. ^^ the Central Provinces we get it, but it is never bad. Mr. Fletcher. ^^ some districts it may be quite a bad pest, especially of young plants. I have seen young plants with every leaf badly mined and containing foiu: or five or more larvse. Bucciilatrix loxoptih, Meyr. Meyr. Exot, Micr. I 209 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 102. Reared at Attur, Madras Presidency, in June 1907 from larvse found eating small holes in leaves of Caravonica cotton. Not otherwise known in India as yet, but hkely to prove a pest. Originally described from Zanzibar, where the larva \Nas found damaging cotton. / PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRO ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 1C5 Petasobathra S'tn>2«,Meyr. Meyr., Exot. Micr. I 355 ; Entl. Note 91. Found on indigo at Gorakhpvir and Dalsing Serai. N. Bihar, in Sep- tember, the larva webbing the top-shoots and nibbling the leaves. A very minor pest so far as is known. TlNEID^. Dasyses rugosellns. Stt. Stainton, T. E. S. (n. s.) V 113-114 (1859) [Cerosioma]; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 257. Reared at Pusa and Coimbatore from larvae in stems of Papaya carica. The larva usually feeds on dead wood but may bore in below the bark of old living stems ; the direct damage done is shght but the indirect damage, by admission of disease, may be more serious. The larval workings are easily seen and can be cut out and the wound tarred. TlSCHERIAD^. Tischeria ptarmica, Meyr. Meyr. Rec. Ind. Mus. II 399 ; 1. 1. L. p. 540. Found mining leaves of ber {Zizyphus jufuba) in Orissa. May occur in very large numbers constituting a minor pest. Hepialid^. Phassus malabancus, Mo. S. I. I. pp. 467-468, f. 344 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 22. Reared at Ootacamund from a pupa found in tea-stem. Also known from Bangalore In the Bombay Presidency the larva sometimes does much damage by boring in roots of Trema arientaUs {B. J. XXIII 765). It is only occasionally found on tea in Assam. Mr Andrews. It occurs in Burma, probably on teak. Mr. Beesoa. COLEOPTERA. MELOLONTHlDiE. Autoserica sp.* Ann. Rept. Impl. Entom. 1917-18, p. 93, t. 12, f. 1 (1918). This species has been reared in small numbers at Pusa from larvaa Mr. Fletcher, at roots of lemon and sugarcane. It is probably a minor pest. ♦This has since bean identified as A. in>anabilid, Brenske. 166 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Serica assamensis, Brsk. I. M. N. IV 176 (1899), V 14-15 ; Stebb., Ind. Forest Insects, pp. 74-75. Recorded by Stebbing as seriously defoliating tea in the Duars tea gardens close to the Bhutan Hills, larva also at roots of tea. Larva also at roots of sal trees in Bengal Duars. We have this from the Duars, but have no further information regarding it. Serica marginella, Hope. We have this from Gauhati and from Shillong, where it was found on cherry in May 1905. Serica maculosa, Brenske. This species was also found at Shillong on. cherry in May 1905. Serica clypeata, Brenske. This species was also found at Shillong in May 1905 on cherry. Serica, calcuttce, Brenske. I. M. N., IV 176 t. 13, f. 3 ; IV 243 ; V 130. Recorded from Calcutta, the adult beetles eating rose-leaves in the Indian Museum compound. Serica nilgiriensis, Shp. This species occurs at Ootacamund in the beginning of April. It occurs on Cinchona leaves to which it does a little damage. Mr. Ramakrishna It is found on Cinchona leaves. Probably there are two species ^^^^'- concerned. Mr. Fletcher. Does it do much damage ? Mr. Ramakrishna >;[o ; it does not do much damage. Ayyar. Serica filula, Shp. Mr. Fletcher. This species occurs in numbers at Ootacamund in the beginning of April. It is not definitely known to do damage but may be assumed to be at least a minor pest. Serica prninosa, Burm. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 29. We have this from Devikulam (5,000-6,000 feet), Travancore, where it is reported to have done a considerable amount of damage by defolia. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 167 ting coifee bushes. (7. M. N. Ill, iii, p. 117 (1892)). Stebbing {Ind. For. Ins. p. 75, f. 40) also refers to the above record and records it from Trevandnim also. Melaserica barberi, Shp. This is one of the small cockchafers occurring at Ootacamund in numbers in April. The beetles occur on Cinchona there in small numbers. Brahmina coriacea, Hope. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 234, 245, 247, 248. This species has been sent in to us from Chavai, Kulu District, where it was defoliating apple and pear trees by night in August 1915 ; from Jeolikote, where it was attacking vine and fig leaves by night in June 1910 and vine, apple, pear and plum in July 1912 ; we also have a speci- men taken on pear at Jeolikote on 3rd May 1915. This species occurs at Pusa also, and has been found attracted to the Andres-Maire traps There. Afoqonia proxima, Waterh. We have this from Calcutta, Chapra and Pusa. At Pusa the adults are found in very large numbers on Ficus religiosa leaves in July, eating the leaves in the evening. A pupa and many adults have also been found at Pusa amongst roots of Saccharvm sfontaneum. It is not defi- nitely known to be a pest but probably feeds on cane roots during the larval stage. Afogonia jermginea, Fb. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 131. We have this from Pusa, and from Hopin and Tatkon in Upper Burma. It is very abundant in the adult stage at Pusa in June and July, resting in the evening on leaves of Bombox and Ficus spp., which they damage considerably. Holotrichia coHferta, Shp. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 29. We have this from Pykara and Ootacamund in the Nilgiris, from Coorg and Santikoppa (N. Coorg). Said to damage coffee roots in the larval state. The adult beetles appear diu-ing the first half of April. 168 PllOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Beeson. Mr. Fletcher, Mr Ramakrishna Ayyar Mr. Ramiao. Mr. Fletcher. Holotfichia repetita, Shp. This cockchafer beetle appears in large numbers at Ootacamund in April. This insect damages cinchona to some extent. It is found on cinchona in small numbers. ( Unidentified Melolonthid) . * This cockchafer was sent in to us from Ranchi, the adult damaging rose leaves, in swarms at night, 6 July 1916. {Mrs. Maude.) {Unidentified Melolonthid). Sent in from Upper Shilloug, 29 September 1904, the adult beetles found on fruit-trees, {Unidentified Melolonthid). The adults swarm at dusk in May in Shillong and eat Enbus leaves. {Unidentified Melolonthid). / A second species found at Shillong in May 1918, the adult beetles swarming at dusk and destroying leaves of Ruhvs spp. The habits of all these Melolonthids are almost similar. The beetles all hide away in the day-time and come out at night just at dusk, and feed upon leaves. Individual specimens probably do comparatively little damage, but if many species appear together m large numbers (as they usually do), considerable damage may be caused. The ordinary remedy is to collect the adult beetles by hand or by light- traps. Is there any method of preventing the beetles from ovipositing in cultivated areas 1 It is not possible to do so. In cultivated areas hoeing provides a good remedy because it brings the grubs to light and is also good for cultivation. Light-traps are elective. The life-cycle of these beetles is one year. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture may be tried. We found that, in a garden where the grape-vines were attacked by a fungal disease for which Bordeaux spray was given, a particular patch was left un- sprayed by mistake and this plot was found to be very badly attacked by cockchafers whilst the treated vines were qmte untouched. In most districts spraying is impracticable because of the area to be covered and because of the occurrence of rain. The cockchafers * This lias since been identified a < .'>^''7(/ro»vf''« roficolh-^. T. We have it also from. Pusa. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 169 generally hatch out with the first rains, about June in most parts of India. In the case of cinchona in the Nilgiris, thousands of grubs are collect- Mr. Ramakrisbas^ ed by hand. Coolies are offered money for their collection. Ayyar. In Shilloug a fungus attacks the beetles, which are seen fixed on to Mr, Ramachandra leaves, dead. K^'O- The fungus that attacks these beetles is not effective as a check Mr, Fletcher. because it apparently only attacks them when their activities are almost over, and the beetles must occur in very large numbers for this fungus to be of any use. We have some trouble with cockchafers in the forest areas. Seedhng Mr. Beesoa. trees are attacked. The total damage to seedlings is sixty per cent., of which nearly a half is due to cockchafer grubs and the remainder to root-borers. I would like to know whether the method of collecting and kiUing them whilst hoeing is based on the knowledge of their Ufe- history or is only an empirical method. ^ It is only empirical. But it is practical, as it fits in with the cultiva- Mr. Fletcher, tion methods, and it is successful to some extent. How does the migration of the grubs take place in relation to the ^j. Beesoa. season ; that is to say, how do they come to the surface i We know very little about them but, as far as I know, they spend Mr. Fletcher, their whole Hfe-cycle fairly near the surface. Certainly, they are not found at any great depth when hoeing. RUTELID.^. Popillia cupricollis, Hope. Arrow, F. I. Rutel. pp. 73-74 ; Enti. Note 25. We have this from Kumaon (I. R. b51 of 4th September 1909), Gopaldhara (Sikkim) Turzum, Lebong, Masuri. Lansdowne, Simla, and Shillong. Arrow also records it from Kangra Valley, Naini Tal, Nepal, Sikkim. At Shillong in September 1917 the adults were f-jund destroy- ing flowers of rose, Dahlia, and garden plants generally. Popillia fece, Kraatz. Arrow, F. I. Rutel. p. 80 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 240. We have this from Maymyo, where the adult beetles were found on peach trees in May 1909 by K. D. Shroff, Arrow also records it from Nepal, Sikkim, Sadiya, Sylhet, Karen Hills, Ruby Mines, MerguJ, Siam and Malacca. 170 PHOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING At. Ramakrishna Myyar. Mr. Fletcher. Popillia clilorion, Newm. Arrow, F. I. Rutel. p. 82 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 300. This species is common at Ootacamund at the beginning of April. We have a single specimen from Coimbatore recorded as having been found on betel leaves ; but it is probably mis-labelled. Tt is doubtful whether it occurs at Coimbatore. PofiUia histeroidea , Gyll. Entl. Note 24 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 240. Adult beetles were found on peach {Pnmvs fersica) leaves at Maymyo in May 1909 by K. D. Shroff. Anomala dorsalis, Fb. Arrow, F. I. Rutel. pp. 136-137, f. 32. The Pusa Collection contains examples from the f oUo'^ving localities : — Coimbatore Chapra Pusa . Adults abundant in June and attracted to Andres-Maire trap. Ambala . Adult on hJiindi flower. July 1906. Dehra Dun . September 1906. Igatpuri . Lyallpur . Surat . .July 1904. . 28 July 1912. . June 1904. adult at light. Arrow also records it from Bangalore, Khandesh, Nagpur, Calcutta, Chota Nagpur, Sikkim, Sibsagar, Andamans, Simla, Secunderabad, Khulna, Gwalior. This is a common and widely-distributed cockchafer, not yet defi; nitely noted as a pest, but likely to be so. Anomala transversa, Burm. Arrow, F. I. Rutel. pp. 142-143, f. 33 ; Entl. Note 13 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 250. Found at Shillong in May 1905 in numbers on cherry leaves, also on white flowers, roses. Spiraeas, etc. In May 1918 at Shillong in large numbers inside lily flowers in daytime, devouring pollen and petals. Also occurs at Gauhati in May. Arrow also records it from Ruby Mines, Tharrawaddy, Maymyo and Tonkin. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD EXTOMO LOGICAL MEETING 171 Anornala bengalensis, Bl. Arrow. F. I. Riitel. p. 113, f. 31 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. U(j ; Annual Report 1917-18, pp. 93-94. Hitherto mixed with polita. This is one of the three species hitherto mixed up luider the name varians ; it is distinguishable by the incised clypeus. It has been reared at Pusa from larva3 found in leaf-mould and at Pusa and Dacca from lai-vse gnawing sugarcane stems below ground. At Pusa the adult beetles have been taken at light and are also freely attracted to the Andres- Maire trap, in larger numbers than those of polita. Also recorded by Arrow from Calcutta, Chota Nagpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Golconda (Vizagapatam), Bangalore, Coimbatore and Mandalay. This species is undoubtedly a pest although we have as yet few records of it as actually doing damage. Anomala olivieri, Sbp. Arrow, F. I. Rutel. p. U4. We have this from Xaduvatum (Nilgiris), May 19Ul, and from Ootacamund (9 April 1901 ; C. A. Barber) where it occurs in numbers. Arrow also records it from Cochin. It is not common as a rule. Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. Anomala elata, Fb. Arrow, F. I. Rutel. p. 145, f. 35. This species apparently represents polita in the South Indian Hills. Mr. Fletcher. The hind tibia and tarsus are dark and the latter very thick (in polita slender and not very dark). It is represented in the Pusa Collection from Pollibetta and Sidapur in Coorg and from the Bababudin Hills. Anomala polita, Blanch. Arrow, F. I. Rutel. pp. 14G-147, t. 2, f. 24 ; Proc. Second Ent!. Meeting, pp. 146, 174, 192, 245. This is one of the species hitherto mixed up under the name varians ; it resembles bengalensis closely but has the clypeus straight (incised in bengalensis). • 172 rKOCEEBIlvGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING At Pusa the larva, "has been found in leaf-mould and also at the roots of rice and grass. At Muzaf!arpur and Nadia the larvae have also been found at the roots of rice-plants. At Jeolikote (Kumaon) the adult beetles were found damaging apricot shoo's and on apricot tree, and at Zhob (Baluchistan) the beetles were attacking g-esngage fruits in July 1918. The Pusa Collection also contains examples from Coimbato-e, Xanara. Baroda and Kashmir, and Arrow also records it from Agra, Dehra Dun. Khandesh, Belgaum. N. Kanara, Jaintia Hills. ' Anoynala varicdlor, Gyll. Arrow, F. I. Rutel. pp. 152-153, f. 41. At Pusa the adult beetles are attracted to the Andres-Maire trap in numbers in May and June ; the larva has been reared from Saccharum sponianeum (under C. S. 1744 ; biharensis). and the pupa has been found at roots of oats (C. S. 1209). At Dacca the beetles have been found in small numbers attacking mango blossoms, and at Jeolikote (Kumaon) the beetle was found damaging plum leaves on 20th May 1915 by H. H. Prasad. We also have it from the Buxar Duars and from Peradeniya, and Arrow also records it fi'om Gopaldhara, Sarda (Bengal), Parlakimedi (Oaniam District). Bangalore, South Arcot, and the Palnis. Mr. P. C. Sen, At Dacca the adults occur on mango blossoms at night. Mr. Fletcher. Do they do any damage ? Mr. P. C. SeD. I found them only in small numbers and have not observed them doing any appreciable damage. Anomala variivestis, Arr. F. I. Rutel. p. 156, t. 3, ff. 20, 21. This species was found at Shillong, 23-26 June 1918, defoliating fruit trees (apple principally) at night. Arrow also records it from Manipur and Maymyo. » Anomala biharensifi. Arrow, F. I. Rutel., pp. 166-167 ; Ann. Rept. Impl. Entom. 1917-18, p. 93, t. 10, ff. a-d. This species has been reared at Pusa from larvae found at roots of sugarcane and roots of Saccharum spontaneum. Larvse and adults have also been iound around roots of gular and banyan trees. It is apparently not a very common species. I'KIKr.EDlVv.S OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 173 Anomnla antiqua, Gyll, Arrow, F. I. Rutel. ]ip. 167-168. This is a large dark green Anomala which has been found at Tatkou, Burma, on maize and Sesammn by K. D. Shroff. We also have speci- mens from Minbu, Sale, Mandalay, Myingyan and Tharrawaddy. Arrow also records it from Nepal, Hainan, Hongkong, Siam to Borneo and N. Australia. Anomala ignicollis, Blanch. Arrow, F. I. Rutel. p. 178. This species occurs at high elevations (7,000 feet and over) in the Nilgiris. It is one of the abundant species found at Ootacamund in the beginning of April and we also have it from Naduvatam (7,000 feet) in May 1904 and from Pykara (7,000 feet). Anmnala aurora, Arr. Arrow, F. I. Rutel. p. 185 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 240. This species was found by K. D. Shroff at Maymyo on peach leaves in May. Arrow also records it from the Ruby Mines. Anomala paUidospila, Arr. Arrow, F. I. Rutel. p. 195, f. 48 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 240. Also found by K. D. Shroff at Maymyo on peach leaves in May. Anomala lineatopennis, Blanch. • Arrow, F. I. Rutel., pp. 212-213 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 245. This is a dark-green species with yellowish-brown elytra. The beetles were found at Jeolikote (Kumarn) attacking plum leaves on 20th May 1915 by H. H. Prasad, and we also have it from Buxar Duars. Arrow also records it from Dehra Dun, Masuri, Ramgarh, Ranikhet, Naini Tal, Kulu, Simla, Bhutan and Nepal. Anomala chcorata, Kirsch. Arrow, F. I. Rutel. p. 216 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 240. This is a shining brown species with chestnut markings on the elytra. It has been found on peach at Maymyo and Arrow also records it from Perak. 17 i PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEEJING Anomala dimidiata, Hope. Arrow, F. I. Rutel, pp. 232-233. This is a large bright-green species, which is coinniou at Pusa at Ught and has also been taken in the Andres-Maire trap. At Chawai^ in the Kangra District, it appears during June and July every year and is found abundantly on berberry trees in sunny places, completely defoliating the trees, and by night it attacks apple and pear, damaging the fruits chiefly. At Zhob (Baluchistan) the beetles were found attack- ing greengage fruits in July 1918. At Daltonganj it has been found on Butea frondosa. At Darbhanga the beetles were reported to be damaging garden plants in the Rajbagh in the beginning of July 1906. Arrow also records it from Nepal, Campbellpur (North- West Frontier Province), Kulu, Simla, Naini Tal, Malda, Ranikhet, Sikkim, Shillong and Manipur. Mr. Senior- White. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Pillay. Anomala dussumieri, Bl. Arrow, F. I. Rutel., p. 2^3, t. 2, ff. 9, 10 ; Proc. Second EntL Meeting, p. 219. This is a very large shining green species which has been found in the adult state as a minor pest of mango leaves and sweet-potato stems in Travancore. We also have it from Helem (Assam) and Peradeniya. Arrow also records it from Colombo, Cochin, and S. Kanara, and states that it is said to be destructive to leaves of Cinchona succirubra in Ceylon. I have seen it in the centre of a rose flower in Ceylon. It was only chewing the petals. There is a specimen which was found on the stem of sweet-potato at Trivandrum. What was it doing, Mr. Pillay ? I found it in very small numbers. It is a very minor pest. Anomala rufiventris, Redt. Arrow, F. I. Rutel, pp. 236-237 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 254. Mr. Fletcher. This is a large shining blackish-green species which was sent in to us in August 1915 from Chawai (Kulu) as attacking apples and pears, defoliating the trees, no trace being found of it in the daytime but emerging by night and doing a great deal of damage. We also have it from Simla (July 1909), Lansdo^vne (October 1909), Masuri (August 1906) and Nagri Spur (Darjiling District). Also recorded by Arrow fi-om Ranikhet, Manipur, Khasis, Jaintias, and Bhutan. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 175 Anomala regina, Newman. Arrow, F. I. Rutel., p. 252, t. 3, ff. 37, 38. This species occurs in both light-green and dark-blue forms. It occurs at Ootacamund in numbers at the beginning of April and we also have it from Neduvatam (Nilgiris ) in May 1904 and from Coimbatore (3 October 1917). Adoretus lobice'ps, Arrow. F. I. Rutel., pp. 303-304, f. 67. We have this from Surat, Jabalpur and Nagpur, where the beetles were found on rose-trees in June by Mr. D'Abreu, Adoretus bicmidatus, Arr. F. I. Rutel., pp. 310-311, f. 68, t. 5, ff. 15, 16 ; Entl. Note 17 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 264. We have this from Fenchuganj (C. Presley coll.) where it was found damaging rose-leaves and other garden trees. Also known from Sun- darbans, Dacca, Berhampur, Trincomali, and Nirodhumunai (Ceylon). At Dacca it was found on bark of a mango tree (Arrow). Adoretus ovalis, Bl. F. I. Rutel., p. 338, t. 5, f. 28 ; Entl. Note 16. This species is only known from Ootacamund, where it occurs in numbers at the beginning of April. The statement in South libdian Insects that this species was found in other locahties damaging grape- vine and mango, is based on a misidentification and the figure given represents A. lasiopygiis. Adoretus duvauceli, Bl. F. I. Rutel., pp. 343-344, t. 5, f . 43 ; Entl. Note 21 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 234, 251. This species was sent in from Jeohkote (Kumaon) in June 1910 as damaging vine and fig leaves by night and again in July 1912 as damag- ing vine, apple, pear and plum leaves. It was received from Begum Serai in July 1904 as damaging vines by eating the leaves and in Calcutta Dr. Gravely has found the adults damaging leaves of Lagerstrosmia and Cassia. We also have it from Chapra and from Pusa, where the adults occur from June to September. VOL. I ' N 176 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Adoretus Jiorticola, Arr. F. I. Kutel, p. 344, t. 5, f. 34 ; Entl. Note 22 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 234, 245, 247, 248, 251. This species was sent in to us from Jeolikote (Kumaon) in June 1910 as damaging leaves of vine and fig by night and again in July 1912 as damaging leaves of vine, apple, pear and plum by night. Adoretus bicolor, Brenske. Arrow, F. I. Rutel., p. 347. Recorded by Arrow from Kurseong, Sarda (Bengal), Calcutta, Pusa, Jabalpur, Surat, Berhampur (Ganjam), Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kodumor, and Kurnul. At Bangalore it was found attacking rose-bushes. (/. M. N., V. 2, p. 38(1900)). Adoretus lasiopygus, Burm. Arrow, F. I. Rutel., 348-349, t. v. f. 36 ; Entl. Note 18 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 234, 264. Adoretus ovalis (part), Fletcher, S. Ind. Ins. p. 287, f. 127. This species was sent in from Begum Serai in July 1904 as damaging grape-vines. This is also the species referred to in South Indian Insects as ovalis as damaging grape-vine and mango in Southern India. We have it also from Pusa, where the beetles occur from June to September, from Calcutta, Rewari (Punjab) on 4th October 1905, from Jorhat (29th June 1907) and from Palamau in September 1906, and Arrow also records it from Allahabad, Sikkim, Tejpur, various locaUties in Bengal, Ranchi, Coimbatore, S. Arcot, Godavari, Trichinopoli, and Anuradhapura. Mr. Pillay. In Travancore it damages coconut seedling one-and-a-half year's old and three to four feet high. It completely defoliates the plants. Mr. Fletcher. On a big scale ? Mr. Piilay. More than one hundred plants were destroyed. The leaf blades V, ere eaten and only the mid-ribs left. Adoretus vsrsulus, Har. F. I. Rutel. pp. 350-351, ff. 73, 74 ; Entl. Note 23 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 234, 245, 247, 248, 251, 264. Mr. Fletcher. A. versutus was sent in to us from JeoUkote (Kumaon) in June 1910 as lacerating leaves of vine and fig, and again in July 1912 as damaging leaves of vine, pear, apple and plum, whilst on 20ih May 1915 H. H. PilOCEEDINGS OF VHli THIKD EMOMOLOGICAL MEETING 177 Tiasad found it at Jeolikote on apple seedlings and on a loquat tree. The adult beetle has a partiality for rose leaves and has been noted specially on rose at Eangalore, whilst in Calcutta it also attacks leaves of Lagtrsircemia and Cannas. In Samoa the adult is a pest of cacao and the larva feeds on roots of grasses, etc. At Pusa the larva was found at roots of oats and the adult beetle reared out emerged on 1st May 1915 ; a pupa was also found at Pusa underground in an indigo field and from this the adult emerged on 4th September 1917. The Pusa Collection also contains examples from Murshidabad, Buxar Duars, Sylhet, Tejpur (Assam), Coimbatore and the Nilgiris. It is a very widely distributed species. Adoreius caliginosus, Burm. P. I., Rutel. pp. 355-356 ; Entl. Note 19 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 264 ; Ann. Kept. Impl. Entom. 1917-1918, p. 93," t. ll,ff. a-d(1918). This species has been reared at Pusa from larvse found at roots of grasses, rice, sugarcane and Saccharum sfontaneum, the adult beetles emerging at the end of April. We have it also from Surat (5th May 1904), Bababudin Hills (March to April), Santikoppa (N. Coorg ; 4th- 10th May 1914), Jorhat (29th June 1907) and Tharrawaddy. Arrow also records it from Kangra Valley, Sikkim, Sarda (Bengal), Belgaiun, Bandra, Nilgiris (3^500 feet) and Rangoon. Cetoniad^. Heterrorhina elegans, Fb. .Arrow, P. I. Ceton. pp. 93-94 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 182. This is a large metallic green or blue species which occurs on cholam flower-heads in small numbers at Coimbatore, eating the pollen, but t is not looked on as a pest. We also have it from Chapra and Arrow .also records it from Malda, Chota Nagpur, Mysore, Trichinopoly, Nilgiris and Ceylon. I teats the pollen but does not do appreciable damage as it does Mr. Ranrtl-'iGhca not occur in large numbers. Ayj^ar. AnfhracophGra crucifera, 0]\v.{=atromacuhta, Fb.) Arrow, F. I. Ceton. pp. 110-111 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeticg. p. 182. This species has been found at Coimbatore on cholam and Lantniui Mr, Flelcbor. ihwt is not looked on as a pe.st. It is widely distributed and the Pu>a ^ n2 178 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING collection contains specimens from Dehra Dun, Pusa, Chapra, Igatpuri.. Surat, Betul, Trivandrum, Pollibetta and Sidapur in S. Coorg, and from S. Kanara, whilst Arrow also records it from Saliibganj (Bengal).. Purneah District, Bangalore and Ceylon. Anatona stiUata, Newm. Arrow, F. I. Ceton. pp. 114-115 ; S. I. I. p. 282, f. 122 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 182, 188, 200, 201. This species seems to be confined practically to the Western Ghats. and Deccan and surrounding tracts and has been recorded from Khan- desh, Poona, Nagpur, Bellary and Bangalore. In Bellary and Bangalore it occurs on cholam and ragi and at Poona it occurs on bajra earheads, feeding on the pollen and vmripe grains. It occurs at Poona every year but was particularly bad in 1918. At Poona control by means of light-traps has been tried, but these were found to be useless. The-. Pusa collection contains one poor specimen. Protcelia fiisca, Hbst. Arrow, F. I. Cet. pp. 154-155, f. 34. We have this from Insein and from Pusa, where it was bred from' larvae found in farmyard manure. Also known from Calcutta, Chapra, Cachar, Bhamo, Mandalay, Rangoon and ranges through Tenasserim and Siam to S. China, the-. Malay Peninsula and Archipelago, Polynesia, N. Queensland and Mauritius (Arrow). Ridley says that at Singapore the larvae are very injurious to Cannaa. and other cultivated plants, on whose roots they feed. In Queensland the adult beetle attacks nests of a Trigona, probably for the sake of the- stored honey (Arrow). Frotcviia alboguftata , Vig. Arrow, F. I. Ceton. p. 162-163 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 182. At Coimbatore and Bangalore the adult has been found on earheads-. of cholam to which a little damage is done. At Pusa the adult beetle has been found at roots of Panicum. We also have it from Kanara. Belgaum, Mysore, Surat, Chapra and Dehra Dun and Arrow also records, it from Ranchi and Kandy. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 179 Oxycelonia versicolor, Fb. Arrow, F. I. Ceton. pp. 164-166, ff. 35, 36 ; S. 1. 1, p. 284, f. 123 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 90, 123, 182. This species has been reared at Pusa from larvse in farm yard manure. The adult beetle has been found in South India on flowers and shoots of groundnut, doing some damage at times, also eating flowers of bhindi and cotton in West Khandesh, and attacking flower-heads of cliohru in South India. It is a widely distributed species which we have from Chapra, Pusa, Murbhanj and Kanti in Bengal, Bombay, Andheri, Nasik, W. Khandesh, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Palur. Oxycetonia albopimclata, Fb. Arrow, F. I. Ceton. p. 166-167 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 123, 212. This species has also been reared at Pusa from larvae in farmyard manure. The adult beetles appear at Pusa from the end of July to the beginning of November and feed in numbers on bajro, maize, juar and rice ears and have also been noted as feeding on cotton [? flowers], H'ibiscus mutabilis flowers, and lemon flowers. At Coimbatore it has also been found on cholam. We have it also from Kanara, Chapra, Dehra Dun, Lebong, the Khasi Hills and Helem (Assam). Lefroy reports the adult as feeding on pollen of cotton flowers, and • also found on rice, jute, cane and other crops (Arrow) and Mr. C. il. Inglis reports the adults as damaging Lager strcemia at Laheria Serai. ^r I found this on heads of wheat. In Ceylon we carried on wheat- ^^- SeEioi-Wbite* growing experiments but this beetle gave us much trouble by damaging the earheads, Ckiloloba acuta, Wied. Arrow, F. I. Ceton. p. 172, t. 2, f. 4 ; S. I. I. p. 284, f. 124 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 178, 183, 188, 264-265, 278, 281. At Pachmarhi the larva has been reported to damage seedhngs of cabbage, cauliflower, artichoke, etc. The beetles often occur in large numbers and have been reported to damage rice flowers at Cuttack and NagpuT. At Virajpet, in S. Coorg, the beetles were found on paddy and on a wild grass {Pennisetum alopecurus). At Nagpur the beetle has also been found on juar heads and at Pusa on rose leaves and flowers. In Kashmir the adult was noted in very large numbers on flowers of bhang {Cannabis saliva) on the road to Srinagar, and Mr. E. A. Andrews reports it as having occurred on tea in the Bengal Duars in considerable 180 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING numbers, eating the young leaves and doing considerable damage. . We also have it from the Punjab (on bajra), Garhwal, Dehra Dun, Nasik, the Shevaroy Hills and Maymyo. Lefroy has also reported it as injurious to juar and h(tki [Panicvm miliare ; a small millet], whose flowers it damages (Arrow). TVTr. Tiaglis. j have found it on flowers of thatching grass. Mr. Aadcews. j^^ ^j^g Bengal Duars the adults were eating the leaves of young- tea-bushes and doing considerable damage. This tea was planted on new land which had just been cleared of jungle. Eficometis sqvcdida, Linn. Arrow. F. I. Ceton. p. 174, f. 40 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 268. This has been sent in to us from Quetta, the adult beetles occurring on hyacinth, crocus, violet, and narcissus and destroying [the flowers 1] in April 1910. It also occurs in W. Asia, Europe, N. Africa, where it injures peach blossoms by destroying the stamens and in Greece, Corsica, Algeria and other vine-growing countries damages buds of growing- vines. The larva is said to bred in manure (Arrow). Agesfrafa orichalcea, Linn. Arrow, F. I. Ceton pp. 192-194, f. 2. Occurs in Ceylon, Travancore, Bombay, Sylhet, Tenasserim, Anda- mans. Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, China, etc. The larva bores into Pandanns, the woody stem being tunnelled tlirough just below the point of origin of the branches, causing them to die off. At Singapore it is very destructive to ornamental Pandanus growing in tubs. The larva is preyed on by Scolia fuhig'mosa, Fb. (Arrow). This has not yet been noted as a pest in India but is Ukely to.be found damaging ornamental Pandaniis. Sfilofhonis creiosm, Hope. Arrow, F. I. Ceton, pp. 201-202, f. 45. We have specimens from Coimbatore, where it was found on cumhu on 21st September 1909 and on Cordia suhcordata, from Chapra, and from Malegaum in Bombay where the adult beetle was found in a nest of Cremasfogaster sp. Also known from Malda, Berhampore, and Western Province of Ceylon (Arrow). PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING ISL Macroma melanopiis, Sch. Arrow, F. I. Ceton, p. 219. Adult beetles were found at Shillong in May and the beginning of June 1918 on Rubifs spp., usually on wald Rubvs but also attacking cultivated species. Damage slight. Arrow also records it from Manipur, Sylhet, Jaintias, N. Kyen Hills (Burma) and Siam. Dynastid.^:. Xylotrvpes gkJeon, Linn. Arrow, F. I. Dyn., pp. 262-265, ff. 59. , Recorded from Calcutta, Kurseong, Shillong, Sibsagar, Cachar, Bombay, Travancore, Ceylon (Arrow). The Pusa Collection contains specimens from Dehra Dun, Meroara (Coorg), Dacca, Tezpur, Khasi Hills (1,000-3,000 feet), Shillong, Helera (Assam), and the Philippines. At Tezpur the adult beetles were found damaging seed indigo plants by gnawing and stripping the bark. [Evpaforvs hardtvickei, Hope. Arrow, F. I. Dyn., pp. 268-269. While staying with Mr. J. R. P. Gent of the Forest Service in the Mr. Inglis. Kurseong Division (elevation 6,000 feet) he brought in one of each of Etipatonis hardivickei and E. hardivickei cantori which he found stripping the bark from an Alder {Almis neiKilensis). As far as I remember, he said the beetles were working vertically and doing a good deal of damage by stripping off about four feet of the bark all round the tree.] Oryctes nasicornis, L. Arrow, F. I. Dynast., pp. 275-276 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 262. We have specimens from Quetta and had for determination from ]y[r, Fletcher. Mr. Milne one specimen captured by him at Dalhousie. Recorded from Baluchistan, Kashmir, S. W. Asia, S. & S. E. Europe (Arrow). This species is not definitely known as a pest but probably attacks date-palms in North-West India. 182 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Fletche". Mr. David. Mr. Kbare. Mr Haiuakrislina Ayyar. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Ramakrisbna Ayyar. Mr. Kunbi Eannan Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Ramakrisbna Ayyar. Mr. Senior-White. Orycles rhinoceros, L. Arrow, F. I. Dynast., pp. 278-281, ff. 6, 63 ; S. I. I. p. 285, t. 3 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 135, 145, 259, 262. Throughout Southern India and Ceylon as far north as Pusa and Bandra, apparently not found in the United Provinces and we have no records from the Central Provinces. The larva occurs in farmyard manure, cofiee pulp, rotting aloe stems and decaying vegetation generally, the adult beetle boring into crowns of palm trees, occasionally into sugarcane. It has been found in sugarcane at Coimbatore, and in Travancore is said to occur rarely in cane when 3-4 feet high. The Pusa Collection contains specimens from Pusa, Bangalore, Kanara, N. Coorg (larva in rotten cofiee pulp), Virajpet in S. Coorg (damaging coco palms) and Trichinopoly. The northern limit of the distribution of Orydes rhinoceros in India does not seem to be definitely known. We have no records from the United Provinces and no specimens from the Central Provinces. It is not found at Cawnpur. In the Central Provinces we find it breeding in manure heaps. It is found throughout the Central Provinces. A new control method has been tried in Travancore. A powdered oil-cake is prepared from a plant called marrali (? Hydrocafpus sp.) and placed in the crowns of the palms. This has a strong smell and a bitter taste and probably acts as a repellent. How far is it actually practical ? I do not know. I have only heard of it. Fermented ragi water was tried in Mysore and found to attract the beetles in large numbers. Do the people keep pigs in these coconut-growing districts in Southern India ? No ; but they make pits filled with rubbish and when the beetles have collected they are killed ofi. In Ceylon, in the low-country at an altitude of about 400 feet, the Singhalese keep pigs and, so far as I know, they do not have much trouble with Oryctes. Heteronychus sacchari, Arrow. Arrow, F. I. Dyn., p. 297, f. 69. Recorded by Arrow from Rangpur (Bengal) and " reported as causing considerable injury to sugarcane." No specimens in Pusa Collection. PROCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 183 Allissonoium piceiwi, Fb. Arrow, F. I. Dynast., p. 299 ; Ann. Eept. Impl. Entom, 1917-18, p. 93. Eecorded from Darjiling, Sundarbans, Dacca, Malabar, Ceylon (Arrow). The Piisa Collection contains specimens from Dacca, Chapra, and Pusa, where the larva was found boring into sugarcane shoots, 6nd the adults occur at roots of Saccharum sfontaneuin in some numbers from July to September. Alissonotum simile, Arrow. F. I. Dynast., p. 300-301 ; Ann. Kept. Impl. Entom. 1917-18, p. 93. Recorded from Assam (Dilkoosha), Sylhet and Pusa (Arrow). The Pusa Collection only contains examples from Pusa, where the adults occur at light in June and Jvily, and the larva has once been found in a sugarcane field in May. The larva probably eats roots in the same way as .4. 'jnceum. Pentodon bispinifrons, Reitter. Arrow, F. I. Dyn , p. 303 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 146. Recorded from Bannu, Baluchistan, Karachi, Persia and Turkestan (Arrow). The Pusa Collection contains specimens from Lyallpur, Baroda (adult, labelled " sugarcane " 17 August 1907), Pusa (adults at light), Simla (adult, July 1909), and Chapra. This species probably bores into cane in the same way as P. benga- lense. Pentodon bengaJense, Arr. Arrow, F. I. Dyn., p. 304, f. 71 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 146. Recorded by Arrow from Pusa and Rajmahal. The Pusa Collection contains specimens from Chapra, Pusa (larva at roots of sugarcane) and Peshawar, where the adult has been found destroying sugarcane shoots by burrowing in below ground. PJn/Uognathus dionysius, Fb. Arrow, F. I. Dynast., pp. 307-308, f. 73 ; Ent. Mem. 11, 139- 143, t. 13 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 174. The Pusa Collection contains specimens from Simla, Dehra Dun, Pusa, Chapra, Hoshangabad, Seoni, Igatpuri, Belgaum, S. Kanara and Coimbatore, whilst Arrow also records it from Kurseong, Purnea District, 184 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Ramakiishna Ayyar, Mr. Senior- White. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Senic:-Wtite. Mr. Jhaveri. Chota Nagpur, Calcutta, Mysore and Ceylon. The adult beetle was- found in S. Kanara cutting stems of young rice-plants on one occasion, and the larvae were found in numbers at roots of rice-plants at Belgaum.. It is apparently a sporadic pest of paddy. LuCANIDiE. Lucam/s lunifer, Hope, Stebbing, Ind. For. Ins. Col., pp. 70-72. ff. 37, 38. This species occurs throughout the Himalayan region, the larva- feeding in rotten wood. We have it from Dehra Dun and Ramgarh. At Ramgarh, Kumaon District, two male specimens were given me in August 1918 by Mr. N. Gill as having been found boring into peach fruits about the middle of July. The beetles are said to do considerable damage in this way and to bore into sound ripe fruits. SCOLYTID.5:. Xylebonis fornicatus, Eich. This Scolytid is the well-known and destructive " shot-hole borer " of Ceylon and has been reported as found in Travancore also, but this latter record appears to be uncertain. At Bangalore it has been reared from bored castor stems. Plants over a year old were attacked. The whole stem was bored. All stages were found in the stem — eggs, grubs and beetles. Mr. Speyer states that castor is the normal food of this insect. He came to this conclusion by a comparison of the galleries in castor and tea. He believes that it comes into tea as an overflow when its numbers have increased too much on castor. In the Tea districts of Ceylon the planting of castor has been prohibited. It is extending its range in Ceylon. It is strange that it is such a bad pest of tea in Ceylon but not in South India. ]Mr. Speyer is now recommending fish-oil paints on the tea-bushes. His Bulletin on the subject is expected shortly and will contain all the information. [Xylebonis sp. Another species of Xylehorm was found in and around Surat damag- ing date and coconut palms. This appears to be a new pest in this locality and has been noticed to spread gradually into the surrounding gardens at Surat. This insect was found to damage the tree by making very small holes of the size of the head of an ordinary pin. The damage PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 185 commences from a foot or two above ground-level and goes upwards. It appears to be a serious pest in this limited area. See also the Scolytid on coconut in Madras. Possibly both speciea are identical. — Editor.] ( Undetermined Scolytid.) S. I. I., pp. 344-345, fig. 203 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 37. This Scolytid occurred very abundantly in cardomom capsules in Mr. Fletcher. Coorg in 1913 and damaged a large percentage of the crop, but has not been reported again. (Undetermined Scolytid.) Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 261. An imdetermined Scolytid has been reported to bore in the stems of coconut palms at Negapatam and in the Clodavari district, killing the attacked trees. It is also reported to be a bad pest of coconut in N. Kanara, but very little seems to be known about this insect. ( Undetermined Scolytid.) Another undetermined Scolytid has been reported as damaging Hevea rubber trees, by boring the bark, on the Moopli Valley Estate. It is said to attack healthy trees. Platypodid^. [? Crossotarsus, sp. A Platypodid has been reported as attacking Hevea rubber trees in Mr. Ramakrishna Travancore also.] Ayyar. OURCULIONID^. Blosyrus asellus, Linn, Mshll., F. I. Cure, I. p. 33 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 292. The Pusa Collection contains specimens from Simla, Chapra, Muzaff- Mr, Fletclier arpur and Pusa and Marshall also records it from Bengal, Assam, Burma, Andamans, Cambodia, Malacca, Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippines. At Pusa the adults have been found on cotton and on sweet-potato in small numbers, but it is probably not a pest. 186 PEOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Blosyrus incequalis, Boh. Mshll., F. I. Cure, I, pp. 35-36 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 61, 81. This species seems to be restricted to Southern India. We have it from Yemmiganur, Adoni and Hadagalli (all in Bellary), Coimbatore, and Nellikuppam (S. Arcot) and Marshall also records it from Sampgaon, Belgaum, Mysore, Bangalore, Pondicherry, Nagodi (S. Kanara), N. Coorg, and Anuradhapura. At Adoni the adults were found on gingelly, at Hadagalli on cluster beans, and at Nellikuppam in August 1912 on indigo in some numbers. Tanymecus sciurus, Oliv. Mshll., F. I. Cure. I, pp. 76-78, f. 24^ ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 149. We have this from Eastern Bengal and Assam (I. R. 357-V of 1 August 1907), Chapra and Pusa, and Marshall also records it from Chota Nagpur and Patna. At Pusa it has been found on sugarcane on two occasions and in small numbers on cotton. Mr. P. C. Sea. I found it doing a certain amount of damage to sugarcane at Rangpur. It eats the soft leaves of the young shoots. Tanymecus princeps, Fst. Mshll., F. I. Cure, I, 97, f. 2il ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 103. Mr. Fletcher. ^^ have this from Surat, where it was found " on cotton leaves," from Hoshangabad, and from Palamau, where D. P. Singh found it commonly in October 1906. It is also recorded by Marshall from Nag- pur, Belgaum, and N. Kanara. At Belgaum it was found on beans or other plants bordering rice-fields (Marshall). Tanymecus hispidus, Mshll. F. I. Cure. I. 98, f. 2U ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 103, 149, 168, 190, 207, 254. The larva has been found at Pusa in sugarcane fields. The Pusa Collection contains specimens from Rohtak (Punjab), found on cotton, from Pusa, Dholi and Cooch Behar, and Marshall also records it from Rampurchaka, Bijnor District, United Provinces, and Jallandhur. It is of very minor importance as a rule, occurring at Pusa on maize, rice, sugarcane, lucerne and leaves of DaWergia sissu and Zizyphus jujuha, but at Dholi [near Pusa] in June 1909 it was reported to be attacking maize and in March 1918 it was sent in to us by Messrs. Turner, Morrison & Co. as found in fairly large numbers on a sugarcane plantation in Cooch Behar. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 187 Tanymecus indicus, Fst. Mshll., F. I. Cure, pp. 99-100, f. 32 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, . pp. 69, 81, 96, 97, 134, 168, 180, 186, 190, 193, 273, 283. Our records include the following localities and foodplants : — Lahore . On wheat. Lyallpiir . • Jheluni . On wheat. Burhapur, U. P. . On poppy (opium). Pusa . On maize, indigo, sann-hcmp. sunflowei rice, jute, jMor, at Sacchannn sp. roots. Muzaffarpur . Chapra On rice. Nagpur Safflower. Fyzabad, U. P. . . Damaging poppy seedlings. It is an occasional bad pest of young wheat (when 5-6 inches high) in the Punjab and once occuired in numbers on beetroot at Pusa. SpUt pumpkins, placed at dusk and examined before sunrise, may be used as traps for the beetles. Marshall also records it as a pest of gram and barley, and at Surat the adults attack juar seedlings and do some damage. I found it a serious pest of juar seedlings at Surat last year. A Mr. Jhaveri. bait of cut pumpkins and heaps of uprooted weeds, put in the rows, attracted large numbers of beetles. It is also found on cotton. In Madras it is found on cotton. Mr. Ramakrislina. Ayyar. Atmetonychus peregrinvs, Oliv. Mshll., F. I. Cure, I. pp. 112-113, f. 37 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 123, 253, 273, 285. We have this from Amballa, Fyzabad, Chapra, Pusa, Cuttack and Mr. Fletcher.. Eastern Bengal and Assam. At Pusa the adults have been found on jute and on two occasions on ber, at Amballa on bhindi. at Cuttack on potato leaves, whilst at Fyzabad it was reported on opium poppy on 16th December 1904 and again as damaging poppy seedUngs on 14th January 1918, Hypomeces sqitamosus, F. Mshll., F. I. Cure, I. pp. 116-117, f. 39 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 128, 296. This species is apparently common in Burma and we have it from Myitkyina, Mandalay, Tagmiding, Minbu and Moulmein. At Myitkyina the adults occurred on orange and on Hibiscus rosasinensis, and at Mandalay K. D. Shroff found it on Amaranthus. In South India and Assam it defoHates teak, etc. Mr. Beeson. 188 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Dereodus pollinosus, Pedt. Mshll., F. I. Cure, I. 121 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 136, 248. Mr. Fletcher. Marshall records this from Kumaon, Nepal, Kashmir and Baluchistan, and we have it from Masuri, Simla, Kulu, Amritsar, and Dera Ghazi Khan (I. R. 86-V, 12 May 1908). At Amritsar it was found on Calotropis and at Kulu it was found attacking and defoliating wild apples. Mr. Misra Mr. Ghosh Astycus lateralis, Fb. Mshll., F. I. Cure, I. pp. 139-140 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 42, 61, 103, 149. Marshall records this as widely distributed in India, Burma, Siam and Malay Peninsula, and in Ind. Mus. Notes, IV, 184 (1899) it was reported as attackmg tea plants in Assam and defoliating mulberry bushes at Rangoon. Our specimens show the following localities and records : — Pusa, on cluster bean, jute, mama, sugarcane, hhindi, juar, and Erythrina indica leaves. It occurs mostly during the Rains and is sporadically abundant on cotton ; Cawnpur, on cotton ; Dehra Dun ; Chapra ; Tatkon, on sugarcane ; Lashio ; Maymyo ; . Insein ; Myitkyina, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis leaves ; Nagpur, does a little damage to cotton and tur ; Khasis ; Travancore, on Amarantliui ; Mercara ; Multan ; Belgachia ; Narayanganj ; Cuttack. ~ Sporadically it occurs in large numbers on cotton, particularly in the rains. It is quite common on sann-hemp also. mOCEEDIAGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 189 Tylopholis haUardi, Mshll. r. I. Cure. I. 157-158, f. 50 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 50. This species was found in the Bellary District, at Yemmiganur, Mr. Fletcher, -attacking stems of Bengal gram, I have no further information about It. Sipnpiezomias j rater , Mshll. F. I. Cure. I. 164 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 29. Recorded by Marshall from the Nilgiris, Balur, Yereaud, and Coorg. At Yereaud, in April-May 1913, it occurred on coffee in some numbers, but is probably only a very minor pest ; it was also taken by C. W. Mason on coffee in the Shevaroys, in August 1907. We also have speci- mens from Sidapur (May 1914) and Pollibetta (September 1903). Sympiezomias cretaceus, Fst. Mshll., F. I. Cure. I. 167 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 29, 255. This species has been found on mulberry at Bangalore on 26th August 1913, and on coffee at Hillgrove (Nilgiris) on 3rd September 1908. We also have it from Bailur Forests, Coimbatore District, on 23rd Novem- ber 1913, and from the Nilgiris. It is doubtful how far it is a pest. Sf/mpiezomias decipiens, Mshll. F. I. Cure. I. 167 ; Proc. Second Ent. Meeting, p. 37. ^ This species was reported in May 1913 as injuring young Java Ledger Cinchona in the Kukal Orange Valley, Nilgiris, by eating the leaves. The leaves sent were seriously injured. It is recorded by Marshall as occurring in the Nilgiris (1,000-6,000 feet) and in Pirmaad, Travancore. Episomus lacerta, Fb. Mshll., F. I. Cure, I. 223-225, f. 66^- ; S. I. I. pp. 327-328, f. 184 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 42, 56, 77, 121, 187. This is a South Indian species, which we have from Surat, Cuttack, Samalkota, Bellary, South Arcot, Coimbatore, Pollibetta and Mercara. At Surat it was found on bajra, at Samalkota on tur, and in Bellary, S. Arcot and Coimbatore on pulses. At Coimbatore it has been found eating field bean leaves in numbers. Throughout Coorg it is common on Erytlirina, eating the leaves. It is recorded by Lefroy {hid. Ins. Life, p. 384) as eating cotton ,bark, but this is perhaps an error of determination. 190 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Ramakrisbna Ayyaf. Mr. Fletcher. It is very common in Southern India, especially on leguminous, crops, Emperorrhinus defoliator, Mshll. Mshll., F. I. Cure., I. 286-287 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 240, 245, 247, 248, 250. This species occurs in Kulu, Kurseong, Darjiling and the Khasi Hills. At Kulu it appears first on Alnus nitida, and then attacks peach, then apricot and pear, apple being touched last. It is a serious local pest of fruit-trees in Kulu. Mr. Ramakrishaa Ayyar. Myllocerus viridanus, Fb. Mshll., F. I. Cure, I. 301-303, f. 93 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 81, 88, 92, 123, 134, 231. This small greyish or pale-greenish weevil seems to be confined to South India and Ceylon. We have it from Madura, on castor ; Tanjore ; Manaparai ; Palur, on guava leaves and in numbers on groundnut \ Coimbatore, on castor ; Chepauk, on groundnut ; Shoranur (Malabar), on hhindi ; Kumbakonam, on jute ; NelUkuppam, on indigo ; and Tri- chinopoly, on groundnut in numbers in August 1908. It is sometimes a bad pest of groundnut in Southern India, Mr. Fletcher. Myllocerus setuSfer, Desb, Ind, Mus, Notes, IV, p. 111, t, 8, f, 2 (1899) ; Mshll., F, I. Cure, I. 312-313, This species has been recorded from Dehra Dun where the adults v/ere found damaging rose flowers in the Forest School Garden. The Pusa Collection contains no specimens. Myllocerus dorsatus, Fb. Mshll., F, I. Cure, I, 320-321 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 65, 92. We have this from the following localities and foodplants : — Kum- bakonam (Madras), sword-bean leaves ; Trichinopoly, on Margosa [Melia azadirachta] leaves ; Tranquebar ; Yillupuram (Madras), on groundnut ; and Manaparai. Marshall also records it from the Nilgiris, Pondicherry, Bangalore, Belgaum, Nagpur, Calcutta and Pusa. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 191 Myllocerus blandus, Fst. Mshll., F. I. Cure, I. 333-334, f. 101 ; Proc. Second Entl Meeting, pp. 69, 9G, 123, 141, 168, 180, 190, 195, 256, 287. Marshall gives the distribution of this species as Godavari District, Pusa, Dacca, Siripur, Sarda, Prome, Mandalay and Yenangyaung. The Pusa Collection contains specimens from : — • Pusa, on bhiruli, sunflower, rice, cane, carrot, strawberry plant, sissu, sann-hemp, maize, wheat leaves, Tamarix, cucumber leaves, eating guava and pumpkin leaves, pupa underground in indigo field ; Sirsiah (N. Bihar) ; Lyallpur, on brinjal ; and Fyzabad, damaging poppy seedUngs. Myllocerus sabidosus, Mshll. Mshll., F. I. Cure. I. 336-337 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 102, 219, 231, 254, 292. Marshall records this from Chota Nagpur, Purneah, Ranchi, Dehra Dun and Madras. The only specimens that we have are from Pusa, where it has been found in some numbers on Zizijylms jujuha, on cotton and sweet-potato and devouring young mango leaves. Myllocenis transmarinus, Hbst. Mshll, F. I. Cure. I. 337-338, f. 102 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 102, 254. Marshall records this from the Punjab, United Provinces, Calcutta, Chota Nagpur, Central Provinces, and along the Western Ghats to Bellary. We have it from Chapra and Pusa. At Pusa it occurs mostly on Zizyphus jiijuba and has also been found on cotton and eating young leaves of Dalbergia sissu. It is not a pest as a rule. Myllocerus subfasciatus, Guer. Mshll., F. I. Cure. I. 345-346 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 285, 287. This species occurs in Madras, S. Bombay, Central Provinces, Burma and Ceylon. We have it from the Nilgiris, Ootacamund, Saidapet (Madras), Coimbatore and Virajpet (S. Coorg). At Saidapet and Coim- batore it has been found eating brinjal leaves and at Ootacamund on potato leaves, and it is sometimes a bad pest of these crops. In Ceylon it does some damage to brinjal, attacking the flowers and Mr. Senior- White, buds. VOL, I o 192 rROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Myllocerus dentifer, F. Mshll., F. I. Cure. I. 347-348; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 92, 168, 201. Mr. Fletcher. This species occurs in Ceylon (low country), throughout Madras and Orissa to Palamau and Chota Nagpur. We have it from Colombo ; Palamau ; Shoranur (Malabar), on paddy ; and Palur (S. Arcot) on groundnut and tenai. It is probably quite a minor pest, often found intermixed with other species of Myllocerus. Myllocerus discolor. Mshll., F. I. Cure. I. 348-350, f. 106 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 92, 102, 126, 134, 141, 146, 168, 192, 195, 216, 219, 231, 250, 254. M. discolor has been reared at Pusa from larvae found at roots of sugarcane and maize. It is a widely-distributed species, which we have from the following localities and foodplants : — Simla ; Patiala ; Pusa, adults on Eribotrtja japonica (loquat), lucerne, guava, sugarcane, wheat, ber {Zizyphns jujuba), young mango leaves, jute, rice, bael, and cotton ; Kanti (Bengal), on cotton ; Jamalpur (Bengal), on grass and her ; Comilla ; Cuttack ; E. Bengal and Assam ; Bangalore ; Coimbatore, adults on wheat and Hibiscus cannabinus, larva at roots of tenai {Setaria italica) ; and Palur, on groundnut. It is a common species, often occurring in sufficient numbers to constitute it at least a minor pest. Mr. Misra. It is found on every crop but is not serious to any as a rule. In one year, however, it was a pest. Myllocerus 11 — pustulatus, Fst. Mshll., F. I. Cure. I. 350-352. [Includes vars. pistor, maculosus and marmoratus] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 42, 72, 96, 102 (tab), 121, 123, 126, 141, 180, 187, 190, 192, 200, 202, 219, 231, 232, 248, 254, 256. This Myllocerus is a common and widely-distributed species and a general feeder on almost all plants. It has been reared at Pusa from larvae found at roots of cotton and maize. The Pusa Collection contains the following records of adults : — Multan ; Amritsar, on cotton ; Lyall- pur, on cotton ; Lahore, on cotton and bajra ; Dehra Dun ; Cawnpur, on cotton ; Baktiarpur, on tender mango leaves ; Pusa, on cotton, maize, sunflower, her, tur, bhindi, mango, sugarcane, pomegranate, PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 193 guava, strawberry, Panicum frumentacemn, tnarua, and amhadi ; Dacca ; Kanti (Bengal), on cotton ; Manjri (Bombay), on cotton ; Surat, on maize ; Poona, on ambadi, bhindi, cotton, maize and millets ; Banga- lore, on apple shoots and branches ; and Coimbatore, on cholam. Es- pecially a pest of cotton, but often of other plants also. Has any one any remarks to offer on the control of these species of Mr. Fletcher. Myllocerus generally i We tried dusting the attacked plants with lead arsenate and a number Mr. Ramakrishna of beetles were killed ; but this is a measure which we should not Ayyar. advise on any large scale to the raiyats. Sitones crinitus, Ohv. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 81, 207, 208. This species has been found in Champaran and at Dalsing Serai (N. Bihar) on indigo and at Pusa on lucerne in some numbers and also -on senji, cabbage, wheat-ear, jute and ber. It is not a pest as a rule. It can be controlled by shaking it off with brushes made of twigs, j^jj. nnsia. Peliotrachelus piibes, Fst. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 211. We have this from Gorakhpur, Pusa, Cuttack, the Nilgiris and the Shevaroys. In the Shevaroy Hills it occurred on orange and is a minor pest. At Pusa it has been found on Zizyphus jujuba in small numbers, whilst the specimens from Cuttack were found in Termites' nests [!]. Platymycterus sjostedti, Mshll. We have this from Dehra Dun, Chapra, Pusa and Daltonganj. At Pusa it has been found on grass, Dalbergia sissu, tender mango leaves, sann hemp and jute, and at Daltonganj on ber. It usually occurs in small numbers and has not yet been noted as a pest. Phytoscaphus triangularis, 01. We have this from Pusa, on bamboo, pear, cotton leaf, sann hemp, ber, rice, cane leaves, indigo, jute, sweet potato, dhainchd, tur, and maize ; from Cawnpur, on groundnut ; Pratapganj (Bengal) ; and from Dalton- ganj. It occurs as a rule in small numbers and has not been noted as a pest. o2 194 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Phytoscafhus dissimilis, Mshll. Bull. Ent. Res. V. iv fig. ; Entl. Note 26 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 21. This species has been found in Assam, nibbUng young tea-shoots. Amblynhinus foricollis, Boh. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 219. This has been found at Pusa, on tender mango leaves, hael, Albizzia lehheh, sissu leaves, litchi, and mango inflorescence ; at Cuttack, on ber ; at Pithapuram (Godavari), on country almond leaves (Terminalm) ; and at Hagari, on agatJiL Hyper a medicaginis, Mshl. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 207 (tab.), 208. This has been reared at Pusa from larvse on lucerne, pea, senji (Meli- lotus alba), Lathyms hirsuta, and a weed locally called akta. It is a sporadic minor pest of these plants when cultivated. Mr. Misra. The pupse are prominent on the leaves and may be picked ofi. Spraying is out of the question. M.r. Fletcher. Hypera variabilis, Hbst. We have this from Tarnab and Charsada in the North- West Frontier Province ; Lyallpur, on lucerne leaves ; Jallandhar ; Lahore, on senji ; and from Pusa, larvae on lucerne. It is a sporadic minor pest of trefoils. Xanthotrachelus f annus, Oliv. Entl. Note 27 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 96, 253. We have this from Chapra, Pusa, Khandala, Cuttack and Maymyo. At Pusa the adults occur commonly on ber and have been found attacking sun-flower heads, whilst a few have also been taken on rice and grass. Xantliotrachelus perlahis, Fb. Entl. Note 27 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 96. We have this from Masuri, Dehra Dun, Lahore, Muzaffarpur, Pusa and Daltonganj. At Pusa the adults were found attacking newly-formed sun-flower heads and a few have also been taken on castor and cotton. At Daltonganj this weevil was found on Bntea frondosa. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 195 Xanthotrachelus swperciliosus, Gyll. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 96. We have this from Belgaum, Chapra, Pusa and Tharrawaddy. At Pusa it has been found on her and a few adults were also found attacking sunflower heads in company with the two preceding species. Atadogasier finUimus, Fst. S. I. I., p. 333, f. 191 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 98, 102. We have this from Nathampatti (Ramnad) and Koilpatti, where the adults were found devouring young cotton plants. In Ind. Museum Notes (Vol. IV, pt. Ill, p. 112 (1899)) this species is also recorded as damaging young cotton and gram shoots at Tinnevelly. During the last two or three years we have found it in small numbers. Mr. Ramakrishna Have you found it at Coimbatore ? ^^.^ Fletcher. It is found, but not as a pest. ^r^ Ramakrishna Ayyar. Lixus brachyrrhinus, Boh. -a S. I. I., pp. 331-332, f. 189 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 296 (tab.). Lixus brachjrrhitots is a widely distributed species, contained in the Mr. Fletcher. Pusa Collection from : — Lahore, on Amaranihus ; Cawnpur, on Niger seed ; Nagpur ; Balaghat (Central Provinces) ; Igatpuii ; Surat ; Poena ; Bangalore ; Coimbatore, on Amaranihus ; Erode, on Amaranthus : Trichi- nopoly ; Manaparai ; Chingleput, on Amaranthus ; Cuttack ; Chapra ; Pusa, on indigo, larva on Amaranthus ; Daltonganj, on ber leaves; ■ Mandalay, on Amaranthus and ber ; Meiktila (Upper Burma) ; and Minbu (Lower Burma). It is a specific pest of Amaranthus, the larva boring in the stem and causing a gall-like swelhng, but the attack usually takes place at a time when the plant is past the period for consumption. Paramecops farinosus, Wied. S. 1. 1., pp. 332-333, f. 190 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 136, 137. We have this from Taru (North- West Frontier Province), on Calo- tropis ; Lyallpur, on Cahtropis ; Lahore ; Igatpuri ; Bor Ghat ; Coimbatore, on Cahtropis ; and Pusa, on Cahtropis. It is a specific pest of Cahtropis, although adults have been taken on rice at Pusa on two occasions. 196 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Ayoderus (ranqvebaricus, F. S. 1. 1., pp. 335-336, f. 193 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 219, 246. We have this from Saidapet, Chepauk, Chittur, and South Arcot. It occurs on country almond {Tertninalia catap'pa) and less commonly on mango, twisting the leaves, but it is scarcely a pest. Mr. Ghosh. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Misra. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Misra. Mr. Fletcher. Cylos formicarivs, Fb. S. Ind. Ins. pp. 334-335, t. 12 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 293. This weevil occurs abundantly in all districts south of the United Provinces and is a very serious pest of sweet potato. We discussed this fairly fully at the last Meeting and I do not think there is much to add. The best preventive method that we can recommend at present is early harvesting. At Pusa it only damages the July crop and not the winter crop. The only possible remedy is the use of early harvesting varieties. In the winter there are no beetles about at Pusa and so there is no damage. Deep-rooting varieties are not so badly attacked. But later on the beetles get down even into deep-rooting varieties. Is it recorded that the beetles are attracted to light ? They come in to light commonly but not in large enough numbers to use that as a means of control. Has anyone reared any parasites from this species ? If anyone comes across any effective parasite, we should like to know about it. Mr. Ramrao. Mr. Ghosh. Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Ramrao. Balaninvs c-albnm, Fb. Ann. Kept. Imp). Entom. 1917-18, p. 102, t. 18, f. 1 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 247. We have this from Pusa and Eastern Bengal and Assam (probably Dacca). It also occurs at Poona. The life-history, damage, and control were treated of in my last Annual Report and we have no more to add to that. It was reared in Poona from seeds of Eugenia jamholana. In our district most of the fruits are attacked. Is there any remedy ? The collection and destruction of the seeds is the only measure that is possible. Has the life-history been worked out in Bombay and, if so, is it the same as at Pusa ? It is the same as at Pusa. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 197 [Balaninus sp. In 1917 a large number of jamiin fruits which had a pitted or distorted Mr. Khare. appearance were examined. It was thought first of all that each of the pits might have been a passage through which the egg was deposited. The pulp of the fruit was carefully examined, but no trace of any insect could be got. When the entire pulp was scraped off some brownish scars were noticed on the skin which was peeled off and the scars were noticed deep in the seed. On cutting open the seed, a whitish grub was found either in the centre of the seed or in the deep scars. Usually one grub is found in each seed, but sometimes more than one may be got. The pits on the fruits must have been made by the adult bv thrusting their proboscis to feed on, which ultimately never heal up. The grubs remain inside, eat up, make the seed hollow and fill up with excreta, etc. These do not come out of themselves by biting a way through, but wait till the fruits drop on the ground. The fruits drop in large numbers on the ground and rot. The upper skin and pulp are all removed and the seeds are exposed. The seeds of Jmmm fruits germinate very quickly and in such process the two cotyledons spHt up and liberate the encased grub. The grubs later on get into the moist soil, prepare several small earthen chambers, many of which are found lumped up together. If these chambers are periodically opened, one sees the grub lying inside. This shows that aestivation of the grub takes place in the soil, till the following April or May when they pupate and emerge as weevils, but in some cases weevils emerged in August, i.e., within three months. This weevil is of the same shape and size as the one described in the report of the Imperial Entomologist of 1917-18, p. 102, but in colour it is uniformly brown and does not possess the whitish lines on the elytra. Mr. Naoroji kindly identified the specimens and put them under the genus Balaninus.'] Eugnamftus marginatus, Pasc. S. I. I., pp. 329-331, ff. 18G-187 ; Ann. Kept. 1917-18, p. 99, t. 16, f. 1 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 219. Our records include the following localities and foodplants : — Dehra Mr. Fletchtr. Dun, adults defoliating Butea frondosa ; Poona, mango leaves ; Nagpur, young mango leaves ; Pusa, mango leaves, the young leaves being com- pletely eaten at times ; Sabour, mango leaves ; Maymyo, tender mango leaves. The life-history has already been described and figured. At Dehra Dun it defoliates Butea frondosa. Mr. Beeson. At Dacca it does slight damage by cutting the soft leaves of mango. Mr. P. C. Sen. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. P. C. Sen. '^T. Misra. 198 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Apion sp. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 134. This species occurs tkrougliout the jiite-growing districts of Bengal and Bihar as a minor pest of jute, sporadically serious. The larva bores just at the junction of the leaf-petiole with the stem and cuts through a good many of the fibres. The attacked leaf withers and droops and this indicates the presence of the grub. No control measures can be suggested at present. It was found doing considerable damage to jute plants grown in pots [at Dacca]. Though it is common in jute fields, it has not been found doing much damage. "When it attacks the tops of young plants, it does considerable damage, but when it attacks side-shoots of old plants the damage is not appreciable. Generally the young affected plants, which are not too many, are uprooted at the time of weeding and thinning. In the pot-culture house the affected shoots were removed and the grubs destroyed. Once I found it very bad on jute at Munshiganj. The plants were riddled and the fibre unfit for use. It is not known to occur every year. No remedy has been tried. {Jute Apion.) S. I. I., p. 331, f. 188 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 134. Mr. Fletcher. This occurs in Godavari and Bellary, in May and June, the larva boring stems and shoots of jute. It may be identical with the preceding, but we have no specimens in the Pusa collection for comparison. Apion sp. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 45. This species attacks Cajanus indicus in Burma, but we have no further information about it.^ Alcides bubo, Fb. S. I. I., pp. 337-338, f. 96 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 61,73, 75, 81. We have this from Bhor Ghat, " on grass (Dixon)"; Chapra ; Cuttack, dhaincha stem ; Pollibetta (South Coorg) ; Podanur, on agathi ; Madura ; Saidapet, agathi stem ; Palur, on indigo ; Villapuram and South Kanara, on cluster-bean. It is especially a pest of species of Sesbania, the larva boring in the stem and causing a gall-like swelling. Cutting off the bored stems, when these are in the top-shoots, seems the only practicable remedy. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 199 Alcides coUaris, Pasc. S. I. I., p. 337, f. 195 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 46, 52, 56. We have this from Sarai Saleh (Hazara district), Chapra, Pusa, Dharwar, and Hadagalli (Bellary District). At Dharwar it was reared from a pupa found in roots of Cajanus indicus and at Hadagalli adults were found on green-gram. It is apparently a minor pest of pulses. Green-gram and lablab are attacked in Madras. A swelling in the Mr. Ramachandra stem is produced and the stem breaks down. It is only a minor pest. ^^°- Alcides fabricii, Fb. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 57,121. We have this from Abbottabad ; Dehra Dun ; Bulsara (Bombay) ; Mr. Fletcher. Nagpur, on cotton ; Eauchi ; Bankura ; Coimbatore, on maize ; Hadagalli, on horse-gram ; Hagari, on paddy ; Calicut ; and Saiclapet. It is doubtful whether it is a pest. Alcides leojjardus, Ohv. -j S. I. I., p. 338-399, f. 127 [? affaber] ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 121, 125, 126. We have this from Pusa, Muzaffarpur and South Malabar. At Pusa the adults have been found on cotton, Cajanus indicus, sann hemp, and on sun-flower heads, the larva has been found boring in shoots and stems of cotton, and the pupa has been found in a bored stem of Cyno- glossiim lanceolatmn. In South Malabar the larva was found in a wild malvaceous plant. It is apparently a sporadic minor pest of cotton. I found it breeding in malvaceous plants in South Malabar. mj.^ Ramakrishna A vvfli* . Any cotton near by I ^^ Fletcher. ^^- Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. At Pusa we get it on cotton but it is not bad. We found parasites jyir. Misra. which were sent to Dr. Howard for examination. Alcides affaher. Est. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 121, 126. This species occurs at Coimbatore in December-January, the larva Mr. Fletcher, boring into the stems of cotton, bhindi, and gogii. It is distinctly a pest. The account given of Alcides leopardus in South Indian Insects prob- ably refers wholly or in part to this insect. 200 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE TIIIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. Mr. Ramachandra Rao. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. P. C. Sen. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. P. C. Sen. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. P. C. Sen. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. P. C. Sen. Mr. Ghosh. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. P. C. Sen. Mr. Ghosh. Mr. Fletcher. It damages cotton in the same way as A. leopardus. It is distinctly a pest of Hibiscus cannabinus but not a serious pest of cotton. At Palur and Saidapet tree-cottons were attacked. Alcides frenatus, Fst. Entl. Note, 28 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 221 ; Ann. Report, Impl. Entm. 1917-18, p. 103, t. 19, f. la-g (1918). This species occurs at Dacca in July as a decided pest of mango, the larva boring the top-shoots. Eggs are deposited in the shoots which are tunnelled by the larva, whose pellets of excrement are thrown out through small holes gnawed at the base of the tunnel. Pupation takes place inside the larval burrow, the adult weevil gnawing its way out through a large hole of exit. The adult weevils are found freely pairing and ovipositing on the shoots. It is a regular pest of grafted mangoes in the Botanical Garden at Dacca. It occurs every year and does much damage. The eggs and grubs are very commonly to be seen in the affected shoots. Can you give us some idea of the percentage of damage ? As many as seventy-five per cent, of new shoots are damaged. . Have you tried picking off the affected shoots ? We have tried picking the affected shoots with the eggs and grubs in them and also the beetles which are seen on the shoots. Were any effects noticeable the next year ? Next year it was not so bad. It is possible to pick off the affected shoots, but the influence of picking on future years is not definitely known. Do you know its life-history throughout the year ? I have not studied it. The seasonal life-history is not known. At Pusa we had pupae in September. The beetles are only seen in July. Probably it hibernates as an adult until the new shoots come out.* Alcides mali, Mshll. MS.* This species has been found at Shillong, the larva boring shoots of apple, causing a gall-like swelling. The adult weevil makes several, usually four, holes with its snout in a row in a tender shoot of apple and in one of these holes, and only in one, it deposits an egg. The larvae tunnel in the stem, which becomes swollen in consequence. Pupation takes place in the larval tunnel. The life-history is sho^vn on the coloured plate [exhibited]. Control is practised by collecting the adult beetles as Since described in Bull. Entom Res. IX, pp. 276-277, t. 17 f. 3 (July 1919). PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 201 they rest on the twigs and by cutting off the twigs which show the punc- tures or the swelling caused by the enclosed larva. Mefiahna balsamince. Mots. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 268. We have this from Pusa, Matheran and Poona, The larvae bore in the stem of garden Balsams which show a characteristic gall-like swelling and ultimately droop. Choice imported varieties seem more subject to attack. Specimens which may belong to this species have also been reared at Pusa from larvae in stems of Amsomeles ovata, but the identity of the weevil is not certain, 31. halsamince is scarcely a pest as a rule, except of choice varieties of Balsams. On the Bombay side the balsam plants are attacked and at the place Mr. Ramrao. where the grubs are situated the growth is stunted and the stem becomes weak ; the slightest wind then breaks off the plants. Do you get many complaints about it around Poona ? Mr. Fletcher. Yes, we get many complaints. Mr. Ramrao. Have you anything to say about it, Mr. Ghosh ? Mr. Fletcher. At Pusa we get it, but the effect of attack takes place late in the Mr. Ghosh, season. In 1917, I got some seed of especially good varieties of balsam from ^^' ^^®*^^®'^' Poona and, when the plants came up, they attracted more weevils than the local varieties and were very badly attacked. White-stemmed balsams are more attractive than red-stemmed, ^^' R3,mrao. probably because the white-stemmed varieties are softer. Does it attack wild balsams ? Mr. Robertson- Brown. We do not know of its occurrence in any but cultivated balsams. Mr, Fletcher. I may say that swellings on the plants do not always contain a grub. Mr. Ghosh. Pachytychius mungonis, Mshll. S. Ind. Ins. p. 336, f. 194 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 52, 60, 73. This species is at present only known from Southern India where it ^^- Fletcher. . has been found to attack pods of mung (green-gram), cowpea, and dhaincha. Ceuthorrhynchus asperulus, Fst. S. Ind. Ins. pp. 328-329, f. 185 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 43. This small weevil has been found in flowers of Cajanus indicus, in both larval and adult states, at Nagpur, in Gujarat, at Poona, Coimbatore, and in the Godavari district. I do not think there is more to add to what has already been said about it. 202 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Ramrao. I found it in Poona doing damage to the tur flowers which drop down with the grubs in them. The beetle wanders in unopened flowers, punc- tures them and lays eggs inside. The grubs eat the pollen and stigma, and, before the ovary develops, the flower falls ofi. Mr. Fletcher. What is the proportion of damage done ? Mr. Ramrao. A very large number of flowers is destroyed. It is not possible to state the exact amount of damage done. A very large number of weevils is found if the plant is shaken ; they drop to the ground and afterwards climb up again. Mr. Fletcher. We have not found this weevil at Pusa hitherto. Mr. Jhaveri. It is also found i-n Gujarat and was a very serious pest last year. Mr. Fletcher. Are any control measures practised ? Mr. Ramrao. The only method to apply is the collection of the beetles ; but it is difficult to check them under field conditions. Mr. Fletcher. Wiynchcenus mangijeroe, Mshll. S. Ind. Lis., p. 334, f. 192 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 220. This species occurs as far north as Pusa, where it is not common, but in Southern India it is sometimes a bad pest of mango, whose tender leaves are damaged by the mining of the larvae. It has been noted at Pusa, Peddavadlapudi (Guntur), Coimbatore, and in Mysore, and is probably widely distributed, although overlooked on account of its small size. WiynchcBnus mangifercB is bad in Mysore and we have not done any- thing for it. We bred it here. We do not find it every year and, when it does occur, it is found only in small numbers. Probably Pusa is at the extreme northern hmit of its distribution and the conditions here do not suit it very well, and so it does not do much damage. Mr. Kunhi Kannan. The adults feed gregariously on the leaves in Mysore, and the leaves assume an appearance like tissue-paper. Mr. Fletcher. If you get them in numbers together like that, you might be able to control them. Mr. KuQbi Kannan. Mr. Ghosh. Mr. Fletcher. Pemplieres qffinis, Est. S. Ind. Ins., p. 339, ff. 198, 199 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 120, 125, 126, 274. This species has been reared at Pusa from larvae in stems of cotton, bhindi, Cannabis [? Hibiscus cannabinus] and Triumjetla sp. It is also common in cotton and gogu at Coimbatore and has been recorded from PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 203 Cuddapah. The distribution seems curious, as it is difficult to see how a pest of this kind could have been overlooked in the areas from which it is not known. The larva bores in the stem and produces a gall-like swelling at or usually just above ground-level ; the plant is weakened and, especially in the case of Cambodia cotton, may be broken off bv the wind. Rigid elimination of all attacked plants seems to be the only practicable means of control. Pempheres qffinis is not found in Bombay. Mr. Ramrao. There is no record of it in the Central Provinces. Mr. Khare. In Madras we find that its distribution is extending. It is the Cam- Mr. Ramakrishna bodia cotton which is generally attacked and, as the cultivation of this Ayy3,r. cotton is spreading, the insect is also getting into new localities. Is it already present in these districts or is it going with the Cambodia Mr. Fletcher, cotton ? It is already present and probably breeding on some wild plant, Mr. Ramakrishna as it is found where there is no cotton. • Ayyar. At Pusa it has been found on a species of Trivmfetta. Mr. Ghosh. We have worked out the life-history and we are trying to get it pub- Mr. Ramakrishna lished in Madras. Ayyar. What is the effect of the destruction of affected plants ? ' Mr. Fletcher. Some good would result only if all the people do it. Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. But has the complete removal of all the attacked plants had any Mr. Fletcher. effect on the Farm at Coimbatore ? No appreciable difference has been noticed ; but, if all do it, it might air. Ramakrish* a have some effect. - Ayyar. I understood that the regular removal of affected plants on the Mr. Fletcher. Coimbatore Farm had had some effect on lessening the incidence of attack over a term of years. But whether this was due to any lessening ' of the numbers of beetles present or to the gradual evolution of a more resistant variety of plant, by continual selection from the non-attacked ones, is another Cjuestion. It seems to me that a possible solution of the difficulty with regard to Cambodia cotton may be attained by getting a resistant race. The worst of it is that this Cambodia cotton is kept on in the fields Mr. Ramakrishna for two or three years, so it is difficult to get rid of this beetle. That is ^^y^^^- because the insect breeds throughout the year and the cotton is there for it to breed in. If there were an arrangement to uproot all cotton plants before a certain date, it might prove useful. Is any variety of cotton more affected ? Tree cotton was tried at Mr. Misra. Pusa but was not immune. That was before my time. What height was the tree cotton when it Mr. Fletcher. was attacked ? 204 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Misra. Mr. Fletcher. Four or five feet. The majority of the plants all fell down. In our experiments it was very bad, so much so that in one plot not a single plant was left. Adees cribratus, Gyl. This was found at Shillong in June-July 1918, the larva boring into the main stem of Ficus carica, doing considerable damage. The adult beetles occurred on the stems by day, and could be collected by hand, although they readily drop to the ground when disturbed. Specimens were sent to Dr. Marshall who informs me that it is a variety of Adees cribratus, Gyl. Cryptorrhyndius mangifercB, Fb. S. I. I., p. 341, f. 200 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 225. This species seems to be confined to Southern India so far as its actual , breeding-area is concerned. We have records from Trivandrum, Travan- core, Naduvatam (Nilgiris), Coimbatore, Palur (South Arcot), Lahore and Rangoon. The Lahore specimen is definitely noted as " in imported mango." In some years ninety per cent, of the mango-stones may contain this insect in some stage, but the adults usually emerge after the fruit is ripe and so do comparatively little damage. Mr. Kunhi Kannan. At Bangalore I had adult weevils which remained alive in the stones until the following July and they never left the stones. Cryptorrhyndius gravis, Fb. Ann. Rept., 1917-18, pp. 100-101 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 225. Mr. Fletcher. This species seems to be confined to Bengal, Assam and Burma. We have specimens from Pusa (on Bombax stem), Dacca, Rangpur, Silchar, and Maymyo. The Pusa record is of a single adult individual which almost certainly came from a mango fruit imported from Bengal, as it is not known to occur naturally in the Pusa district. Unlike C. mangijercB, the larva of C. gravis bores in the pulp of the mango fruit so that the fruit is badly damaged and in some districts the damage done may be very serious, a large proportion of the crop being destroyed. We have prepared a coloured plate [exhibited] showing the life-history of this insect but, as it does not occur at Pusa, we have not been able to follow the life-cycle throughout the whole year. It is probable that the insect hibernates as an adult in Bengal, but this requires local investigation. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 205 Can you tell us something more about it, Mr. Sen ? Cryptorrhynchus gravis does great damage to mango fruits in Bengal, jjj^ p^ q^ gg^^ The grub bores into the fruit and makes it useless, eating its way through the pulp. In some trees all the fruits are attacked. It is a regular pest attacking the same tree every year. The early maturing varieties of mango are more attacked than the late ones. Life-history. — Early in April the female weevil lays small white eggs (about 0"5 mm. long) on the surface of the fruit when it has attained nearly half its size. The egg is covered by a coating of black hard sub- stance giving the appearance of a black spot which is about 1 mm. long. From the egg hatches out a tiny white legless grub in a week or so which bores into the fruit and feeds within. The black coating then falls off and the wound also heals up to such an extent as not to be easily detected. The grub has 11 body segments. It continues to feed within till it is fijllgrown in about a month. It then pupates inside and subsequently the weevil emerges by cutting its way out of the fruit. The life-history occupies about a month and a half. It has only one brood in the year. Immediately after the mango season and during the rains it has been found to hibernate in the bark of the affected tree either in its natural cracks or amongst the roots of epiphytes growing on them. It is a very bad pest in Eastern Bengal and Assam," but does not Mr. Ghosh, occur in Western Bengal although fruits from Eastern Bengal are carried all over the country. I brought some infected fruits to Pusa and found that the grubs did not live here after September. It is peculiar that, although these fruits are exported in such quantities, Mr. Fletcher, this weevil does not spread into adjacent mango-growing areas. It is believed in Sylhet that the same trees are attacked year after Mr. Ghosh, year and that neighbouring trees are not affected. But that is not a fact, for all trees are attacked indiscrimmately. I found wild mango trees growing isolated in the jungle and these trees bore very small fruits, but even in these the weevils were present. This is an insect which requires working out. It is a bad pest throughout Assam. Mr. Gupta. Cryptorrhynchus poricollis, Fst. Entl. Note 28 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 225. Specimens of this weevil were found under bark at Dacca on 27th Mr. Fletcher. July 1911 by Mr. Nowroji who was sent to investigate the damage done by C. gravis. It has also been found underground in the adult state by Mr. Sen at Dacca. It is not definitely known that this species attacks mango. 206 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. P. C. Sen. Mr. Nowroji. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. luglis. I have found them in numbers underground around the trunks of mango trees but have never found them breeding. I found it at Dacca under the bark of a mango tree. Pachyonyx quadridens, Chevr. At our First Meeting, in February 1915, this species was reported as found on Butea frondosa in the Northern Circle of the Central Provinces and was said to kill the trees. We have adults from Khandesh and from Banga (Punjab) ; these latter were taken on Butea frondosa on 19th September 1905. We have no further information about it, but it would appear that this weevil is a pest of Butea which, I may remind you, is an important host-tree of lac in many districts. _ Desmdofhorus hebes, Fb. Ind. Mus. Notes I 58, II vi 151, III i 23 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 128, 131. We have this from Dehra Dun, Pusa, Darbhanga, and Nongpoh (Khasi Hills). In Indian Museum Notes this species is recorded as attacking young Hibiscus plants in the Rajbagh, Darbhanga, eating the youiig stems and in some cases causing the young plants to die. On 9th July 1906 the Superintendent of the Rajbagh sent us further specimens and wrote : — " they have been damaging plants a,nd are particularly fond of eating the new tops and chewing the lower parts of almost all the shoots. I get them caught by hundreds every morning and evening." This species was also sent in to us, the adult beetles damaging Bomhax seedUngs, defoliating those of one to two years old ; these beetles appeared in the third week of April 1904 in the Tista Forest Division. It has not been noted as a pest at Pusa. I have only seen this in one year when this weevil appeared in millions in one local area and attacked the garden Hibiscus and did much damage. Acythopeus citrulli, Blshll. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 306. Mr. Fletcher. This species was reported from Hagari (Bellary) as a bad pest of water-melons in April 1908, the grubs boring into the side in contact with the ground ; the larva tunnels in the fruit, filUng its passage with excrement, and causes decomposition. It apparently occurs regularly in Bellary as a pest of water-melon, and is also known from Tinnevelly. We have also one specimen from Nagpur labelled " fruit of Kakandu, IX, 1915." PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 207 Cyrtoirachelus dux, Boh. Stebbing, Ind. Forest Ins. Col., p. 443 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 204. We have this from Nongpoh (Khasi Hills). Stebbing records it from Darjiling. The larva bores in bamboo shoots and does some damage at times. Cyrtotrachelus longii^s, Fb. Stebbing. Ind. Forest Ins. Col, pp. 440-443, t. 38 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 204. We have this from Lebong (Darjiling). As in the case of C. dux, the larva of C. longipes bores in the growing shoots of bamboos and does some damage at times. Poly t us mellerborgii. Boh. We have this from Pusa where it was reared from rotten plantain rhizome and found '' boring plantain root, 9th May 1907." We do not know this as a pest in India as yet, but in the Philippines it has been found to do damage by boring into plantains and it is probable that it is a pest in India also. The adult is a small black weevil, about the size of Calandra oryzce, with a strongly punctured thorax and striated • elytra , Rhyncho'phorus ferrugineus, Fb. S. 1. 1., p. 343, t. 14 ; Entl. Mem. 11, pt. 10 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 259, 261, 262. This species occurs throughout the palm-growing districts of India, and also in Sumatra, the Philippines, etc. In India it attacks coconut, date, palmyra, areca and practically all palms. We discussed this fairly fully at the last Meeting and I do not think there is much to add. It can be controlled by regular destruction of all attacked, dying and dead palm-trees. I have found Rhyncho'phorus ferrugineus attacking trees which bad Mr. Pillay. neither been tapped nor attacked by Orycfes. It does serious damage to date palms in Surat. Mr. Jhaveri. Do the weevils vary in colour ? Mr. Ramrac. Yes, the colour and markings vary considerably. Mr. Fletcher, Palms are also attacked in Ceylon. Mr. Senior-White. VOL. I P 208 rROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Fletcher. Odoiforvs longicollis, 01. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 238 (tab.). We have this from Pusa, Munshiganj, Buxar- Duars and Jorhat, and the form planipenms, Gyll., from Munshiganj, Buxar Duars, Helem (Assam) and Maymyo. The larva bores into the stem of plantain and kills the tree. Destruction of the attacked and wilting stems is the only practicable measure ; in any case, the plant will be destroyed by the beetle grubs, which occur in numbers. The adult beetle is very long- hved and may live for one or two years. Mr. Ramrao. Mr. Senior- White. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. Ml'. Fletcher. Cosmopolites sordidus, Germ. S. I. I., pp. 342-343, f. 201 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 238. We have this from Mahim (Bombay), Poona, Tellicherry and Mayanad, and doubtfully from Baroma (Assam). The larva bores in plantain stems, low down and in the roots. It is a decided pest and may be introduced in planting setts. It does not occur at Pusa and we have nothing new to add to what was said at the last Meeting. I have found eggs laid in leaf-sheaths. They are cyhndrical. They have not been found before. No wound is made, but the eggs are simply pushed under the sheath. In Ceylon, when a fruit-bearing stump is cut away, the stool is simply riddled by the weevils ; but, when you thin a clump and remove the stumps that have not yet borne fruit, you find them quite healthy. Has anyone found any parasites of this weevil ? No. We should like to know of any parasites if anyone should find any, especially as we have not this weevil at Pusa. It has been introduced with plantain setts into several other parts of the world and has proved a bad pest, notably in Fiji, so that other countries are keenly interested in knowing about anything that will check it. Calandra stigtnaticollis, Gyll. Annl. Kept. Impl. Entom. 1917-18, pp. 98-99, t. 15, f. 1. We have this from Malvan (Ratnagiri) and Tamarasseri (Malabar), where it was found"in both cases boring stems of coconut in the larval stage. Specimens were reared at Pusa from a sample of attacked wood from Ratnagiri and we found that they were able to breed in sugarcane under insectary conditions. It is a very bad pest in the Ratnagiri district. PBOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETIIsG 209 What percentage of trees is damaged ? Blr. Fletcher. Two trees in every one hundred to five hundred are damaged every Mr. Deshpande. year. The proportion does not seem very high but it soon mounts up in the Mr. Fletcher. course of a few years in the case of a permanent crop hke coconut. The larvae tunnel under the bark and the stem bleeds. Mr. Ramachaodia Rao. Is the attack associated with any fungal disease ? Mr. Fletcher. That is not known. It is very widely spread. No remedial measures Mr. Deshpande. have been adopted. An attacked tree is bored and riddled from top to bottom. It also bores into the leaf-petioles at the top of the tree. Mr. Ramrao. Only a few trees were found attacked in a coconut garden on the Mr. Ramachandra Malabar coast, and these trees were scattered about. Rao. Did you get any idea as to why particular trees were attacked ? Mr. Fletcher. Probably those trees were unhealthy. A single tree may harbour ^j, Ramacbandra 1,000 grubs but the number of attacked trees is not great. Rao. If the attacked trees are scattered about and not near one another, Mr Fletcher. it looks as if the weevil attacked sickly trees. Deiradolcus (n. g. MshU. MS.) n. sp. This weevil was found at Shillong in June-July 1918, the adults on mulberry, apple, pear and fruit trees generally, nibbhng holes in leaves and doing considerable damage, being present in very large numbers. In the case of fruit trees, control was practised by collection by hand of the adult beetles. {Undetermined Curcidionid.) The adults were found at Dohad on maize leaves in numbers on 16th August 1917. It is apparently a minor pest. ( Undetermined Curculionid.) This weevil was reported from Poona in August 1915 by Eamrao S. Kasargode, the larva boring in fruits of Zizyj)hus jujuha of a variety called Ahmedabad her. They change the shape of the fruits. The natural shape of the fruit is long, but attacked fruits are always round berry-hke. There were about half-a-dozen trees in the Ganeshkhind Gardens Mr. Ramrao. at Poona and this weevil attacked the fruits very badly. This, however^ is not a generally distributed pest. p2 210 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETlSrG ( Undetermined CurcuUomd.) Mr. Fletcher. This weevil was found at Pusa, the larva boring in sann-hemp stems. in the field, loth August 1916, the adults emerging in the middle of Sep- tember 1916. The larva bores the central part of the stem and when full-grown forms a sort of pupal cell at the end of its burrow just below the bark of the stem. It is doubtful how far it is a pest. (Undetermined Curcidionid.) The weevil was found at Abbottabad, at the beginning of June 191G'. The adults occurred in numbers on apple, rose, Eubns spp. and thistles, eating the leaves. Dyscerus fletcheri, Ushll MS.* (Plate 6.) This weevil was found at Shillong, the larva boring into apple fruits, in June 1918. It is a reddish-brown species with scattered patches or d(»ts of greyish scales. It is rather larger than the next species but- attacks apple fruits in exactly the same way, but pupation seems to take place sometimes outside of the fruit. The egg is about 1 mm. in diameter and rather dull-brown in colour. The larva seems quite similar to that of the next species. The adults seem long-lived, as an individual caught at Shillong alDOut 1.5th June, and brought to Pusa, Uved in the insectary until 15th October. Dr. Marshall has identified this as a new species of Dyscems. Dyscerus maligmis, Mshll. MS.f (Plate 7.) This weevil was found at Shillong in June 1918. It is brownish- black with a conspicuous grey patch on posterior portion of elytra. The adult weevils feed on apple fruits, eating small patches into them, and oviposit in excavations along the edge of such patches. The eggs are large for the size of the insect, about 1-25 mm. in diameter and pearl- white in colour. The grub bores about in the interior of the fruit and damages it considerably. Pupation takes place inside the attacked fruits which in the initial stages of attack are externally scarcely dis- tinguishable from healthy fruits, but the invariable presence of a number of small whitish dots on the surface of the infested fruits marks these as, attacked. These small dots are really holes through which the tunnels- of the grubs communicate with the open air, and as a rule these tunnels originate at the apical end of the fruit, somewhere near the flower soar, whence they ramify throughout the interior, branches being * Since described in Bull. Entom. Res. IX, pp. 274-275 t. 17 f. I (July 1919), wher& it is also recorded from Almora. t Since described in Bull. Entom. Res. IX, pp. 275-270 t. 17 f. 4 (July 1019). PaQP -210. PLATE 6. /'I ^ ^a^ Stages of I>!jsr( I iis flctrficri in apple fruits at Shillong. Page 221. PLATE 7. Fi». 1. -]>f/s('ei'us malhjnns in fruits of Primus ucpaUnsis at Shillcn^. Page. 211{1). PLATE 7. H Fig. 2.— Apple fruits attacked by grubs of Jltjscerus molif/nus at Shiflong. PROCEEDINGS OF TliE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 211 •given oft" at intervals towards the surface where their termination is marked by the small dots mentioned above. In the later stages of attack, these holes become much larger and often exude a frothy Hquid wiiich attracts Sarcophagid flies. This weevil was also found breeding in the fruits of Prunus nepalensis, a wild indigenous plum whose fruits are edible when ripe. Dr. Marshall has identified this as a new species of Dijscerus. Corigetus bidentidus, Mshll. Entl. Note 26 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 21. This species occurs in Assam as a serious pest of tea. It has also been found in Upper Burma. [{Unideniified CurcuUonid.) In September last year I happened to examine several stems of sann- Mr. Khare. hemp which were stunted and had small curled up leaves. In all cases I found some indications of an insect attack, i.e., a meagre passage cut through between the pith and wood quite a long way up and down the stem. In the passage at intervals very small whitish grubs were found embedded in the pith — a little. Similar grubs were found in the healthy stems as well, so that peculiar leaf growth could not be attributed to this insect. On examining the stem from outside some black scars were noticed in the axil of the leaves from about 12 to 18 inches to about 3 feet above ground. If the outer bark is scraped off then distinct injury to the wood is seen, thus showing that the grubs enter at such places and that the eggs must have been laid in the axil. (The eggs of the weevil are not found.) The height where the black scars are noticed suggests that the weevils appear some time in July and remain active, depositing eggs up to September. The grubs are about 3 mm. long, 0-5 mm. broad, whitish, fleshy, tunnel between the pith and the wood, but never go right into the root. The tunnelled portion is filled loosely with the frass or pellets excepting a little portion above the pupal chamber wdiich is stuffed closely. The grub on attaining full growth prepares a small oval chamber by cutting into the wood, thus the pupal chamber is not straight along the stem, but a little transverse, exteiidiiio; both in the ])ith and wood as well. The grub bores a small round hole before pupating, for the emergence of the weevil ; this I was led to conclude from the fact that a number of small holes were found outside on the bark and", on cutting open, weevils freshly come out of the pupae, were seen. The weevil is very small, brown, about 1-5 mm. long and has a fairly long snout and long antennae ; when touched, it curls up with the snout 212 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING- and antemi£e bent inward and, like several other weevils, shams death. In two cases I found hymenopterous grubs attached to the weevil grubs and some parasitic pupae in the pupal chamber of the weevils, I could get only one adult parasite and it is shown with the weevil. I could not yet work out exact life-history of this weevil but so far as I have observed this weevil begins to emerge from September to November. In the month of December I cut open several dried stems of sann-hemp, but could not find a single one. Alternative food plant is no,t yet known. This weevil practically does no harm to the plant and thus cannot be included as a crop pest.] Ivlr. Fletcher. Mr. Senior- White. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Beeson. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Robertson- Brown. Mr. Inglis. Mr. Senior- White Lamiad^. Bafocera ruhus, Linn. S. Ind. Ins. p. 324, f. 129 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 36, 131, 227, 251, 299. We have this from the following localities and foodplants ; — Peshawar, adult eating shoots of Ficvs carica and larva boring into stems of F\ carica ; Laksar (Gwalior), (IR. 912 of r2th October 1912) ; Dehra Dun ; Muzaffarpur district, larva boring into mango roots, March 1915 ; Pusa, larva in rotten papaya stem, boring sissu wood, in 5owe&«a; stem, and boring Erythrina indica stem ; Khasi Hills ; Western Ghats, in Para rubber stump ; Kanara and Madura. It is widely distributed and is often a pest of cultivated fig. As regards control, collection of the adults and injection of a mixture* of chloroform and creosote into the larval galleries have been found successful. In Ceylon I have found the larva boring into a live stem of Ficiis religiosa some way above ground-level. At Pusa it is a common species and probably lives mostly in the various species of wild figs. We have reared -it and found that there is only one generation in the year here. It attacks dead trees. Certainly not always. It is often a bad pe,*• Zv/iK/rt nif/roscutata, girdling apple twigs at Shillcng. PEOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETIXG 217 beetles and cutting out of attacked twigs. No alternative foodpiant is known as yet. The adult beetles can easily be hand-picked and the places where the Mr. Ramacaandra eggs have been deposited can also be spotted easily and these branches ^^°' cut off and destroyed. Sthenias grisator, Fb. S. I. I., p. 326, f. 182 ; Stebbing, Ind. For. Ins. Col., pp. 377-378, f. 252 ; Froc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 77. 235, 255, 265, 267, 268. We have this from PaKtana State, on grape-vines, oleander and other Mr. Fletcher. flowering plants ; Nasik, on grape-vines ; Bangalore, adults girdling " rose-bushes ; Pollibetta (South C'oorg), adults girdling Enjtlirina ; and Coimbatore, adults girdling mulberry and Bougainvillea. Stebbing also records it as girdling TaherncBmoniana alba in Kurnul. AYe discussed this fairly fully at the last Meeting and I do not think there is much to add. At Coimbatore it is a serious pest of mulberry. The stages have been Mr. Ramakrishna drawn on a plate [exhibited], but the length of the life cycle is not Imown. ■^yy^r. In Mysore it is not serious on mulberry. Mr. Kunhi Kanaan At Poona it is very bad on grape-vine, girdling branches as thick as Mr. Ramrao. one's thumb. « Apomeojna jjertigera, Thoms. S. I. I., p. 327, t. 11 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 303, 307. This has been reared at Pusa from larvae in Luffa stem, bottle-gourd, Mr. Fletcher, snake-gourd, and pumpkin stem, and the adult beetles have also been found eating cucumber fruits. At Mandalay it has been noted to bore pumpkins, and we also have it from Chapra, Jorhat and Coimbatore, It is a minor pest of cucurbits, the larva boring the stems and the adults eating the young fruits. It may be controlled by destruction of affected stems and collection of the adult beetles. Ajjcmecyna histrio, Fb. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 304, 307. This has been reared at Pusa from larvae in stems of Lujfa, Cephakmdra SLYid giirmch{Ti)ios2)oracordifolia). We have it also from Chapra and Laheria Serai. It is a pest much in the same way as is A. perligem but does not seem to be so widely distributed. 218 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Ml. Gbosb. Ml. Hamakrisbna Ayyar. Mi. Fletcher. Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Ramakrishna Ayyar. Mr. Pillay. Mr. Fletcher. It hardly occurs in young plants but tlie adult beetles may gnaw young shoots. The larvas occur late in the season at Pusa. It is difficult to say whether it is a pest. The grub kills the plants which it attacks. Apomecyna perotteti. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 304, 307. This species is apparently confined to Southern India. We have it from Kanara, Madura and Pollibetta (South Coorg). The life-history is not known but is likely to be the same as in ^4. pertigera and A. liisirio and the Pollibetta specimens were collected by myself around cultivated cucurbits. Olenecmn'ptus biJobus, Fb. Stebbing, Ind. For. Ins. Col., p. 375, f. 250 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 251. This is a widely-distributed species attached to fig-trees. At Trivan- drum, Travancore, it has been found in banyan, and at Surat, Coimbatore, Salem, and in the Krishna district it has been found damaging Ficus carica, the larva boring into the solid wood. At Pusa it does riot seem to have been bred, but probably breeds in the wild fig-trees ; our Pusa examples were all taken as adults on gular {Ficus glomerata), teak and jak trees, or at light. In Java and Sumatra it ha« been recorded by Dammerman as boring in Ficus elastica. In India it seems to be mainly a pest of cultivated fig in Southern India. In Madras it does a good deal of damage to cultivated figs. The larvae are found right inside the wood of the stem. Have you tried an)'- treatment in the case of affected trees ? We cut out the old stem and affected branches. That is the only thijig that can be done. The adult beetles are attracted to light. Yes ; they come in to light sometimes at Pusa. Nupserha bicolor, Thorns. Dutt, Bihar Agricl. Journal ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 47, 70 ; Ann. Kept. Impl. Entom. 1917-18, p. 98, t. 14, ff. la-d (1913). This species is apparently only known so far from Bihar, where it has been reared at Sabour on soy-bean and Fann-hemp and at Pusa froin soy-bean, sann-hemp, Vigna catjang, Phaseolus aconitifolius and Ph- radiatus. PllOCr.EDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 219 Tte eggs are laid on young shoots, which have previously been girdled by the adult beetle. The larva bores down to the root and goes from one branch to another, killing the plant. Hibernation takes place in the larval stage in the stumps. The larvse occur in the rains and the beetles emerge at Pusa in August (mainly) and September. A Chalcidid para- site has been reared. At Pusa the " bermeli '" variety of soy-bean (from Sabour) was attacked especially, other varieties growing alongside this escaping attack almost wholly. It may be controlled by destroying the affected tips, which droop, and by burning the stumps after harvest. Oberea sesami. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 85. This species only seems to be known in Baroda. The egg is laid on the midrib of a leaf of Sesamujii indicmn, and the larva bores into the midrib and stem, and then down into the roots and pupates in the roots. Hibernation takes place in the larval stage. Ten to twelve days elapse before the larva bores into the stem and yellow blotches appear on the attacked leaves which may be collected at this stage of the attack. It is usually a minor pest of young Sesamum plants, but does very serious damage sporadically. ^ In Bellary I once found a very few Sesamum plants attacked in this Mr. Ramachandra way but I cannot say whether this was due to Oberea sesami. ^^°* It is a regular pest in Baroda. Plants in the early stages of growth jyij., VsA^l. are killed but grown-up plants do not suffer so much. It has not been found in Surat. Mr. Jhaveri. Oberea sp. This species was found at Pusa. the larva boring Phaseolus aconitifoUvs Mr. Fletcter. [molh] (C. S. 428). The eggs were laid at the end of September 1906, and hatched after 5 days, the larva pupated at the end of June, and the adult beetle emerged after twelve days (in the beginning of Julv). The eggs were laid in the stems within a portion enclosed by two girdhngs. The larva feeds on the pith and payt of the woody tissues. The affected girdled stems droop and are easily seen. The larva feeds until November, then rests in the larval state until the end of June. Larvae often emersed from stems before hibernation and attempted to go into earth. There is only one cycle annually. . Specimens were sent to Dr. Gahan some years ago, but no identifica- tion has yet been received. There is an Oberea in Travancore which attacks Vigna catjang. Mr. piiiay. 220 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING ( Unidentified Lamiad.) This was foimd in tlie adult stage at Moulmein in September 1914 on sweet-potato and had apparently been breeding on this plant. {Unidentified Lamiad.) Ann. Kept. Impl. Entom., pp. 17-18, f. 99, t. 15, ff. 2a-c (1918). This species was sent to us from Latu (Sylhet) by S. R. Gupta, the larva boring and killing orange shoots. The larva3 bore into the new shoots which appear in spring and cause them to wither. The beetles emerged at Pusa in March and April. We have an apparently similar specimen taken in the Buxar Duars in May 1907. Mr. Gupta. I found it common in the Surma and Assam Valleys. The grub bores in young orange shoots which wither. The tree is never killed but it bears less fruit. I have found this borer wherever I have searched for it. We have cut out the withered shoots, but the pest was found again. The orange-garden at Latu is isolated from other orange gardens but is alongside a big forest and very probably this pest comes in from the forest plants ; but this is not known definitely. In one plot we cut off almost all the withered shoots but the insect was still present after • a time. Mr. Andrews. It is difficult to grow orange trees in Assam. This insect is known to do damage in a garden where there are only a few orange trees. {Unidentified Lamiad.) Mr Fle.'cier. This was sent in to us from Bengal by D. N. Pal with the information that it was reared on 12th September 1907 from a larva in jute stem and that it is said to do damage. We have no further information about it. Cerambycid^. Lophosfermis hugelii, Redt. Gahan, F. I. Ceramb., pp. 11-12 ; Stebb., Ind. For. Ins. Col., pp. 274-275, t. 17 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 248. We have this from Simla, Dehra Dun and Chaubattia (Kumaon). At Chaubattia the larva was found attacking roots and trunks of apple trees. Gahan gives the distribution of this species as Kashmir, the North- West Frontier Provinces, Punjab and Assam. Stebbing states that the larva feeds on Quercus incana and probably Q. dilatat'u PROCEEDINGS OF THE TIllKT ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 221 , Xystocera (jlobosa, Oliv. Gahan, F. I. Ceramb., pp. 106-107, f. 42 ; S. I. I., p. 321, f. 174 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 79. We have this from Coimbatore, Nagpur and Tatkon (Upper Burma). It has not yet been noted as a pest in India but in Cairo it has proved a serious pest of AJbizzia lebheh when grown as shade-trees and it is apparently associated with A. lebbeJc in India also so that it may be expected to prove a pest of this tree. In Egypt it is a pest of old Albizzia lebbek trees. Dr. Gough. In India it damages Albizzia fracera. Mr. Eeeson. Was it introduced into Egypt ? Mr. Fletcher. I do not know. Dr. Gough. GnatJiolea eburifera, Thoms. Gahan. F. I. Ceramb., p. Ill ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 211. This has been noted by K. D. Shroff at Moulmein boring orange Mr. Fletcher. stem and at Kya-in, Karen Hills, as boring stem and branches of orange, the adult emerging on 4th January 1908. Stromatium barbatum, Fb. Gahan. F. I. Ceramb. pp. 114-115, fig. 45 ; S. I. I., pp. 321-322, f. 175 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 205, 211, 275 ; Khare, B. J. XXIY. 610-612. We have this from Dehra Dun ; Arrah, larva in dry wood of a case of cutler}^ ; Chapra ; Pusa, larva boring in sissu wood, bamboo, furniture, on one occasion boring a sissu-wood table for three years, the adult emerging in July 1909 ; Calcutta, larva in piano wood (Entl. Note 32) ; Nagpur, larva boring dead parts of orange trees, especially parts affected by '' Arbela "; Poona, on Acacia arabica ; Kanara ; North Coorg ; and Hagari (Bellary), larva boring in dry bamboo. It is a common household pest, the larva boring into Avooden furni- ture, picture-frames and so on ; and Mr. Khare says that he has found it boring into Citrus trees in the Central Provinces. It seems doubtful, however, how far it may really be regarded as a pest of hving trees, although there is no doubt that it bores into many trees that are dead or perhaps dying from other causes. In Patiala this beetle does a lot of damage to living orange and Malta Harchand Singh. orange trees. In the Central Provinces I found orange trees in a garden very badly mt. Misra. .affected by " Arbela "' and these trees were afterwards attacked by Stromal ium. 222 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING [Ploccedents pedestris, White. Gahan, F. I. Ceramb. p. 123. Mr. Sen. Ploccederus fedestris is found boring into mango trees in Dacca. Last year in February grubs, pupse and beetles were found in numbers in a dead tree. As regards its habits, the grub feeds on the portion between the bark and the wood and goes upwards or downwards. When full- grown, it makes a big slanting hole in the wood and pupates in a yellowish- white hard cocoon inside the hole. The hfe-history has not been studied in detail. Mr. Fletcher. We have P. pedestris from Pusa,.but it is not common here and it is not recorded from anywhere East of this by Gahan. The Dacca species is more likely to be P. ohesus, Gahan, but it is impossible to say without seeing the specimens.] Molesthes holosericea, Fb. Gahan, F. I. Ceramb., pp. 127-128 ; Stebbing, Ind. For. Ins. Col, pp. 301-305, ff. 208-210, t. 19. Gahan gives the distribution as North-West India, Bombay,. Nilo-iris, Ceylon, Assam, Tenasserim, Andamans, Nicobars, Siam and Malay Peninsula. We have it from Khedut (Baroda) [labelled Poona on specimen] reared from a larva in guava stem, the adult emerging on 4th April 1907. This stem was also infected with Belionota frasina, and it is doubtful how far M. holosericea is a pest of living trees so far as non-forest trees are concerned. ? Rhytidodera rohusta. Gahan, F. I. Ceramb., p. 147, f, 59. This was reared by K. D. Shroff on 4th April lyCS from a larva boring Ficiis carica at Mandalay, and has also been noted at Thaton in mango. The identification of this species is uncertain. Chloridolum cdcmene, Thorns. Gahan, F. I. Ceramb., pp. 199-200 ; S. Ind. Ins, p. 323, f. 177 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 211. We have specimens from Pollibetta and Virajpet, in South Coorg. This insect occurs in the orange-growing tracts in the South Indian Hills and does serious damage to Citms trees by its larva boring in the stems and large branches. It seems to be rather sporadic in its appearance, and has only been noted as a pest in Coorg. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 223 In Coorg I collected beetles from lemon and Citrus trees. They were Mr. Rairactandra resting on the leaves and, when disturbed, they fly about actively. Rao. Chelidonivm cincticm, Guer. ■ Gahan, F. I. Ceramb., p. 210. This was sent in to us in 1918 from Bangalore by Mr. Anstead who Mr. Fletcher, found the larva boring into orange branches. Mr. Anstead states that the eggs are deposited in June in the axils of young hving twigs and never on dead wood or old branches. The eggs are covered with a sort of yellow transparent varnish. As soon as the eggs hatch the young larva bores into the twig and works upward for about half-an-inch to an-inch-and-a- half and then makes two tiny holes about the size of a pin's head. It then turns back and bores down the twig, occasionally making small openings. Finally it gets into the main branches where it makes tunnels a quarter-of-an inch in diameter. The young twigs that are bored at once die and turn black so that they are conspicuous and they can be cut of? with the larvae inside them. By doing this and by hand-collec- tion of the adult beetles the attack can be controlled to a large extent. The eggs appear to take about two weeks to hatch out. Xyhtrechus quadri'pes, Chevr. Gahan, F. I. Ceramb., pp. 245-24C, f. 90 ; S. Ind. Ins., pp. 323- 324, f. 178 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 30-34. We have this from North and South Coorg and the Nilgiris. It is the well-known " Coffee-borer " of South India, which was discussed fully at the last Meeting in 1917. Since then I have not visited the Coffee Districts and have therefore no more to add. The length of the hfe-history is one year but it may vary. The lyjp gunhi Kannan. bushes may be infected with eggs laid by the April brood. The method of egg-laying is very interesting. The egg is always laid in a crevice ; if it is laid anywhere else, the grub fails to penetrate into the wood. Scrubbing the plants is successful to prevent egg-laying and to destroy the eggs when laid. The eggs are never laid loose on the tree. The larvse take from two to two-and-a-half months to eat into the wood. To check them in this stage Brunohneum has been used. The larval excrement in the tunnels is not very compact so that the fumes enter the gallery and kill the larva. This chemical nn'ght be tried on all sorts of borers in fruit-trees. It is not known exactly what it is but it is perhaps a tar distillate. What does it cost ? Mr. Fletcher. VOL. I o >Ir. Fletcher. Mr. Senior- White 22-4 PIIOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Mr. Kunhi Kannan. One Rupee per gallon. Even when used at full strength, one gallon will treat 200 trees. But now the price has gone up, so we are using an emulsion with soap. It might be worth trying an emulsion of soap and creosote. There is some description of this Brunolineum in a Bulletin lately issued by the Ceylon Agricultural Department. Just before I left Ceylon, about 25th January, the beetles emerged in large numbers. I have found a predaceous Carabid grub which follows up the track of the boring larva and kills it. Another interesting fact is that the attack depends on the weather conditions. Probably these influence emergence and oviposition, rainfall records and the number of trees taken out bearing a close relation to one another. There are two or three species of para- sites. Mr. Fletcher. Chrysomelid^. Sagra nigrita, Ohv. Jacoby, F. I. Chrysom., p. 5; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 56. This species was reared by Mr. E. Ernest Green at Peradeniya, where the larva was found boring in stems of Dolichos lablab, causing large gall-hke sweUings in the stems. It occurred abundantly and did considerable damage. We have not noted it in India as a pest as yet, but it is quite likely to occur. Sagra femorata. This was found in some numbers by Y. Ramachandra Rao " on bean creeper " at Sidapur, South Coorg. I do not know how far it was damaging any cultivated crop, but, in view of the record of S. nigrita on Dolichos lablab, it seems better to include it for the present. Leitia downesi, Baly. Jacoby, F. I. Chrysom., p. 43. At Pusa the eggs have been found laid singly or in rows, usually on the upper surface of leaves of Panicum sp., the larva eating one epidermis and the mesophyll substance of the leaf, and leaving the other epidermis intact. Pupation takes place in soil in a shght cocoon. The hfe-cycle from egg to adult is about 17 days at the end of August. One female laid 227 eggs between 19th and 30th August and was then lost. We have it also from Chapra. This species is not known as a pest, but might easily be one. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 225 Miopristis bimaculata, Jac. Jacoby, F. I. Clirysom., pp. 99-100, fig. 21. The adult beetles have been found at Pusa in small numbers eating flowers of rice on 8th October 1917, and have also been found on cotton leaf and on grass. We have it also from Ohapra. It is probably not common enough to do any real damage. Diapro)))orpha niclanopiis, Lac. Jacoby, F. 1. Chrysom., pp. 168-169, fig. G4. In Indian Museum Notes, I, ii. p. 106 (1889) this species is recorded as received in 1885 from iSibsagar from 8. E. Peal who noticed it as "" eating the stems of tea-shoots so that they wither and droop." The Pusa Collection contains specimens from the Khasis (1000-3000), and Shillong, Buxar Duars. Maymyo. Lebong. Palamau, Chapra, Munshi- ganj and Pusa. At Pusa the adult has been taken on Bombax mala- baricum, but we do not know it as a pest here. In Assam it occurs every year as a very important pest of tea all Mr. Andrews, over the tea districts, especially along the edges of jungles. It bites half-way through the stem which droops and withers. Every planter knows it and it is destroyed by hand-picking. In Assam this insect is apparently called the Orange Beetle on account Mr. Fletcher, of its colour, and it is so referred to in Watt and Mann's " Pests and Bhghts of the Tea Plant." As you know, before the appointment of any regular Government Entomologists in India, information about insect pests, along with various other matters, was dealt with under a scissors-and-paste method in the office of the Reporter on Economic Products and these files on insect pests were finally transferred to Pusa. On looking up the file on this insect I find that the name " Orange Beetle " proved too much for the Office Staff of the Reporter on Economic Pro- ducts, with the result, *hat this beetle was solemnly filed under the heading " Pests of Citrus trees." Cryptocephah.is dodccaspilns, Sulf. Jacoby, F. I. Chrysom., pp. 252-253, fig. 97 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 264. The adult beetles were found in some numbers damaging rose-leaves at Abbottabad on 10th June 1916. We also have it from Maymyo, taken in June 1910. Jnn>i nymphcece. Buck. Brit. Aphid, 11, p. 12 ; Essig, Pom. Coll. Jour. Entom., IV. iii, pp. 793-797 ; Patch, Main. Agri. Expt. St. Bull. 202 (1912) ; Davis. Entom. News, p. 245 (1910) ; Cockerell, Science, p. 704, (1905) ; Ind. Ins. Life, p. 747 ; Mem. Ind. Mus., yi, iv, pp. 191-194 (1918). Found on Lemna sp., Nehmibium specioswn and Scarpus lacvstris at Lahore. Siphocoryne fadi, Linn. ^Si'phocoryne avenw, Fabr. = SipJionaphis padi, Linn. U. S. Dept. Agric. Bull.. No. 44 ; Essig, Pom. Coll. Jour. Entom., IV, p. 791 ; Mem. Ind. Mus., VI, iv, pp. 194-195 (1918). At Lahore this has been found on wheat, barley. Arena, rhizomes of Cynodon dactylon. Toxopfera gramimim, Bond. Passerini, Aphid* Italicae, p. 28 (1863) ; S. J. Hunter and P. A. Glen, Bull. Kansas Univ., IX, ii (1909) ; Mem. Ind. Mus., VI, iv, pp. 196-198 (1918). This species occurs in the Punjab on wheat, barley, oats, Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus nivevs. Toxopfero punjabipy n , Das. Mem. Ind. Mus., VI, iv, pp. 198-202 (1918). This species has been found at Lahore on Pynis commimis (pear), and Pyrvs sp. (wild pear). Toxopfera aurantii, Boy. = Ceylonia tJieaecola . Ind. Mus. Notes, II, i, p. 40 ; Ind. Ins. Life, p. 748. This species occurs at Pusa and in Bombay on Citrus trees, but apparently does not extend so far North as Lahore (Das ; Mem. Ind. Mus., VI, 196). 282 TEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING^ Aphis rumicis, L. Schouteden, Cat. Aphides de Belgique, p. 277 (1906) ; Buck, Brit. Aphid, VII, pi. xiv ; Ocstlund, Aphid Minn., p. 61 (1887) ; Gillette, Jour. Eco. Entom., Ill, p. 407 (1910) : Patch, Maine Agri. Expt. Sta. Bull., 202 (1912). This species has been found at Lahore on Solanvm nigrum, Cnicus arvensis, Rumex dentata, Chino'podium ravely, Pyrvs communis (pear). Aphis medicaginis, Koch. = Aphis cardui. Koch, Pflanzenlause, p. 94, figs. 125-126 (1857); Gillette, Jour. Eco. Entom., I, pp. 177-178 (1908) ; Essig, Pom. Coll. Jour. Entom., Ill, iii, p. 527 (1911). This species occurs commonly in the Plains on indigo and Cajanus indicus and has been noted at Pusa, Surat, and Ranchi on these plants, whilst it has also been recorded on Dolichos, Dalbergia, Medicago, Vicia, Sesbania, Cassia, etc. Aphis nerii, Boyer de Fonscolombe. Fonscolombe, Ann. Soc. Ento. Fr. X, p. 157 ; Essig, Pom. Coll. Jour. Entom., Ill, iii, p. 530 ; Ind. Ins. Life, p. 748. This species has been found at Lahore on Calotropis gigantea, C. procera, Hoya longijolia, Cryptostegia grandiflora, Asclepias sp., Cynanchum dalhousie, Draga voluhilis. Aphis sacchari, Zehntner. Mem. Ind. Mus., VI, iv, pp. 206-208. This species has been found at Lahore on Sorghum and Panicvm colore. It has not been found hitherto on sugarcane in India, though it was first noticed on sugarcane in Java. {Arch. Java Suiker-industrie Dl. IX, p. 674 (1901). PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 283 Afkis maidis, Fit'^h. =A])his advsta, Zehnt. =Afhis sorghi, Theobald. Fitch, Sec. Kept, on Insects of New York by State Entomolo- gist (1856) ; Oesthmd, Synop. Aphid Minn. (1887). p. 56 ; Webster, The Crotou. leaf Aphis, U. S. Dept., Agric. Circ. No. 86 (1907) ; Ind. Ins. Life, p. 747 ; Mem. Ind. Mus., VI, iv, pp. 208-213 (1918). This species has been found at Pusa on juar and at Lahore on wheat, maize and Panicum colore (inflorescence only), oats, barley, maize, Sorghum, Pennisetmn typlioideum, Panicum crusgalli, Cynodon dactylon. A plate showing this insect under the name of " Wheat Aphis " has been issued by the Agricultural Department, India, but is of Uttle scientific value. A'jMs malvce, Koch. =A. cucurbiti, Buck. Buck, Brit. Aphida?, II ; Mem. Ind. Mus., VI, iv, pp. 213- 215. This species has been found at Pusa on hhindi and at Lahore on cucurbits. Afliis malvoides, Das. Rec. Ind. Mus., VI, iv, pp. 215-216, 1918. This has been found at Lahore on Malva sp., Malvastrum spp.. Chrysanthemum, pear, pansy, Solanum spp. Aphis durranti, Das. Mem. Ind. Mus., VI, iv, pp. 217-219 (1918). This species has been reported from Lahore on Duranla sp., Vitex negundo, Colocasia, etc. This species was called durranti by Bashambar Das, but the name apparently should have been durantce. 284 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Aphis gossypii, Glover, = A. citndli, Ashmead, 1882. =A. cucumeris, Forbes, 1883. Glover, Pat. Off. Report, p. 62 (1854) ; Ashmead, Can. Ento., XIV, p. 91 (1882) ; Gillette, Jour. Eco. Entom., I, iii, p. 176 (1908) ; Essig, Pom. Coll. Jour., Ill, iv, p. 590 (1911) ; Ind. Ins. Life, p. 746 (1909) ; Mem. Ind. Mus. VI, iv, pp. 219- 220 (1918). This species occurs commonly on cotton and is sometimes rather a pest of this crop. It has been found on cotton at Lahore, Muzaffarpur, Pusa, Dhuha, Shimoga, Bellary and throughout Southern India. At Lahore it has also been found on Ca f sella, hnpatiens sp., Cryptostegia grandijlora. Aphis nasturtii, Kalt. Kaltenbach, Pflanzenl. (1843), p. 76 ; Koch, Pflanzenl (1857), p. 136, fig. 125 ; Schouteden, Cat. Aph. Belg. (1906), p. 224 ; Mem. Ind. Mus. VI, iv, pp., 212-222 (22). This species occurs at Lahore on Nasturtium. Brachycaudus pruni, Koch. Koch, Die Pflanzenlause ; Buckton, Brit. Aphid, II, p. 64 ; Van der Goot, Ziir Systematik der Aphiden, pp. 96-97 ; Stebbing, Ind. Mus. Notes, VI, 1913, p. 70. This species occurs throughout North- West Irdia on peach and is also found on Ageratum conyzoides. It is one of the worst insect pests that the peach-grower has to con- tend against in Northern India. The leaves are contorted into pseudo- galls and the trees become sickly and unsightly. The leaves appear closely crowded and nerer expand fully. They turn wliitish and in some cases "pinkish. It is found with Mijziis persicce on the same plant. Lachnus pyri, Buckt. South Ind. Ins., p. 503, f. 391 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 247. This species occurs commonly on pear in Ootacamund and the Shevaroy Hills and Ceylon (Hills), but apparently does not extend into Northern India. It occurs in masses on the stems and branches and is easily dealt with by brushing or spraying. PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING -285 Hyaloperus jnuni, Fb. Buckt., Brit. Aphid, II. p. 110; Riley, Ins. Life, V, p. 236: Gillette, Baill. Color. Expt. Sta. No. 133 (1908) ; Mem. lud. Mus., VI, iv, pp. 225-227 (1918). This species has been found at Lahore on Arundo donax, Phragmites kirki and Pru mis persica (peach). Brachyimguis {I) carthami, Das. Mem. Ind. Mus., VI, iv, pp. 237-240. . This species has been found at Lahore on wild safflower {Carthamus oxycarpi). Callipterus trifolii, Monell. =zChaitophon(S mdcvlatus, Buckt.* Monell, Canad. Entom. XVI, p. 14 (1882) ; Ind. Mus. Notes, IV, p. 277 ; Ind. Ins. Life, p. 746 ; Davis, Ann. Ent. Soc. America, I (1908) ; B. Das, Mem. Ind. Mus., VI, iv, pp. 244-245(1918). This species is found on lucerne and bersim throughout Northern India. Tvberodryobius persicw, Cholcdk. Mem. Ind. Mus., VI, iv, pp. 259-268 (1918). This species occurs throughout North- Western India as a bad pest of peach, and it also occurs on plum, apricot and almond. The Aphids are present on the main trunk and branches of the fruit- -trees mentioned above, more particularly the peach. The loss to the peach crop from an attack of this Aphid is innnense. Very few fruits mature and attain the normal size and colour. Eriosoma {Schizoneura) lanigera, Hausm. South Ind. Ins., pp. 500-501, f. 389. This species has been introduced into India with imported orchard stock and is now fairly established in all the principal apple-growing districts. We know it from Simla, Binsar (Almora), Eamgarh (Kumaon), Lucknow, Shillong, Taung-gyi (Southern Shan States), Bangalore and Coonoor, in all cases on apple. At Eamgarh, where it is said to attack jungle plants also, the winged adults were found emerging towards the end of August 1918, and treat- * Theobald states that r. macuJahi.% is a synonym of Callij terus ononidis, Kalt {Bull. Eni. Res II 134-138, ff. 2.5, 26 (1915) ; Entom. 1918, p. 28). Editor. 286 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TIIIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING ment at this time of all colonies on the trees is especially desirable to prevent spread of infection as far as possible. {Unidentified Aphid). " Ragi root Aphis," South Ind. Ins., pp. 502-503, f. 390 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 200. This species occurs regularly every year at Coimbatore on roots of ragi and is a serious pest. {Unidentified Aphid). South Ind. Ins., pp. 506-507, f. 393 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 261. This species was found at Coimbatore on young coconut palms which had been imported from Colombo. Oregma bambiisce, Buckt. South Ind. Ins., p. 505, f. 392. This species occurs commonly at Coimbatore, and probably through- out Southern India, as a pest of bamboo. CocciD^. [Note. — The Coccidae form another group of which we know nothing in India and the following list, which is placed in the order of Fernald's Catalogue, is very incom- plete.] Monofhlebus stebbingi var odocaudata, Gr. Mem. Dept. Agric. India, II, ii, p. 16, II, ii, pp. 111-117 (1908). This species has been found at Sitamarhi (Bihar), Fatehgarh (United Provinces), Bareilly, Lahore (ShaUmar gardens), in all cases on mango. It is abundant at Pusa on practically all trees from December to April. Monofhlebus tamarindns, Green. South Indian Coccidse (MS.) ; Mem. Dept. Agric. India, II, ii, p. 17 (1908). This species has been found at Agra, on tamarind leaves ; and at Samalkota (Godavari), on garden crotons. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 287 MonopJtlebus sp. (near tmnarindus, Gr.). This was found in May at Kohat (North- West Frontier Province) on mulberry. Walkeriana cinerea, Green. Mem. Dept. Agric. India, II, ii, p. 17 (1908) ; I. c, iv, p. 121 (1908). This species bf s been found in Western India, on Lawsonia alba ; at Surat, on Acacia arabica ; and at Vadanapalle (Malabar) on stem of Laivsonia alba and on sandalwood tree. Walkeriana sp. This was found in Coorg on TaberncBmontana. Icen/a cegyptiaca, Dougl. Mon. Brit. Cocci., II, p. 248 (1902) ; South Indian Coccidae (MS) ; Mem. Dept. Agric. India, IL ii, p. 118 (1908). This species has been noted at Vadanapalle (S. Malabar), on Arto- carpus incisa ; Kallar (Nilgiris), on Artocarpns integrifolia ; Simha- chalam (Vizagapatam), on Ficns sp. leaves ; Pusa, on Citrus, guava^ chillies (plants), jak ; and at Ranchi, on rose leaves. Icerya minor, Gr. Mem. Dept. Agric. India, II, ii, p. 118-121 (1908), I.e., II, ii, p. 17 (1908). This species has been found at Pusa, on mango leaf. Icerya seychellarum, Westwd. N. Z. Trans., p. 329 (1897) ; I. M. N., IV, i, p. 7 (1896) ; Mem. Dept. Agric. India, II, p. 18 (1908) ; South Indian Coccidse (MS) ; Bom. Jour., XXIII, p. 137 (19U). This species has been found at Kottur (Bellary Dist.), on Cassia tora ; Bombay, on mango ; Coromandel coast, on Casuarina ; and in Western India, on Ficus bengaknsis. Cerococciis hibisci, Green. Mem. Dept. Agric. India, II, ii, pp. 20, 122 (1908) ; Newstead, Bull. Ento. fees., VIII, 127 ; South Ind. Ins., p. 508, f. 395 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 118. This species has been found at Coimbatore, Godavari, Madras, on cotton, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ; Guntur, on Solamim melongena ; Lashkar VOL. I U 288 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING (Gwalior), on cotton ; Rangoon, on cotton ; Sabour, on cotton (1918) Bombay, on Hibiscus liUflonis ; and at Pusa, on cotton. Dactylopius iiidicus, Green. Mem. Dept. Agric. India, II, ii, p. 28 (1908). This species was found at Kangra, on Opuntia dillenii. Phenacocciis ballardi, Newstead. Bull. Ent. Res., VIII, p. 17 (August 1917) ; South Ind. Coccidse (MS). This species has been found on mango at Coimbatore and in South Kanara. Phenacocciis hirsutus, Gr. Bom. Jour., XXIII, p. 136 (1914) ; Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, ii, 25. This species has been found at M?hol (Sholapur District), on Ficus hengalensis ; Pusa, on mulberry, cotton shoots (very bad on mulberry, causing iiikra disease) ; Malda, on mulberry shoots ; Berhampore (Bengal) mulberry shoots ; and Bankura, on mulberry shoots. Phenacoccus iceryoides, Gr. Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, ii, pp. 26, 129 (1908) ; South Indian Coccidc^ (MS). This species has been found at Coimbatore, on Odina wodier ; Palacole (Godavari), on Citrus shoots ; Alamanda (Vizagapatam), on mango shoots and fruits ; Tanjore, on Boswellia ; Calcutta, on mango ; and at Surat, on Caj^paris horrida. Phenacoccus insolitus, Green. Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, ii, p. 27 ; Bull. Ento. Res., VIII, p. 127 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 289. This species has been found at Pusa, on Sida cordifolia ; Chingleput and Coimbatore, on hrinjal plants ; and at Saidapct, on Solanum melon- gena (Newstead). Phenacoccus mangiferce, Green. I. M. N., IV, i, p. 7 ; South Indian Coccida3 (MS.). This species has been found at Coimbatore, on mango. fROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 289 Pseudococcus {Dacti/Iopim) cilri, Risso. Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, ii, pp. 22, 122, 123-121 (1908) ; South Ind. Ins., pp. 508-509, fig. 396 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 29, 36, 79, 256. This species has been found at Kallar (Nilgiris), on cacao pods ; in Mysore, on coffee, Cedrela, Ficiis ghmerata ; in Coorg, on Eryilirina. Ageratum ; and in Ceylon, on coffee. Pseudococcus cocotis, Msk. Ind. Mus. Notes, II, p. 169 III, i, pp. 7, 66 (1893) ; South Indian Coccidge (MS). This species has been found on coconut leaves in Malabar and the Laccadive Islands. Pseudococcus corymbatus, Green (MS). South Indian Coccidse (MS). This species is known from Palacole (Godavari District), on Citrus shoots and fruits ; Malabar, on jak ; Coimbatore, on cotton shoot ; and Pusa, on cotton shoot, soy beans. Pseudococcus longispi)ius, Targ. Cotes, Ind. Mus. Notes, II, vi, p. 169 (1893) [adonidum]; Barlow, Ind. Mus. Notes, IV, p. 75 (1897). This species has been found at Vadanapalle (S. Malabar), on coconut leaves ; in Mysore, orf coffee and cedar ; and at Calcutta on croton. Pseudococcus nipce, Mask. Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, ii, pp. 23, 121: ; South Ind. Ins. , p. 509, f. 397 ; South Indian Coccidee (MS) ; Bom. Jour., XXIII, p. 136. This species is known from Coromandel coast, on Gasuarina stem ; North India, on stored potatoes ; Western India, on Cajanm tndicm ; and Pusa, on potato tubers in store, mulberry, cotton. [The Mealy-bug on cotton and mulberry has been identified by E. E. Green (1919) as Phenacoccus hirsulus.] u2 290 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Pseudococcus sacchari, Ckll. Ind. Mus. Notes, V, iii, p. 102 ; Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, ii, p. 23 ; South Indian Coccidse (MS) ; Newstead, Bull. Ento.. Res., VIII, 126 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 151. This species has been found at Coimbatore, Trichinopoly and South Arcot, on paddy (a rather serious pest occasionally) ; Bassein ; Poona ;. Bilaspur ; and Rajnagar (Darbhanga), on sugarcane. Pseudococcus saccharifolii, Gr. Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, ii, p. 24 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 15U This species has been found at Pusa, on sugarcane. Pseudococcus thececola, Green. Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, ii, p. 24. This species was found in Darj'ling, on roots of tea plant. Pseudococcus virgatus, Ckll. Newstead, Ind. Mus. Notes, III, v, p. 24 (1895) ; Green, Ind. Mus. Notes, I. p. 7. (1896) [falini] ; Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, ii, pp. 127-128 (1908) ; South Ind. Ins., p. 510, fig. 398 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 124, 257, 268, 290. This species has been found at Coimbatore, on croton, tomato ; Palur (S. Arcot), on Cambodia cotton ; Poona, on adventitious roots of banyan tree ; Serampore, on violets ; Poona, on croton ; Bettiah, on cotton ; Pusa, on cotton, mulberry, crotons, Draccena, Hibiscus, violets, Acahjpha. Cissus discolor. •' Piper sia resinofhila, Gr. Bull. Ent. Res., VI, pp. 395-397. This species has been found inKumaon and Kashmir (Kamraj Division) on Pinus longifolia and Pinus excelsa. ^ Ripersia sacchari, Gr. I. M. N., V, ii, p. 37 ; South Indian Coccidse (MS) ; Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, ii, p. 25 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 151. This species has been found at Coimbatore, on sugarcane ; Gorakhpur,. on cane ; Pusa, on cane ; and in Bengal, on rice plant. PliOCEEDTNGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 291 Ripersia saccJiari oryzce, Green. Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, ii, pp 128-129. This insect has been found at Balasore, Bankipur, Champaran, Gorakh- pur, Moorla (Bihar), and Handia (Bihar), in all cases on rice. Ceronema hoeheli, Gr. Bull. Ent. Res., V, p. 267, 1914. This species has been found at Peradeniya, on Pitliecolobium saman. Pulvinaria burkiUi, Green. " Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., V, ii, pp. .31-32 ; South Indian Coccidse (MS) ; Bull. Ento. Res., VIII, 129. This species has been found at Coimbatore, on Zizyphus jujuba leaves, and at Siugaiug [?] (near Calcutta), on Croton tiglium. Pulvinaria maxima, Green. Ent. Mo. Mag., XL, p. 206 (1904) ; South Indian Coccid^ (MS). This species has been found at Coimbatore, on nim trees, and in South India, on mulberry plants. Pulvinaria psidii, Mask. N. Z. Trans., XXV, p. 223 (1892) ; Ind. Mus. Notes, IV, i, p. 8 (1896) ; Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, ii, p. 32, 131, 134 (1908) ; South Ind. Ins., p. 511, f. 399 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 34. 228, 230, 232, 250. This species occurs in South India, on guava, mango, Morinda, tea, coffee ; at Coimbatore, on mango, guava ; in Mysore, on Ficus glomerata • in the Nilgiris, on guava, Eugenia, tea ; at Koilpatti, on guava ; in Western India, on mango, guava (very bad), Passia Icdifolia; and at Pusa, on mango leaves, litchi, and Ficus glomerata, Pulvinaria sp. This occurs at Pusa, on mulberry leaves. 292 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Cewplastes adiniformis, Green. Ind. Mus. Notes, IV, i, p. 8 (1896) ; Coccida) of Ceylon, iv, p. 275 (1909) ; B. J., XXIII, p. 136 (1914) ; South Indian Coccidee (MS). This species has been found at Coimbatore, on coconut leaves and mango ; in Malabar, on coconut leaves ; at Samalkota (Godavari District) ,^ on Canna ; Penukonda (Anantapur District), on Ficus sp. ; Poona, on Loranthus sp., banyan ; and in Ceylon, on coconut and other palms, Canna and Sapium. Ceroplasles cerifenis, Anderson. Ind. Mus. Notes, I, p. 89 (1890), III,v, p. 21 (1896) ; Coccid^ of Ceylon, iv, p. 270 (1909). This species occurs at Coimbatore, on Laivsonia alba ; Tanjore, on BoswelUa [?] ; and in the Central Provinces on Terminalia and Bucha- nania. CeropJastes fioridensis, Comst. Ind. Mus. Notes, V, i, p. 8 (1900) ; Coccidse of Ceylon, iv, p. 277; Kept. U. S. Dept. Agri. 1880, p. 331; Mem. Dept.' Agri. Ind., II, ii, p. 134 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 228, 251, 255, 257. This species has been found at Bangalore, on cashew {Anacardium occidenfale) ; in Tinnevelly District, on Michalia courtallmn ; in Ceylon, on tea and guava ; and at Pusa, on Ficus carica, F. infectoria, Tamarix galnca, mango, guava. Hibiscus esculentus and Cyamojjsis fsoralioides. Ceropilastes rubens, Mask. {myriccE). N. Z. Trans. XXV, p. 214 ; I. M. N., V, i, p. 8 ; Mem. Dept.. Agri. Ind., II, p. 32 ; Bull. Ento. Res., VIII, 129. This species has been found at Coconada, on Cycas revoluta ; Chica- cole, on mango ; Coimbatore, on CalophyUion ; Palghat (Malabar), on jak ; and in Ceylon, on tea, mango, cinnamon and Eugenia. Vinsonia steUifera, Westwd. Coccidse of Ceylon, iv, p. 280 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, ' pp. 228, 260. This species has been found at Coimbatore, on mango ; in Tinnevelly, on nutmeg leaves ; Malabar, on coconut palm ; Godavari District, on rose-apple leaves {Eugenia jambos) ; South Malabar, on coconut ; Ceylon, on mango and coconut ; and at Bombay, on Garcinia indica. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 293 Inglisia bivalvata, Green. Ind. Mus. Notes. V, iii, p. 95 ; South Indian Coccidse (MS). This species has been found at Mandapetta (Godavari District), on Cajanvs indicus leaves. Cerophstodes cajani, Mask. Newstead, Bull. Ento. Res., VIII (1917) ; Mem. Dept. Agri Ind., II, ii, p. 32 (1908) ; South Ind. Ins., p. 512, f. 400 : Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 57, 267. This species has been found in South India, on Cajanus indicus, Zkyjjhvs jnjuha, Ocimim sanctum, and wild indigo ; at Calcutta, on Ocimv.m ; and at Surat, on Coleus. Cerojdastodes chiton, Gr. Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, ii, p. 32 (1908). This species has been found at Darjiling, on Cajanus indicus. Coccus acutissimus, Gr. I. M. N., IV, i, p. 10 (1896) ; Coccidse of Ceylon, p. 218 (1899). This species has been found at Coimbatore, on coconut leaf and mango leaf. Coccus hesjjeridum, L. Coccidse of Ceylon, I, p. 188 (1899) ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 36. This species has been found at Mandapetta (Godavari District), on Citrus shoots ; and at Madahgam (S. Malabar), on coconut leaf. Coccus longulus, Douglas. I. M. N., IV, p. 8 (1896) ; Coccid^ of Ceylon, p. 221, t. LXX. This species has been found at Mandapetta (Godavari District), on red-gram ; and in Ceylon, on Acacia, Albizzia, Loranthus. Coccus mangijerce, Green. Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, ii, p. 30 (1908). This species occurs at Pusa, on mango. 294 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Coccus viridis, Green. I. M. N., pp. 49-117 ; Coccidae of Ceylon, p. 199, t. LXIX (1899) ; Ent. Mo. Mag., XXV, p. 248 ; West Ind. Bull., Vol. XII (1912) ; Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, ii, p. 131 ; South Ind. Ins., p. 513, f. 401 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 34, 36, 37, 232, 250. This species occurs in the Shevaroys, Anamalais, Palnis, Nilgiris, Coorg, and Mysore as a pest of coffee. It has also been found at Banga- lore, and in the Nilgiris, on Citrus ; at Coimbatore, on JEgle, Carissa ; and in the Nilgiris, on tea, guava. Citrus, Plumiera acutijolia. Euhcanium caprece, Linn. Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, ii, p. 29. This species *has been found on almond trees in Baluchistan, where it kills off the branches and lastly the trees, Eulecanium persicce, Fb. Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, ii, p. 31 (1908). This species has been found at Jhelum, on Morus indica. Paralecanium expansum, Green. I. M. N., IV, i, p. 9 (1896) ; Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, p. 29 (1908) ; South Indian Coccidee (MS). This species has been found in Mysore, on Ficus retusa. Saissetia depressa, Targ. Targioni-Tozzetti, Coccidae, p. 29 (1869) ; South Indian Coccidse (MS\ This species has been found at Coimbatore, on plantain leaf. Saissetia liemi splicer ica, Targ. I. M. N., I, p. 117 [L. cqffew] ; South Indian Coccidae (MS) ; Bom. Jour., XXIII, p. 136 (1914) ; Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, ii, pp. 129-130; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 214, 232, 246, 250. This species has been noted in South India, on coffee, ferns, tea, guava, Tahernmnontana, loquat ; at Thana (Bombay), and in the Konkan, in pomelo (very serious on pomelo plants at Rajapur, Ratnagiri Dis- PROCEEDI^■GS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 295 trict) ; Manickganj, on T richosanilies auguina ; and in North India, on guava, Thunbergia, TrkJiosanthes anguina. Saissetla (Lecanium) nigra, Nietn. I. M. N., L ii, p. 117 (1889) ; Coccidse of Ceylon, p. 229 ; Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., 11, ii, pp. 31, 130 ; South Ind, Ins., pp. 514-515, f. 403 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 36, 119, 124, 230, 256. This species has been found in South Mysore, on Justicia ; at Pusa, on cotton (at times bad), Ficus glomerata ; at Calcutta, on Capparis 'sepiaria ; at Coimbatore, on cotton, croton, H. esculentus, H. rosa-sinen- sis, Thespesia populnea, Hijgropliild spinosa, sandalwood, Laivsonia alba (News., Bull. Ent. Res., VIII, 130) ; in Tinneveljy, on nutmeg shoots ; at Poona ; and at Surat, on Capparis sepiaria. It is at times a bad pest of cotton and occurs on castor also. Saissetia olew, Bernard. Coccids of Ceylon, p. 227 (1899) ; South Indian Coccidse (MS). This species has been found at Coimbatore, on tamarind fruits Erythina leaves and stem, Hygropliila spinosa; in Co org, on coffee; and in P;ellary, on Sesbania (agafJii). Aderda japonica. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 152. This species has been noted on sugarcane at Jabbalpur, Partabgarh and Poona. Lecanium adersi, Newst. Bull. Ent. Res., VII, p. 357 ; South Indian Coccid^ (MS). This species has been found at Coimbatore, on mango. Lecanium discrepans, Green. Coccidas of Ceylon, pt. iii, p. 204 ; South Indian Coccidoe (MS). This species has been found at Palacole (Godavari District), on mango leaf. Lecanium imbricans, Green. Ind. Mus. Notes, V, 94 (1903) ; Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., II, 130 ; South Ind. Ins. pp. -516-517, f. 406. This species occurs in the Hills of South India, on Cedrela ioona. 296 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Lecanimn marsupiale, Green. Mem. Dept. Agii. Ind., II, p. 30 ; Coccidse of Ceylon, pt. iii. p. 212; South Ind. Ins., p. 516, f. 405; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 300. This species occurs in South Wynaad and Malabar, on pepper leaves ;. and in South Arcot, on Calophyllvm. Lecanimn mercarce, Green MS. South Ind. Coccida3 (MS). This species has been found at Mercara (Coorg), on cofliee. Lecanium sigrdfermn, Gr. Coccid* of Ceylon, p. 197 (1899) ; South Indian Coccida? (MS). This species has been found at Golconda (Vizagapatam District), on plantain leaf. Chionaspis decvrvata, Gr. Bom, Jour., XXIII, p. 135 (1914) ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 205. This has been found on bamboo at Poona and on rice at Calcutta. Chionaspis dilatata, Green. Cocc. of Ceylon, pt. iii, p. 146, t. LI ; Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, p. 36 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 228. This species is recorded from Bangalore, on areca palms ; Godavari, on leaf-sheaths of palmyra palm ; Calcutta, on palms ; and Poona, on mango and Ficus. At Poona it is of common occurrence on mango, on both surfaces of the leaves. Chionaspis graminis, var divergens, Gr. Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, ii, p. 37. This was found at Bharwain (Hoshiarpur), on Andropogon sorglivm. Chionaspis manni, Gr. = Chionaspis pntnicola var theae, Mask. Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, ii, p. 37 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 26. This has been found on tea iu Assam and Darjiling and on Ficvs sp. in the Kangra Valley. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 297' Chionas'pis me(j(doha, Green. Pusa, on Zizyphus jvjuha leaves.. Chionas'pis nilgirica, Green MS. South Ind. C^occicla; (MS). This has been found in the Nilgiris. on Loranthns. Chionas'pis varicosa, Gr. I. M. N.. I, p. 2. (1896) ; Cocc. Ceylon, pt. ii, p. 140, t. L (1899). This has been reported from Sidapur (Coorg), on pepper stem, and' from Ceylon, on Gchniian lanccolatum. Chionaspis vilis, CJr. Ind. Mus. Notes, IV, i, p. 3 (189G) ; Cocc. of Ceylon, pt. ii.- p. 140. t. XLVII (1899) ; Mem. Dept. Agri. India, II. ii, p. 37 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 228. This is known from Pusa and Bangalore, on mango ; KoUegal ; Coonoor, on Elaxujmis ; and from Ceylon, on Vitis lanceolaria and Loran- thiis sp. Hoivardia biclavis, Comst. Ind. Mus. Notes, IV, i, p. 2 (189G) ; Cocc. of Ceylon, pt. ii, p. 152, t. LIV (1899) ; Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind. I, p. 354 . (1907), II, p. 36 (1908) ; Mon. Brit. Cocc, I, p. 190, t. XXI (1901) ; South Ind. Ins., p. 519, f. 410 (1914) ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 37. This has been recorded from the Nilgiris, on tea, and from Ceylon, on Cinchona, coffee and Grevillea. Diaspis harheri, Green. Mem. Dept. Agri. India, II, p. 35 ; South Ind. Coccidee (MS). This species has been found on Loranthvs at Tanjore and Alamanda (Vizagapatam District). Diaspis echinocacti, Bouche. Ind. Mus. Notes, IV, 211 (1899) [D. cahjplroides] ; Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind. II, 36 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 41. This species occurs in South India and at Manjri (Poona), on pric kly pear {Opuntia sp.). .298 PEOCEEDIISrGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Diaspis mangijercB, Green. South Indian Coccidae (MS). This species has been found at ALamanda (Vizagapatam District) on mango leaf. Diaspis rosce, Bouche. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., IX, p. 441 (1869) ; Brit. Cocc, I, p. 168, t. XIV [Aulacaspis]. This species has been found at Bangalore, on mango leaves. Hemichionaspis aspidistrce, Sign. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (4) p. 443 (1889) ; Ind. Mus. Notes, II, p. 17 (1891), III, V, p. 52 (1891) [hrasiliensis'] ; Cocc. of Ceylon, pt. ii, p. 110, t. XXXII (1899) ; Mon. Brit. Cocc, I, p. 187, t. XX (1901) ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 262, 300. . This species has been found in ]\Iysore, on areca, jak ; Western Ghats (Madras), on pepper berries ; Nilgiris, on Ceara rubber ; Malabar, on coconut leaves ; Godavari District, on Citrus leaves ; Coimbatore, on Ficus leaves ; and in Ceylon, on ferns. Acacia, mango, Capparis, and croton. Hemichionaspis draccence, Cooley. Sepe. Bull. Mass. Expt. Sta., p. 57 ; South Ind. Coccidse (MS). This species has been found at Vadanapalle (South Malabar), on areca palm ; the young fronds are badly infested. Heniichionaspis fici, Gr. Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, ii, p. 38 (1908). This species has been found at Pusa, on Ficus glomerata. Hemichionaspis minima, Gr. Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, ii, p. 38. This species was found at Pusa on the underside of leaves of banyan {Ficus sp.). PEOCEEDIJN'GS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 291* Hemichio'naspis minor, Mask. N. Z. Trans. XVII, p. 33 (1884) ; Cocc. of Ceylon, ii, p. 115, t. XXXIV (1899); Ind. Mus. Notes, V, iii, p. 128 (1903); Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, pp. 39-128 ; South Ind. Coccidse (MS). - ■ This scale has been found at Cuddapah, on Agave ; Bellary, on Cassia tora ; Coimbatore, on tamarind ; and Sibpur (Calcutta), on sann-hemp. Hemichionas'pis tJiea' Mask. Ind. Mus. Notes, II, p. 60, t. I, fig. 2. (1891) ; Mem. Dept, Agri. Ind. I, p. 342 (1907) ; South Ind. Ins.. pp. 520-521, f. 411. This species has been found at Coimbatore, on pomegranate leaves in Ceylon, on tea ; and in North and South India, on tea. Also on Psych otria and other plants. Lencaspis indica, Marlatt. B. J., XXIII, 135 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 228-229. This species has been- recorded from Poona as occurring commonly on mango trees. Fiorinia froboscidaria , C4reen. Bull. Ent. Res., VIII, 133. This species was found in Jamaica, on Citrus imported from India. Fiorinia thece, Gr. Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, ii, p. 39 (1908). This species has been found at Calcutta, on Citrus. Asfidiotas {Selanaspidus) articvlatiis, Morgan. Bull. Ent. Res., VIII, 133. This species was found in Jamaica, on Citrus imported from India. 300 rUOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Asjndiotus camelUce, Sign. Ind. Mus. Notes, 11, vi, p. 168 (1893) [As]). favescens] ; B. J., XIIT, p. 71 (1900) ; Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., I, pp. 343, 353 ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 26, 37. This species has been found in the Nilgiris, on tea ; at Dodabetta (Nilgiris), on Ficus sp. ; in Ceylon, on cinchona, Michcdia, Acacia, ^Osbeckia and ivy ; and at Bangalore, on tea stems. Aspidiotns curcumce, Green MS. Bom. Jour. XXIII p. 135 (1914); Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 295. This species has been found at Poona, on turmeric rhizomes. Asfidiotus cjjanophjlli, Sign. Cocc. of Ceylon, p. 51, t. IX ; South Ind. Coccidse (MS). This species has been found in the Nilgiris, on plantain leaf, Ceara rubber ; and in Ceylon, on tea, cinchona, palm [?j. Aspidioius cydonice, Comst. B. J. XIII, p. 71 (1900) ; South Ind. Coccidcfi (MS). This species has been found at Bangalore and Coimbatore, on grape, fig, pear; at Cojmbatore, on fig fruit; and in Ceylon on Ficus carica, Citrus deciimana, Cycas, Cactus, palms, tea stems. It is widely distributed, being know i from Florida, Sandwich Islands, British East Africa, Uganda, Gold Coast, Jamaica, South India. Asfidiotus destructor, Sign. Ind. Mus. Notes, III, i, p. 66 (1893) ; Bom. Jour. XIII, p. 70 (1900), XXIII, p. 134 (1914) ; South Ind. Ins., p. 518, f. 408 ; Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II, ii, p. 33 (1908) ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 229, 239, 260, 300. This species has been found at Nadiad, on mango leaves ; Tinnevelly and Coimbatore, on coconut ; Anantapur ; in the Laccadive Islands, on coconut ; in Bombay, on mango ; in Ceylon, on tea, pepper, Ceara rubber, plantain leaf, Loranllms ; in Cochin, on coconut leaves ; at Moovathi (Wv^naad), on coconut ; and at Pusa, on plantain leaves and mango leaves. It occurs commonly on coconut, mango, castor, banana, guava, screw-pine, Ceara rubber and Hevea brasilensis, and is often a bad PKOCEEDlIsGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 301 pest of coconut. It is very widely distributed and is known from British Guiana, Zanzibar, South Africa, British East Africa, Uganda, and the •Oold Coast. Aspidiotus dichjosfermi, Morg. Ind. Mus. Notes, IV, p. 119 (1899) ; Bom. Jour. XIII, p. G8, XVI, p. 345 ; South Ind. Coccid^ (MS). - This species has been found at Bangalore, on Deiidrohium ■Coconada, on Mimusops elengi ; in Ceylon, on Cycas, Opuntia and Calo- plujUum ; and in North India, on tea. Aspidiotus hartii. Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, p. 295. Specimens on turmeric rhizomes at Poona were identified by Mr. •Green as A. hartii, which is a West Indian species ; and possibly the identification was a mistake for A. curcumce. Aspidiotus latanice, Sign. A. cydonicB, Gr. Mem. Dept. Agri. Ind., II. p. 33 ; Bom. Jour. XlII, p. G9 ; South Ind. Coccidfe (MS). ; Proc. Second Entl. Meeting, pp. 211, 232, 239, 257. This species has been noticed at Coimbatore, on Ficus carica, sissal hemp, Carissa carandas ; Madras, on Nerium odonim ; Coonoor, on peach ; Calcutta, on Phoenix sp., ; Bombay, on Citrus, bamboo, Poinciana regia ; Pusa, on Zizyphus jujuba, Xylophylla clongata, Dt. of Second Entomological Meeting, p. 211). The Morinda shoot borer. This insect is a very small pale-brown beetle, the whitish grubs of which are found attacking the growing terminal shoots of Morinda tinctoria plants. The presence of the pest is easily seen by the faded and drooping appearance of the young distal shoots ; the latter turn black in course of time and drop down. The larva is a minute pale white grub ; the pupa is also found in the same place. The beetle appears to be a Scolytid, having an oval prothorax and small bro^vnish head tucked underneath the thorax. The Kolingi pod beetle. (Plate 10, fig. g.) As a green-manure plant in wet areas, the kolingi or wild indigo {Tephrosia purpurea) is held in high esteem in South India. Seeds are regularly collected and even sold by the Department. The growing pods of this bush are attacked by a small beetle borer— an Anthribid, probably a species of ArcBcerus — which eats away the seeds and makes the pod empty. The pupa is also found inside the attacked pod. The insect is found in Tinnevelly, Tanjore and South Arcot districts. The adult beetle is very small in size, 2-5 mm. long, pale greyish in colour and is almost similar in appearance to the kolingi seed. It is a very active creature. Loiigitarsus nigripennis, Motsch. The grub of this small flea-beetle contributes a share to what is called the Pollu disease of pepper in North Malabar. The adult beetle is a very active small creature with the head and thorax ochraceous and the elytra bluish-black ; the hind femora are extraordinarily thick. Eggs are thrust singly just under the rind of the growing pepper-berry ; the small cream- white grub feeds on the inner contents of the berry and makes it hollow — this hollowing of the pepper- berry, to whatever cause it is due, being called the Pollu disease of pepper. The mature grub drops down into the soil and pupates under- ground enclosed in an earthen cell. I am reading a separate paper on this insect [See page 925]. There are also other species of flea-beetles which are often noted as sporadic local pests causing a certain amount of damage to crops in certain seasons. Of these the following are the chief : — The Bael flea-beetle. This dark shining beetle has been noted in Coimbatore and Kollegal doing damage to the foliage of bael, .Egle marmelos. They feed together in numbers and cause considerable Page. 3l8. PLAT E 10. Hl« M X ^ y. c C >. ^' «^ •^ -w *t>^ ^ ^ ■^ •w ^' •'^ -^ ► '■^ h*. T-^ * 5: •-s •j» • ■* ^ o Hit ■»- « o X •s <<* 5C ■^ — ^ •^ »C c CO '*»* T"" X s !>- ^ -^ ,^_ '•^ y ^ V c ■s„ -^ ■^ >-^ »i c '^ ■Ki ^ •■, Oi < O ■ n ;j *2^ X •" « X A o E a •> ca ci > «> k. •?i2 fej «i-^ o CO Page 319. PLATE il. Fig. i.— Phihmtlrns vcouaJn-ishno , Turner, /2h. The lower figure shows a specimen in flight, carry- ing off a honey-bee. Fig. 2.—Alri(lcs 2ii 8. Fig. 2.— Rubber Scolytid ( ; 36;. Fig. 3. Rubber Platypodid ( ;16). PLATI ALCIDES BUBO. EXPLANATION OF PLATE 13. Alcides bubo. Fig. 1. Stem cut open, showing eggs deposited in it (x H). Fig. 2. A single egg, magnified ( x 33) Fig. 3. Newly-hatched larva ( X 30). Fig. 4. Full-grown larva ( x 10). Fig. 5. Stem attacked by larva, showing galls. Fig. 6. Stem cut open, showing larval workings { x I3). Fig. 7. Pupa, magnified ( x 8). Fig. 8. Adult beetle ( x U). Fig. 9. Pair of beetles (x li). Fig. 10. Beetle, side-view ( x 5). Fig. 11. Beetle, dorsal view (x5). Fig. 12. Chalcidid parasite { x 10). rROCEEDIXGS OF THE THIPD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 321 Before leaA-ing beetles, I may add a few remarks ou the following insects which have already been noted as injurious, just to point out their present status in view of our further knowledge of these insects. Pempheres affinis. This insect has within the past tW'O or three years distributed itself with Cambodia cotton into tracts where it was not found till now — viz., Madura, Ramnad and Tinnevelly districts. It appears that the weevil exists in different parts where no cotton is grown — for I noted the weevil on Hibiscus esculentus in North Malabar — and makes itself prominent with the introduction of cotton cultivation. The Hfe-history of the insect has been worked out and an account of it will be found in my paper on this insect in the Year Book of the Madras Department of Agri^cvlfure for 1918 (pp. 1—13) [Coloured plate exhibited]. Alcides bubo. (Plate 13). This insect continues to be a bad pest of Sesbania (agathi) in betel- vine gardens. The plants do not suffer much when they have grown 4 or 5 feet high ; but during the younger stages very serious damage is done. Two or three apjDlications of lead arsenate during the earlier stages at intervals of a fortnight checked the attack in the early stages. I am exhibiting a coloured plate showing the different stages of this pest. Two parasites Metastenomyia juliani, Gir., and Eurytoma pigra, Gir., have been noted on the grub ; but not to any great extent. In page 97 of the Madras Departmental Year-Book for 1917 is a short paper of mine on the egg-laying habits of this insect. Alcides affaber. This is a specific pest of gogu {Hibiscus camnabinvs) and is also found on Hibiscvs esculentus ; pretty bad occasionally. Alcides leopardus, 01., mentioned by Fletcher in his book, is api^arently a wrong identification for A. affaber, for I have never seen A. leopardus anywhere in Coimbatore. I, however, got some specimens of this latter species breeding on a wild plant in South Malabar a couple of years ago. Peltotrachelus pubes — a weevil noted in the Shevaroys on orange This is a minor pest only. Apoderus tranqiiebaricus. Recently this insect has been noted in numbers on tender shoots and leaves of mango trees in Chittur and adja- cent mango tracts. (Reference to my note in Bulletin of Second Hundred Notes). Pachytychius mungcnis, originally noted on green-gram, is also found on dhaincha as a pretty bad pest, causing prominent swelhngs of the stem. Olenecamptus bilobus (Plate 10, figure /<), though noted by Lefroy in his Indian Insect Life, is not in Fletcher's book. It is sufficiently important to be grouped as a pest. I have noted this doing damage to cultivated figs in Krishna, Bangalore, and other places. It was once noted on pomegranate also in Salem, Coimbatore. y2 322 TROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETIKG Apomecyna perotteti (Plate 9, figure c) has recently been noted in Godavari and Vizagapatam districts as a pretty bad pest of cucurbits, especially of the vegetable called dondekaya in Telugu. Among Bruchids of economic importance the following might be noted. — Bruchus analis — on stored pulses, B. theobromce — breeding on red-gram in the fields. B. chinensis — both in the fields and in the store room. Other unidentified species are, one species breeding on lab lab in the fields, one on cow-pea also in the field, and another from agathi {Sesbania) pods in the field. The correct identification of these species is a matter of great importance, as confusion is sure to arise. Xyleborus foniicatus (PI. 14) was once noted pretty bad on a species of red garden castor plant in Bangalore. Being a well-known pest of tea and other plants in Ceylon, and this being the first record of it in the Plains, it is necessary that the progress of this pest should be watched carefully. The Bostrichid, Rhizopertha dominica, which was till now considered a minor pest of stored cereals, has during the past two or three years proved a serious pest of stored paddy. This was the case in the Coro- mandel districts two years ago. The weevil, Tylopholis ballardi, mentioned in Marshall's Fauna volume, has been noted attacking Bengal gram in Bellary, but has not been noted as serious. Lepidoptera. Chilades laius. This Lycsenid is occasionally noted doing damage to Citrus shoots in the Northern Circars. Parata alexis. The larva of this Skipper is found sporadically in numbers attacking the foliage of Pongamia glabra, a tree the leaves of which are largely used for green-manure in wet-lands. Psychidce. Among bag-worms we often have louble with some species. One is sometimes found on castor in Coimbatore (probably Psyche viirea). and another on fruit-trees in the Northern Circars, especially on Sapota. Contheyla rotunda. A sporadic serious pest of coconut trees on the South Malabar coast. It has also been noted by Mr. Ans ead as a pest of tea in the Hills. (See my paper on this insect, p. 91, Madras Depart- mental Year -Book 1917.) Natada nararia was once found as a bad pest of the garden hedge plant, Pithecolobium dulce, in Coimbatore. Page 322. PLATE 14. --^, m IP m& M a. ^^'^X%Ti7bef£^^^^^^^^ castor-stem at Bangalore, a, caster stem Dorea oy oeeties , h, eggs 16 ; r, larva 20 ; 24. PLATE ^ 1^ M' CIRPHIS ALBISTIGMA. EXPLANATION OF PLATE 15. Cirphis albistiyma . Fiy. 1. Eggs laid on paddy leaf, magnitied. Fig. 2. Larva, first instar ( x 4o). Fig. o. Larva, second instar ( X 25). Fig. 4. Larva, third instar { X 13). Fig. 5. Larva, fifth instar ( X 8). Fig. 0. Larva, sixth instar (xJ). PLATE. 16. CIRPHIS ALBISTIGMA. EXPLANATION OF PLATE 16. Civjih is a Ihistiqm a . Fig. 1, Pupa, magnified (X 5). Fig. 2. Moth, male, magnified ( x 2i), Fig. '.i. Moth, female, magnified ( x 24). PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 32-3 Butea Limacodid. A stout spiny caterpillar similar to Parasa but bigger in size. Moth grey with ochraceous markings. Found defoliating Butea frondosa in the Bolampatty forests, Coimbatore, Carea suhtilis (Plate 10, figs. /, A-) very common on Eugenia jambolana in different parts. The caterpillar with the swollen anterior portion is easily made out. A parasite has been noted on this, Tumidicoxoides jambolana, Gir MS. Cirphis alhistiyma (Plates 15, 16). A pretty bad pest of ripening paddy. The caterpillar is the chmbing caterpillar ^ of paddy of the Coromandel coast, appearing generally after the heaVy North-East Monsoons, January to February. The caterpillar cuts down the ripening ear-heads. Adisura atkinsoni. A Noctuid borer of Jab lab pods. Veiy common in Coimbatore and the Northern Circars during the cold weather. (See Year Book of Madras Department, 1917, p. 87, for Mr. Y. Ramachandra Rao's paper on its life-history). Euzophora flmnbeifasciella has been found breeding "nside wood- apple fruits. Ephestia cauteUa, on stored groundnut pods ; the caterpillar bores into the pod and eats the seeds. Often bad in stores of unshelled ground- nuts. Heterographis bengalella, a Pyralid with ohve greenish upper wings. Larva found inside the fruits of custard apple. Corcyra cephalonica. The stored rice meal-worm. Very common in South India. Found on rice and meal of all cereals. Chrysanthemum caterpillar. A small green caterpillar was found once pretty bad on cultivated chrysanthemum in Madura. The moth is of medium size and has ochraceous wings. Probably a species of Hypargyria (Pyralidae). Brachmia effera, Meyr. The small caterpillar folds the leaf of sweet- potato ; has not become serious yet. Laspeyresia leucostoyna. Found near Kateri and Coonoor on the Nilgiris. The caterpillar feeds on the leaf of tea. Cyphosticha ccerulea. The pinkish small caterpillar mines into the leaf tissue of lab lab and produces a sort of prominent white blister en the leaf. Pretty bad in Coimbatore and Malabar. Phthorimcea blapsigona. A common pest of brinjal buds in South India. A species of Microbracon is found as a parasite of this caterpillar. PhyUocnistis toparcha, Meyr. The larva mines into grape-vine leaves and the mine is seen in the form of glistening wavy lines on the leaf in Coimbatore. Acrocercops syngramma, Meyr., on tender mango leaves, Madras. 324 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Sylepta lunalis was found in numbers on grape in November 1917 in Coimbatore. Pupa inside leaf fold. The Ragi ear-head worm. This is a slender elongated caterpillar found on the ripening ear-heads of the ragi plant. Sometimes appre- ciable damage is done to the ears. The Saturniad moth, Actias selene, has been noted as a regular pest defoliating Oclin-a ivodier trees in Coimbatore for the past two or three years. (See my note in the Bombay Journal, XXIII, p. 792). The following are already known pests among Lepidoptera ; but I have added some extra information regarding their status. Dfcnsia obliqua. This Arctiad has not been recorded till now from SoutK' India. It is found on sweet-potato and Lantana in Malabar. On the Wynaad Hills I found it on a variety of other plants. Orgyia fostica is found to be a pretty bad pest of castor in Coimbatore. A coloured plate of its stages is herewith exhibited. (Plate 17.) Euproctis fraterna has been noted on rose, doing serious damage in South Malabar. It is also found on pomegranate. A coloured plate is exhibited herewith. Prodenia litura. Noted bad on Colocasia in Tanjore and was recently noted on onions in Coimbatore. Dichocrocis punctiferalis on arrow-root plant in North Malabar. Hyhloea puera is often serious on Millingtonia and Bignonia. Laphjgma exigua has been noted on coriander at Coimbatore. DiPTERA. Fachydiplpsis oryzce. This is noted as a very important and serious pest, chiefly in the Northern Circars, Tanjore and Ramnad chstricts. The fly is found breeding on other Graminaeee also. It is known as Anaikomhu in Tamil districts. Bitter-gourd gall-fly, (PL 18). The distal tender shoots of the bitter-gourd plant often develop a long gall and the growth of the plant is much afiected by the maggot found inside the gall. The Cumbu fly. This is also a Cecidomyiad noted on cumbu in Coimbatore. An Anthomyiad has been noted on tomato also. Among fruit-flies we have a few species of Bactrocera, Clioetodacus etc., affecting mangoes, guavas, etc.: — Chcetodacus fenugineus incisus, on guava. Bangalore. Bactrocera camlata. On snake-gourd, Coimbatore. Dacus brevistylus, on water-melon, Cuddapah. Dacus longistylus, on Calotropis. Carpomyia vesuviana, Coimbatore, on ber fruit. EXPLANATION OF PLATE 17. Orgyia 'postica. Mass of eggs, natural size. Egg, magnified ( x 13). Newly-hatolied iarva. magnified. FuU-srown larva, natural size. „ „ „ magnified {x2i). Cocoon, natural size Pupa, magnified ( X 2h). 8. Female moth, natural size. „ ,, magnified (Xlj). 10. Male moth, magnified { x 2h). Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. Fig. 0. Fig- 6. Fig. 7. Fig. 8. Fig. 9. Fig. 10. x,. £. \ / .- X^!"' ••Ti.---. •^" 1 3 10 npr.viA pn=;Tir.A Page 324{2). PLATE 18. CO X IS E o W) bt> a E bA C S o >» x: c « _^ >« c w a> CJ a. o a> •4^ _c rj > u Q ■o — ^ t:; n be 6 ♦. 6J) 1 ^ S^ a> ■ «i ■+-» w 5 TS bO o s 3 o O E a> •>* Page 325. PLATE 19. Fig. 1 .—Purohita sp. x 5. (The smaller outline figure shows the natural size.) fefSXswJ*" Fig. 2.— Woolly Aphid on bamboo ; a. Aphids clustered on bamboo shoot ; h, yourg Aphid >,40 ; r, wingless adult 13 ; f/, winded adult ,\11. PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD E]S TOMOLOGICAL MEETING 325 Teak leaf-gall. Throughout the West Coast, teak leaves are found covered with numerous gall-like formations with hairy out-growths on the lower surface. I beheve the galls are caused most probably by a gall-fly ; I even got bright pi nlc- coloured maggots crawling out of these but have not succeeded in rearing out the adults. Mr. Stebbing in his book on Indian Forest Insects, p. 120, thinks that the gall is due to a Cucujid beetle, Silvanus advena. This has to be verified, Rhynchota, Two or three species or Coptosoma have been noted as swarming on different plants in South India. These are — Coptosoma nazirce (Plate 10. figure /). On most vegetables such as cluster-beans, Hibiscus, etc., and mango shoots. Coptosoma ostensum, Dist., a minute light-yellowish-green species found by the thousand on young shoots and leaves of Butea fromlosa in the forest around Coimbatore in December. The black oval shining Pentatomid, Brachyplatys vahlii, is often found in numbers in company with the common Coptosoma crihraria on agathi (Sesbania). Vitellus orientalis (Plate 10, figure i) is a large greenish Pentatomid with sharp prothoracic spines which has been noted as puncturing orange fruits in Kurnul. The effect of the puncturing appears to hasten rotting and also attraction for fungi. It has to be verified whether the real injury is done by these or fruit-sucking Noctuids of the genus Ophideres. The Lygccid bug, Nijsius i)iconspiciius. is often found bad on growing gingelly in South Kanara during the months of February-April. Helopeltis {theivora'^) on tea in Piimaad and Travancore, and Mcga- coelum stramineum, found in company with Calocoris angustatus (see Year Book Madras Department, 1917, p. 83, for a paper by Mr. Ballard), are the Capsids of importance. PuroUta sp. (PI. 19, fig. 1). A pale-greyish bug found in some numbers at the stem of growing bamboo, especially between the stem and the sheaths. The mealy mass of eggs is very commonly found in that place also ; Coimbatore. Curry Leaf-hopper. A minute active Fulgorid found in numbers doing appreciable damage to the curry-leaf plant, Murraya Tcoenigi, in Coimbatore and Malabar. Clovialineaticollis (Plate 10, figure m). Common on jak shoots and tender leaves all over Malabar. Due to the attack the leaves curl up ; often inside these curls nymphs enclosed in frothy matter are also found. * Helopeltis anionii is perhaps intended. [Editor ] 326 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Of mealy-wings we have chiefly the Dialeurodes eugenice on Eugenia and Aleurodids on Bassia and Citrus. Of plant-Uce pests we have several, and of these the chief are those found on cotton, tobacco, Citrus, lab lab, cow-pea and cliolam. Bamboo ^Voolly Aphis. On bamboo we occasionally find a species of woolly aphis coming in large colonies (PI. 19, fig. 2). It is not the same as Fletcher's fig. 392. The Coconut Aphis [Cerataphis lataniw), Fletcher's fig. 393, has not been noted since. Coming to Scales and Mealy-bugs there are a good many species of importance. In a paper I prepared for the Session of the Indian Science Congress held at Lahore in 1918, I hsted 32 species of Coccids having some economic importance. Though all these are not bad pests at present, some of them are really important. Of these mention might be made here of the following. Pulvinaria maxima, Gr., a bad pest of nhn trees {Melia azadirachta). Ceroplastodes cajani, on lab lab stems and Ocimum ; often bad. Anomalococcus indica, Gr., on babul {Acacia arabica). Pseudococcus sacchari. Bad on paddy. The disease is called Scorai novu in Tamil and often reported from Tanjore, Trichinopoly and Madura districts. Fields badly attacked show the infestation patches here and there. Phenacoccus insolitus. Bad on brinjal plants, Madras, Coimbatore, etc.. Ripersia sacchari. On sugarcane stems. This is the commonest species of mealy-bug on cane, and is different from Pseudococcus sacchari. Icerya cegyfliaca. On jak, Malabar and Nilgiris. This is the species to which I referred at the last meeting (p. 152 of Report). Hemichionasins asqndisirai. On pepper in Malabar, and also on Ficus leaves elsewhere. Aspidiotus tamarindi. On tamarind. Coimbatore etc. Phenacoccus iceryoides. On mango ; in Coimbatore, Northern Circars and Tanjore. Pseudococcus corymbatus. On cotton, mango and jak. In different places. Aspidiotus aurantii. On rose, Malabar. Aspidiotus curcumw or hartii. On turmeric rhizomes at Coimbatore. . Pseudococcus longispinus ? Bad inside leaf-sheaths of young coconut trees ; Coimbatore, Malabar and South Kanara. Orthoptera. Among grasshoppers no new pest of any importance has been noted.. The wingless grasshopper, Crihacris sp., was however found pretty bad Pa^e 327. PLATE 20. f\y^ a^A^2, Vancluetothrips imUca, Bg!l., on ar/cw-root leavas. PROCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 327 Oil mulberry plots in Kollegal more than once. And on one occasion surface-grasshoppers of the genera Moloims and (Edaleus were noted very bad in paddy nurseries in one village in the Coimbatore district. Thysanoptera. Very little attention has been paid till now to the insects of this group and there is little on record regarding their economic importance.* In South India the following species have been noted so far, as having some economic importance : — Oti paddy. Tlirij)s {Bagnallia) oryzw on seedlings in many parts of the Province. Pretty bad sometimes. (Some p. 353, Bulletin of Entomo- logical Research, 1915, for description of this species by Williams). On turmeric and arrowroot. PanchcefotJiri'ps indicus, Bagn. (Plate 20). On turmeric in Coimbatore and on arrow-root in Malabar. Not serious. On onion. Heliothrips indicus, Bgl. Bad sometimes in Northern Circars. On grape-vine. Bliifi'phorotliri'ps cruentatum, Hood. On tender graj)e-\ane leaves. Turns the leaves pale brown. Found in numbers on the foliage at certain seasons. On Minniso'ps elengi. Arrhenothrips ramahrishnce, Hood, (Plate 99). Very serious on this garden plant in Coimbatore. The leaves are very badly twisted and galled. Thrips of sorts have also been noted doing some damage to chillies, indigo, etc., in different parts of the country. On groundnut. — In the Palur farm a species of Thrips was once rej^orted doing serious damage. Just a few words regarding non-hexapod pests of some importance may not be out of place before I close. Small Mites of sorts have been noted occasionally bad on cotton, cliolam, castor and coconut ; those on cliolam and cotton have often been found to do appreciable damage. The others among non-hexapods are the eel-worms. I have seen young tea-seedUngs and pepper-vines suffer from the attacks of eel- worms. In one or two places eel-worms appeared bad on pepper in the Wynaad last November [1918]. The question of crabs on paddy seedlings has become well-known and needs no further remarks from me. As already stated in the beginning, my chief idea in getting this list prepared was to gather more information regarding all or any of these from observations made by my colleagues in other parts of India so that * In another paper I have prepared for this Meeting, I have dealt at some length on our present knowledge of this group (See pp. 618-621). 328 I'ROCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING our information regarding these forms may be kept as up-to-date as possible. Mr. Fletcher. This paper forms quite a useful supplement to my book on South Indian Insects, wkich, as I noted at the time, was only to be taken as an incomplete and prehminary introduction to the study of the insect pests of Southern India. I hope that the Madras Dejoartment will give us a further interesting supplement at the next Meeting. 4._N0TE ON THE MORE IMPORTANT INSECT PESTS OF PLANTING DISTRICTS OF SOUTH INDIA AND THE METHODS OF CONTROL USED, 1917-18. Bij Rudolph D. Anstead, M.A., Deputy Director of Agriculture, Planting Districts. The author of this Note is in no sense of the term an Entomologist and the Note is merely intended to be an indication of the methods adopted on estates in Southern India to control some of the more import- ant insect pests. From this point of view it is hoped that it may be of interest to the members of the Entomological Meeting, but the author is seeking for information rather than trying to impart it. Coffee. Coccus viridis. A Bulletin on the subject has been pubhshed by Coleman and Kannan {Mysore Department of Agriculture, Entomological Series, No. 4, 1918). The form of this scale-insect which occurs in Mysore is considered to be a new species and has been named Coccus colemani. Certain species of Ants — Cremastogaster sp. and Plagiolepis longipes — are found to play an important role in the distribution of the scale. Nests of Cremastogaster on coffee estates are found crowded with scales in September and it is found that if the ants' nests are removed the infection of the trees is considerably diminished. In fact, the destruc- tion of ants' nests has now become part of the regular control measures adopted on estates. The most important natural checks of the scale are two species of fungi, Cephalosporium lecanii, which frequently kills off more than 90 per cent, of the scales in coffee estates during wet weather, and Empusa lecanii, which is usually found attacking the scale during the early part of the cold weather. The pest is most troublesome in years when the North-East monsoon is scanty and a long period of dry weather succeeds it. Dispersion is largely effected by wind, the young scale insects being blown as far as PROCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 329 450 feet. It is also carried about by game birds, and can be spread from field to field b^^ passing coolies who carry young scales on their clothes. The artificial methods of control adopted are the removal of ants' nests, and spraying and brushing with fish-oil-resin soap used at the rate of 1 lb. of soap to 2 gallons of water. Dispersal of the fungi mentioned above is encouraged by tying branches containing them to trees free from them. These methods when conscientiously carried out are highly efficient and no fear is now felt of the pest causing the damage to coffee in Mysore and Coorg which it did in the Nilgiris, w^here it was neglected, rendering the cultivation of coffee to be unprofitable and necessitating its replace- ment by tea. Saissetia JiemisphcBrica, Pidvinaria fsidii, and other scales are always to be found on coffee estates but these are ea,sily controlled by periodical spraying. Pseudococcvs (Dactyhpius) citri, a Mealy-bug scale which attacks the roots of young coffee. is still a bad pest, especially in South Coorg and some parts of Mysore. Tlus scale is also found on the roots of certain shade trees, particularly Erijthrina litJwsperma, and on some weeds. So trouble- some is it in infected land that unless some precautionary measures are taken it is impossible to raise young plants. At the beginning of the dry weather it is usual to see young plants, either in new clearings or supplies, suddenly wilt and die. On pulling them up they are found to have lost all their feeding roots except a small tuft set out at the collar which have kept the plant alive so long as the surface soil was wet, while the bark is also eaten into by the scales. As soon as the surface soil dries out with the advent of the dry weather the plant dies. A similar effect is produced by the larvae of a species of Cockchafer, Holotricliia conferta, which in some years is very troublesome and appears in very large quantities. These insects were very prevalent in 1912 and there are signs of their recurrence again on a wide scale now. In such years the soil is full of the larvae and the pits round a dead coffee-plant may contain half-a-dozen of them. Against both these pests Apterite has been found effectual. Apterite • was obtained before the war from Messrs. Cooper Nephews and appears to consist of a mixture of crude naphthaline and j)ink carbohc powder. It is a soil disinfectant and was recommended as a top dressing for new land put under the plough in England during the war in the Journal of the Board of Agriculture (England) although the reason was not stated. If this disinfectant is applied at the rate of 2 cwt. per acre, or if a shallow trench about an inch deep is made in a ring round the young plants about six inches to a foot away from the stem and an ounce of apterite is placed ' 330 rROCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING in the trench and covered with soil, complete protection is afforded to the plants, and young clearings have been i-uccessfully raised in this way in places where before it was found impossible to grow them. Care must be taken that the young feeding roots do not come in actual contact with the apterite or they will be damaged, hence the reason for making the trench some little distance away from the plant to be protected, outside the root range. During the war it has been impossible to obtain apterite from England and stocks in the country were soon exhausted. Messrs. Parry & Co., Madras, however, came to the rescue and manufactured a substitute under the trade name " Ranicide " which appears to act quite as well. The price of naphthaline, however, caused the cost of this material to be very high. Xylotrechus quadrifes, the coffee borer, is still troublesome. The most efficient remedy so far discovered is to scrub the stems of the bushes in October-November with coconut husk to destroy and dislodge the eggs which are laid in the crevice and under loose pieces of bark. Dr. Coleman^ the Director of Agriculture in Mysore, has pubhshed the results of some work done with methods of control of this insect. Tea. Of tea pests HelofeUis continues to be the worst insect pest and no new remedies have been found for it. A combination of spraying, pruning large areas at one time down wind, burning the prunings, and hand-catching are employed and these give a certain measure of control, but do not materially help to stamp out the pest. Its attacks are most severe in the monsoon which renders all work in connection with it difficult and spraying out of the question. Of other pests there have been small sporadic outbreaks of the cater- pillars "of Thosea cervina which were easily controlled by hand-picking and collection of cocoons and cultivation of the soil round the affected bushes after the cocoons had been formed in it. Caterpillars and cocoons were sent me on 20th August 1917 and from these moths began to emerge in the laboratory at Bangalore on 3rd January 1918. Some specimens of a bark-eating borer have been recently received which are said to do a certain amount of damage. This appears to be a species of Arbela but more specimens are required for identification purposes. This pest is still under investigation and I have no notes at present of any value about it. Aspidiotvs camellice, the yellow bark-louse, a scale which used to give- a considerable amount of trouble in young tea, especially in replanted TROCEEDINGS OF THE TIIIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 331 coffee land, has not of late done much damage and it is found to be controllable by means of fish-oil-resin sprays. Caterpillars of Coniheyla rotunda did a little local damage to tea in the Wynaad in 1917 and specimens of caterpillars of Terias silhetana in Mundakavam attacked Albizzias and the tea beneath them. Both attacks were easily controlled. Rubber. Rubber continues free from insect pests. All the diseases of import- ance are due to fungal attacks. Fruit. An interesting beetle attacking Citrus trees — Oranges and Limes — at Bangalore has come under observation lately. This is Chelidonium cinctiim the larvae of which bore the young shoots and old stems and do a large amount of damage. The following observations and notes may prove of interest : — The eggs are deposited in June in the axils of young living twigs (never on dead wood or on old branches). The eggs are covered with a sort of yellow transparent varnish. As soon as the eggs hatch the young larva bores into the t^ig and works upwards for about |-1| inches and then makes two tiny holes about the size of a pin's head. It then turns back and bores down the twig occasionally making small openings. Finally it gets into the main branches where it makes tunnels I inch in diameter. The young twigs at once che, turning black so that they are easily seen and they can be cut off with the larvse inside them. By doing this and by catching the adult insects with handnets the attack was to a large extent controlled. The time taken after deposition for the eggs to hatch appears to be about two weeks. Miscellaneous. The larva of a Tiger Beetle was found in the Shevaroys in December 1917 boring into the tops of young coffee stems. It enters the stems about 9 inches from the top and makes a tunnel upwards some 2 inches long. An attempt to raise the perfect insect in captivity failed and the insect has not been seen since. Stegodi/pJms sarasinorum, a spider wliich makes long bags in which to live, is sometimes found in tea bushes where it is untidy but of course does no harm. 332 TROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING The' following special notes on insects have been pubUshed in the pages of the Planters Chronicle during 1917-18 : — r. Fletcher. ( Vol. XI, p. 622. (. » XIT, p. 14. XII. pp. 579, 608 XII, p. 594. XITI, p. 9a XIII, p. 426. XIII, p. 588. XIII, p. 465. Tiger Beetle Borer of Coffee Coffee Borer . . . . A swarm of Ochrophara montana Insects in Vegetable Gardens Bees and Pollination Helopeliis on tea Spiders in Tea Bushes This paper is now open for discussion, and in the first place I should like to say that we are considerably indebted to Mr. Anstead for giving us this summary of the insect pests which he has come across in the Planting Districts of South India during the last two years. In speaking of Pseiidococcus citri he mentions a loss of feeding-roots of young cofEee-plants as due to this scale which is also described as eating into the bark. As this scale is a sucking insect, it could not eat away the roots or eat into the bark, and this type of injury is presumably due to cockchafer grubs. 5.— A LIST OF LEPIDOPTERA NOTED TO ATTACK CULTIVATED PLANTS IN CEYLON. Bij R. Senior- White, F.E.S. NYMPHALIDiE. Hypolimnas holina. Neptis eurynome. Canavalia gladiata, Vigna catjang. Melaniiis ismene. Sorghum, Panicum maximum. Parasitized by a Tachinid. Danais plexippus. Sfephanotis sp. (U. R. 3.) Ficus parasitica, Carissa carandas. Telchinia violce. Passi flora fcetida. Papilionid^e. Papilio demoleus. Citrus spp., Feronia elephanium. Papilio agamemnon. Anona muricata. Papilio pammon. Citrus spp., Murraya kcenigii. Papilio parinda. Citrus sp. - . Papilio aristolochice. Aristolochia sp. PlERID.E. Terias hecabe. Cassia fistula. PEOCEEDINGS OF THE TIUltD EMTOilOLOGICAL MEETING 333 LYCiENID^. Cotochrysops cnejiis. Vigna catjang. J amides bocJnis. Vigna catjang. Chilades la ins. Feronia elephantum. Spalgis epiiis. Pseudococcus sp. on Solanum sp. HESPEEIADiE. Hesperia gaJba. Hibiscus sp. (holly liock). EUPTEROTID^. Eupterote geminata. Erythriva indica, Theobroma cacao, Cajamis indicus. Parasitized by Tachinid. Sphingid.e. Bhyncolaba acteus. CaUadium vars. Parasitized hy Tachinid. Chcerocampa iheylia {vinacea).* Balsamifera impatiens ; very bad in November only. Chcerocampa theylia.'f " Pach-arisi-piUu " (Tamil). Tliis plant is a bad dry-weather weed in rubber. Nephele hespera. Carissa carandas. Deilephila nerii. Vinca sp., Oleander spp. Acherontia lachesis. Erythrina indica, Solanum melongena, Caqjsicum spp. Parasitized by Tachinid. Acherontia styx. Solanum 7nelongena. Very rare in Matale District. Herse convolvuli. Vigna catjang. NOTODONTID^. Stauropus alternus. Cajanus indicus. Syntomid^. Synfomis jyassalis. Phaseolus vulgaris, Capsicum spp. Kohlrabi, Daisy vars, Trichosanthes anguina. Parasitized by two species of Tachinids. Syntomis cyssea. Ipomcea rubro-ccerulea. Thyridid^. Dysodia ignita. Croton aromaticus. Lasiocampid^. Suana concolor. Psidium guyava, Cajanus indicus, Hibiscus rosa» sinensis. Attacked by a Phorid parasite. * The species here referred to as C. theylia {vinacea) is presumably Hippotion raffleai, Butl. (See Roths and Jordan, Eevis Sphing., p. 755.) — Editor. t The species hero referred to as G. theylia is presumably Hippotion hoerhavioe. Fab. (vido loc-cit p. 751)). The true Sphinx thyelia of Linnaeus is a South American Xylophan&n. — Editor. 334 VROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING LlMACODID^. Altha lacteola. Carissa carandas. Thosea cana. Rose. Narosa consfersa. Feronia elefhantmn. Lymantriad^. Dasychira fusiformis. Pelargonium vars, Ccnma sp., Citrus sp., rose, Vigna catjang, C. carandas, Kohl-rabi, Solanum melongena, Phaseolus mungo, Cajamis indicus, Antigonon sp., Moringa 'ptery- gosferma. Dasychira divisa. Daisy vars, Amaryllid lily. Dasychira mendosa. Vigna catjang. Dasychira horsfieldi. Vigna catjang. Dasychira sp. (? mendosa). Solanum melongena, Citrus sp., Acalypha sp. Lymantria ampla. Pelargonium vars, Theobroma cacao. Begonia sp., Carissa carandas, rose, Quisqualis indica, Cajanus indicus. Orgyia postica. Pelargonium vars, Erythrina lithosperma, Vigna catjang, Canna sp., P. graiissima, Cajanus indicus, Solanum melon- gena, mangosteen. Lcelia exclamationis. Canna sp. Eiiproctis scintillans. Rose, Daisy vars. Capsicum sp,, Cajanus indicus. Euproctis fraterna. Citrus sp., Feronia elephantum. Pelargonium vars, Solanum melongeyut, rose. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Para- sitized by a Tachinid. Euproctis semisignata. Quisqualis indica. Psych iD^. Acanthopsyche cana. Hevea brasiliensis. A. punctimarginalis. Bred on Algse on bamboo. (AO. 2.) Anona muricata. Failed to rear out. Bad pests. (PO.) Antigonon sp. Failed to rear out. Bad pests. Clania crameri. Cajanus indicus. Arctiad^. Estigmene lactinea. Onion, kohl-rabi, beet. Pericallia ricini. Solanum melongena, Phaseolus vulgaris, Cohcasia sp., Oleander, kohl-rabi, rose, Cajanus iridicus, mustard, Momor- dica charantia, Luffa acutangula. Parasitized by a Tachinid. Pisara lucidalis. Carissa carandas. / Selca plagiola. Solanum melongena. Nyctemora lacticinia. Vernonia emeria, a bad weed. Feeds mainly on seed heads. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 335 NOCTUIDJE. Glottiila dominlca. Amaryllis spp. Polytela glorioscp. Amaryllis spp., Gloriosa sicperha. Plusia. (Co. 6). Daisy vars. [? P. limhirena). Plvsia orichalcea, Kohl-rabi, carrot, Pimpinella afiisum. Plusia ogramma. Trichosanthes angnina. Plusia chalcytes. Onion, Zinnia, Solanum melongena, dahlia. Plusia ohtusisigna. Coleus sp. Cosmojihila imlica. Hibiscus sp. (hollyhock), H. rosa-sinensis. Achcpa melicerte. Rose. Ophmsa coronata. Quisqualis indica. Plotheia nephelotis. Solaymm melongena. Chloridea ohsoleta. Pelargonium vars, Dianotus sp., Canna sp.^ Hibiscus escnlentns. Chloridea assvlfa. PJiysolis peruviana. Prodenia litura. Solanum lycopersicnm, S. melongena, Capsicum spp.. Petunia, onion, cabbage, carrot, beet, Balsam, impatiens, Zinnia, Canna sp., Gossypiion sp. (Cambodia), P. gratissima, Dioscorea sp., Colocasia sp., mustard. Pelargonium vars, H. esculentus, Momordica charantia, Begonia vars, Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna catjang. Eublemma olivacea. Solanum, melongena. Eublemma scitula. Pseudococci on C. carandas. Acontia transversa. Hibiscus esculentus, H. sp. (hollyhock). Euplexia opposita. Carrot, Daisy var. Panilla albopimctata. Polyporus zonalis (hymenium surface only). Amyna sehnampha. Croton aromaticus. Hypena cognata. Lantana. Lacera alope. CcEsaljnnia sappan. Farias chromataria. Hibiscus sp. (hollyhock). Earias fabia. Hibiscus esculentus. Remigia frugcdis. Panicum maximum. (Z. A. 3.) Hirneola hispidula. Beara dichromella. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Geometrid^. Craspedia fibulata. Kohl-rabi, Petunia, Dendrobium macarfhicB, Calanthe vestita, Pimpiuella cinisum, spinach. Craspedia remotata. Gnaphalium sp. " Ponnandey Kirey " (Tam) garden edging plant, Hyposidra talaca. Salvia sp., Peltophorum ferrugineum, Canna sp. Zinnia sp., rose, Solanmn melcmgena, Ccesalpinia sappan, Vigna catjang. VOL. I z y 33C I'ROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Gymnoscelis cdbicaudata. Hibiscus sp. (hollyhock). Thalera caudularia. Antigonon sp. Boarmia acaciaria. Cassia fistula. Boarmia bhurmitra. Solanum melongena, Cajmcum sp. Pseudoter'pna Mora. Cajanus indicus. Cidaria cingala. Balsam, imfatiens. Nemoria integranota. Cajanus indicus. Thalassodes veraria. Kose. Pyralid^e. Hymenia fascialis. Celosia sp., beet. Hellula iindalis. Kohl-rabi, turnip, cabbage, mustard. Glyphodes bivitralis. Ficus religiosa, F. glomerata. Glyphodes indica. Trichosanthes anguina, melon vars. Terastia meticulosalis. Erythrina lithos'perma. Sylepta derogata. Hibiscus esculentus, H. sp. (hollyhock), H. rosa- sinensis, Gossypium sp. (Cambodia). Lepyrodes geometralis. Jasmine. , Nephopteryx minutella. Solamim melongena. Crocidolomia binotalis. Kohl-rabi, cabbage, mustard, Capsicum sp. (Cut- worm). Parasitized by a Tachiuid. Myelois pectinicornella. Theobroma cacao. Epicrocis lateritialis. Beleropone sp. Pachjzancla (Bgrotalis. S. melongena, S. indicum ? Nacoleia indicata. Anona ynuricata. A- single occurrence between two small leaves. Larva dark blue from ingested food. Maruca testulalis. Phaseolus vulgaris vars. Leucinodes orbonalis. Solanum inelongena. Dichocrocis punctiferalis. Sorghnm (in heads). Lygropia quaiernalis. " Damunu,'' Singhalese (? Malvaceous.) Euzophera perticella. Solatium melongena. TiNEINA. Plutella maculij)ennis. Turnip, cabbage, mustard. Gelechia gossypiella. Gossypium sp. (Cambodia). Comocritis pieria. Heveabrasiliensis. 11th December 1918. Young larva found in No. 12. Evidently hatched within last few days. Webbing patch somewhat circular, but beginning to extend into usual line in large ears, usually upwards. Size of patch up to I" diameter. Cold weather a few days earlier. TORTRICID^. Adoxophyes privatana. Cajanus ii^dicus. (C. 0.). Dahha. troceedings of the third entomologjcal meeting 337 Pterophorid^. SpJienarches caffer. Pelargonium vars, Theobroma cacao. Sleganodactyla concursa. Lantana, Passiflora fcetida. 6.— A LIST OF PLANTS, WITH THEIR LEPIDOPTEROUS PESTS, m CEYLON. By R. Senior- White, F.E.S. ACANTHACE^. Beleropone sp. Epicrocis lateritialis. Amarantace^. Celosia sp. Hyn tenia fascialis. Amaryllid^. Cultivated species. Glottula dominica, Polytela gloriosce, Dasychira divisa. Anonace^. A. muricata. Papilio aga^nemnon, Psychid, Nacoleia indicata. Apocynace^. Carissa carandas. Allhg lacteola, Nephele hespera, Pisara litcidalis, Dasychira fusiformis, Lymantria ampla. Vinca sp. Deilephila nerii. Oleander spp. Deilephila nerii, Pericallia ricini. Aroide^. Calladium vars. Theretra actea. Colocasia sp. Pericallia ricini, Prodenia litura. Aristolochiace^. Aristolochia sp. Papilio arisfolochice. ASCLEPIADE^. Stephanotis sp. Adoxophyes privatana, Danais plexippus. Begoniace^. Cultivated vars. Lymantria ampla, Prodenia litura. Bromeliace^. Atuinas sativus. {Pseudococcus sp.). Chenopodiace^. Spinach. Craspedia fibulata. Beet. Hymenia fascialis, Estigmene lactinea, Prodenia litura, " Ponnandey-Kirey.''^ Craspedia remotata. Combretace^. Quisqualis indica. Euproctis semisignata, Lymantria ampla, Ophiusa coronatu. % 2 338 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING COMPOSITiE. Daisy vars. Dasychira divisa, Plusia (CO. 6), Syntomis fassalis^ Adoxojihyes privatana, Eiiflexia ojj^wsita. Gnaphalimn sp. Craspedia remotata. Chrysanthemum vars. Homona sp. Dahlia vars. Plusia chalcytes, Eufroctis scintillans. Zinnia vars. Hyposidra talaca, Plusia chalcytes, Prodenia litura. CONVOLVULACE^. Ifomcea rubro-coerulea. Syntomis cyssea. Crucifer^. Kohl-rabi. Hellula undalis, Craspedia fibulata, Crocidolomia bino- talis, Plusia orichalcea, Dasychira fusiformis, Syntomis passalis, Estigmene lactinea, Pericallia ricini. Turnip. Hellula undalis, Plutella macuUpennis. Cabbage. Hellula undalis, Crocidolomia binotalis, Plutella maculi- pennis, Prodenia litura. Mustard. Hellula undalis, Plutella macuUpennis, Pericallia ricini f Prodenia litura, C. binotalis. CUCURBITACE^. Trichosanthes anguina. Plusia agranmia, Glyphodes indica, Syntomis passalis. Melon vars. Glyphodes indica. M. charantia. Pericallia ricini, Prodenia litura. Luffa acutangula. Prodenia litura. DlOSCORACE^. Dioscorea sp. (" angili-ala "). Prodenia litura. Caryophyllace^. Dianthus sp. {Indian fruits). Chloridea obsoleta. EUPHORBIACE^. Hevea brasiliensis. Acanthopsyche cana, Comocritis pieria. Acalypha sp. Adoxophyes privatana, Dasychira {? meridosa). Croton aromaticus. Amyna selenamfha, Dysodia ignita. Geraniace^. Pelargonium vars. Homona sp., Dasychira iusiformis, Lymantria ampla, Sphenarches caffer, Prodenia litura, Orgyia postica, Euproctis ■ fraterna, Adoxophyes privatana, Chloridea obsoleta. Balsamifera impatiehs vars. Chcerocamjya theylia {vinacea),* Cidaria cingala, Prodenia litura. * See footnote on page 333. troceedings of the third entomological meeting 339 Gramine^. Sorghum. Melanitis ismene, DicJiocrocis punctif emits. P. maximwn. Melanitis ismene, Remigia frugalis. GUTTIFERiE. Mangosteeii. Orgyia postica. LABIATiE. Salvia sp. Hyposidra talaca. Coleus sp. Plusia ohtusisigna. Laurace^. P. gratisima (avocado). Orgyia postica, Prodenia lilura. Leguminos.^. Canavalia gladiata. Homona sp., Neptis eurynome. Vigna catjatig. Dasychira jusiformis, Orgyia postica, Catoc-Jirysops cnejns, Dasychira mendosa, Jamides hochus, Adoxophyrs privafana, Herse convolvuli, Dasychira horsfieldi, Neptis eurynome, Prodenia' litura, Hyposidra talaca. Phaseolus mungo. Dasychira fusifortms. Cajanus imJicus. Dasychira fusiformis, Orgyia postica, Pseudoterpna chlora, Stanropus alternus, Nemoria integranota, Enproclis scintil- lans, Pericallia ricini, Suana concolor, Clania crameri, Adoxophyes privatana, Lymantria ampla, Eupterote geminata. Erythrina spp. Orygia postica, Terastia fneticulosalis, Eupterote geminata, Acherontia lachesis. Peltophorum femigineum. Hyposidra talaca. Ccesalpinia sappan. Hyposidra talaca, Lacera alope. Phaseolus vulgaris vars. Syntomis passalis, Maruca testulalis, Pericallia ricini, Prodenia litura. Cassia fistula. Terias hecabe, Boarmia acaciaria. JjIUACEM. Glor iosa superba . Poly tela gloriosce. Onion. Estigmene lactinea, Plusia chalcytes, Prodenia litura. Malyacem. Hibiscus esculentus. Sylepta derogata, Acontia transversa, Earias fabia, Chloridea obsoleta. Hibiscus sp., (Hollyhock). Sylepta derogata, CosmophiJa indicu, Hesperia galba, Gymnoscelis cdbicaudata, Earias chro,nataria, Acontia transversa. Hibiscus rosa- sinensis. Sylepta derogata, Cosmophila indica, Beara dichromella, Euproctisfraterna, Suana concolor. Gossypium sp. (Cambodia). Sylepta derogata, Gelechia gossypiella, Prodenia litura. 340 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING MORING^. Moringa pterygosperma. DasycJiira fusiformis. Myrtace^. Psidium guyava. Suana concolor. Oleace^. Jasmine. Lepyrodes geometralis. Orchide^. Dendrobium macarthice. Craspedia jihulata. Calanthe vestita. Craspedia fibulata. Passiflorace^. P.fcetida. Homona sp. (CO 3), VB 2, ? Telchinia violce. POLYGALACE^. Antigonon sp. Thalera caudularia, Psychid, Dasychira fusiformis: KOSACE^. Roses. DasycJiira fusiformis, Lymantria ampla, Achcea melicerta, Euproctis scintillans, Thosea cana, Euprodis fraterna, Pericalliw ricini, Thalassodes veraria, Hyposidra talaca. RUTACE^'. Citrus spp. Dasychira fusiformis, Euproctis fraterna, Papilio demo- leus, Homona longipalpus, Papilio polytes, P. parinda, Dasychira sp. {? mendosa). Feronia elephantum.. Papilio demoleus, Chilades laius, Narosa conspersa, Euproctis fraterna. Murray a koenigii. Papilio polytes. SciTAMINEJi;. Canna vars . Dasychira fusiformis , Orgyia post ica , Hyposidra talaca, Lcelia exclamalionis, Prodenia litura, Chloridea ohsoleta. SoLANACEiE. Solanum melongena. Dasychira fusiformis, Orgyia postica, Hypo- sidra talaca, Acherontia lachesis, Plusia chalcytes, Euproctis fraterna, Plotheia nephelotis ? Pericallia ricini ? Nephopteryx minutella^ Pachyzancla cegrotalis, Prodenia litura, Eublemma olivaeea, Leuci- nodes orbonalis, Dasychira sp. {? mendosa), Selca plagiola, Acheron- tia Styx, Boarmia bhurmitra, Euzophera perticella. Petunia. Craspedia fibulata, Prodenia litura. Cap)sicum spp. Crocidolmnia binotalis, Syntomis passalis, Euproctis scintillans, Prodenia litura, Boarmia bhurmitra, Acherontia lachesis^ S. lycopersicum . Prodenia litura. Physalis peruviana. Chloridea assulta. S. indicum ? Pericallia ricini, Pachyzancla cegrotalis. rEOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 3il STERCULIACE^qi:. Theohroma cacao. Lijmantria ampla, Sphenarches cajfer, Chloridea obsoJeta, Myelois pectinicornella, Eupterote geminata. Umbelliffer^. PimpineUa anisum. Crasjiedia fibidata, Plusia orichalcea. Carrot, Plusia orichalcea, Prodenia litura, Euplexia opjJosifa. URTICACEiE. Ficus parasitica. Adoxo'phyes frivatana. Ficus religiosa. Glyphodes bivitralis. Ficus glomerata. Glyphodes bivitralis. Verbenace.e. Lcmtana. Hypena cognata, Steganodactyla concur sa. Fungi. Polypoi'us zonalis. Panilla albopunctata. Hrineola Mspidida. (ZA. 3) (also eaten by Ceropia induta, fide Fetch). 7.— A LIST OF THE PESTS OF CEREALS IN BURMA. By K. D. Shroff, B.A,, Entcnnological Assistant, Burma. Pest 1. Paddy. Spodoptera mauritia Cirphis nnipuncta . Psalis securis Melanitis ismene Parnctra mathias Nymphula depunctalis Nymphula fluclitosalis Ancylolomia chrysographdla Criaphalocrocis medinalis . Naranga diffusa Part ol the plant attacked Seedlings Leaves Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Remarks Major pest of irregular occur- rence. Major jiest of occasional occur- rence. Minor pest. Damage negli- gible. Ditto. Minor pest ; sometimes serious in small plots. Serious local pest in Lower Burma. Not yet reared. Moths are found flying in large num- bers in paddy fields in Lower Burma. Not serious. Ditto. Not serious ; more abundant in Lower Burma. Comes to light. i^^- 342 PEOCEEDIA'GS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 7.— A LIST OF THE PESTS OF CEREALS IN BVmiA—contd. Pest 1. — Paddy — contd Oxya velox Hispa armigera JSchoenobius bipunctifer Scirpophaga gilviberbis Sesamia infer ens (?) Stem-fly Menida histrio Leptocorisa varicornis Nephotettix bipunctatus Tettigoyiiella spectra Ripersia sacchari oryzoe 2, Sorghum, Maize, etc. Cirphis loreyi Laphygma exigua Psalis securis . Parnara mathias Telicota bambusae Marasmia trapezalis Epacromia tamulus . Part of the plant attacked Leaves . Do. . Stalk . Do. . Do. . Do. . Plant-juice Plant milk Plant-juice Do. Do. Leaves Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Remabks Reported Bhamo. senous from Major pest. Very serious. Major pest. Not yet reared. Moths are found flying in large num- bers in paddy iields in Lower Burma. Found for the first time at Hmawbi in 1918. I\Iinor pest ; status not yet determined. Minor pest of n,pt much im- portance. Minor pest ; more in evidence in Lower Burma; not so serious in this Province as in some parts in India. Minor pest ; damage negligible. Ditto. Minor pest but sometimes very serious. (See notes on Ms- cellaneous pests hereto attached.) Not very serious. Not serious. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Minor pest, not seriously in- jurious. Minor pesfc. PROCEEDIXGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 343 7.— A LIST OF THE PESTS OF CEREALS IN BVmiA—concld. Pest Part of the plant attacked Remarks. 1 2.— Sorghum, Maize, C07ltd. ETC. — Siiotroga cerealella . • Ear-heads Minor pest. Moth . • • Do. . Onoe found on an Indian juar. Moth (probably Stenachroia eJongella). Do. . Ditto. Fly . . . Stems of seedlings . Status not known. Thrips . Maize cobs Reported " serious " from the Pakokku Hills. Dolycoris indicus Plant-juice (Deve- loping grain). Minor pest. Aphids . Plant-juice Minor pest. Termites Roots . Minor pest ; damage sometimes perceptible. 3. Wheat. Psalis securis . • • Leaves . Not a serious pest. Termites • Roots . Minor pest ; sometimes pretty serious in some localities. Chafer grubs . • • Do. . Ditto. Macrosiphimi granarium • Juice Minor pest. 8.— A LIST OF THE PESTS OF PULSES IN BURMA. By K. D. Shroff, B.A., Entomological Assistant, Burma. Pest Pait of the plant attacked Remarks 1. Tub (Pe-sein-gon) (Cajanus indicus). Solenopsis geminata Leaves of seedlings . Jtinor pest. Flea beetles .... Do. Ditto. 344 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 8— A LIST OF THE PESTS OF PULSES IN BVmiA—contd. Pesfc 1. TUR (PE-SeIN-GON) (CjiJANUS iNDicus) — conld. ' Euproctis fraterna , Euproctis scintillans Nanaguna breviuscula Dasychira fasciformis Dasychira mendosa . Celama internella Caccecia micaceana . Green Geometrid moth Meranoplus bicolor . Zonabris pustulata . Thrips , Adisura atkinsoni . Heliothis obsoleta Catochrysops cnepis Sphenarches caffer . Maruca testulalis Etiella zinckenella . Agromyza sp. . Apion sp. Coptosoma cribraria Coptosoma sp. Cyclopelta obscura . Clavigralla gibbosa . Graptostethus servus Aphis (cardui ?) Part of the plant attacked Remarks Leaves Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Flowers Do. Seeds in pods Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Plant-juice Do. Do. Plant (unripe seeds in pods). Do. Shoots and pods Minor pest of not much import- ance. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Minor pest ; scarcely serious. Ditto. >Minor pests ; cause large aggregate damage. Minor pest ; not serious. Ditto. Ditto, Ditto. Ditto. Not very serious. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 345 8._A LIST OF THE PESTS OF PULSES IN BVmiA—confd. Pest 2. Gram. Eeliothis obsoleta Termites Chafer grabs . 3. MuNG (Pe-di-sein), Urid (Mat-pe). Azazia nibricarui Nacoleia vulgaris Diacrisia obliqua Maruca teslulalis Stem-borer Mylabris pnstitlata Copfosoma cribraria Coptosotna sp. Biptortus linearis Aphids 4. Beans (Dolichos lablab). Diacrisia obliqua Prodenia litura Cacoecia micaceana Nacoleia vulgaris Monolepta signata Epilachna dodecastigma Zonabris cichorii Part of the plant attacked Seeds in pods Roots . Do Leaves . Do. . Do. . Seeds in pods Shoots and stems Flowers Plant-juice Do. Pods (sacking) Pods and shoots Leaves Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Flowers Remarks General pest, rarely serious but causing a large aggregate damage. Minor pest ; sometimes serious. Ditto. Minor pest of not great importt- ance. Ditto. Major pest ; sometimes very serious. Minor pest. Minor pest ; not serious. Ditto. Ditto Ditto. Ditto; Minor pest ; sometimes serious. Major pest ; very serious. Minor pest, scarcely serious. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Minor pest ; status not known Mz. Fletcher. 346 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TIIIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 8.— A LIST OF THE PESTS OF PULSES IN BVF.:SIA—concJd, Pest 4. Beans (Dolichos lablab)- contd. Ilylabris pustulata . Etiella zinckenella . Maruca tesfulalis Sphenarches caffer . Coptosoma cribraria Clavigralla gibbosa . Riptortu-s linearis Aphids (sucking) 5. Cow Pea (Pe-litn). Meloid Beetle Miner . Etiella zinckemlla . Maruca testulalis Graptostetlms servus Riptorlus linearis Aphids . Part of the plant attacked Flowers Seeds in pods Do. Pods Plant-juice Juice of unripe seeds in pods. Juice (pods) . Shoots and pods Leaves and flowers Leaves . Seeds in pods Do. Pods (sucking) Do. Do. Remaeks Minor local sporadic pest. Minor sporadic pest. Minor pest. Ditto. Scarcely a pest. Minor pest. Minor pest ; not serious. Minor pest. Minor pest. Minor pest, but not serious. ►Minor pest, but cause an aggregate damage. ►Minor pests ; not serious. Very serious. This paper is open to discussion. It is unfortunate that Mr. Shroff has not been able to attend this Meeting, although we are indebted to him for sending us these lists of insect pests in Burma. The only remark I have to offer is that perhaps not too much reliance should be placed on the exact identification of some of the insects listed here. The name Dasychira fasciformis, for example, is based on an error in copying the name fiisiformis, which is probably the same as D. mendosa. The names of the Meloid beetles also require check. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 347 9.— A LIST OF THE PESTS OF OIL-SEED PLANTS IN BURMA. Bij K. D. Shroff, B.A., Entomological Assistant, Burma. Pest 1. Sesamum. Diacrisia obliqiia Acherontia styx Antigastra catalaunalis Aularches miliaris , Ayiomala antiQua Diacrisia obliqua Amsacta lactinea Prodenia litiira Ergolis merione Bopica honesta Dichocrocis pii nctiferalis Aleyrodes ricini 3. Linseed. Laphygma exigua . Part of the plant attacked Leaves . Do. . Do. . Do. . Do. Monolepfa signata . Do. . Termites .... Roots . Aphanus sordidus . Seed (sucking) 2. Castoe. Achcea Janata Leaves . Do. . Do. . Do. . Do. . Stem Seed-capsules Leaf- juice (sucking) Leaves . Remarks Sometimes very serious. Minor pest. Ditto. Reported Myingyan. serious from Found on leaves and cobs of maize also ; status not known ; may not be serious at all. Elinor pest of not much import- ance. Sometimes damage percep- tible, ^fe-. Reported " serious " from { Taungtha, Myingyan dis- trict. Also attacks stored groundnut. Sporadic, sometimes serious. Once found breeding on Cassia Tora (Dan-gwe-bin) at Tatkon. Sometimes serious. Not serious. Serious if not checked in time. Minor pest ; not very serious. Reared from almost dry stems j status not known ; not much in evidence. Sometimes serious. Very serious. Pretty serious. 348 rROCEEDINGS OF IHE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 9._A LIST OF THE PESTS OF OIL-SEED PLANTS IN BURMA- contd. Pest 4. Groundnut. Diacrisia obliqua Prodenia litura Meloid beetle . Monolepla signata . Chafer grubs . Aphanus sordidus . 5. Mustard. Athalia (proxitrui ?) Phyllotreta chotanica Bagrada picta Eurydema pulchrum Apliids . 6. Safflower. Fly-maggots . Fly-maggots . Macrosiphum soncM 7, Sunflower. Amsacta caterpillars Part of the plant attacked Leaves Do. Do. Do. Roots Remarks Sometimes serious. Minor pest ; not yet known to be serious. Once found eating leaves of groundnut ; dhainclia at Hmawbi. Not serious. Sometimes very serious. Stored seed (sucking) Reported " serious " . from Taungtha. Also attacks stored sesamum. Leaves . Do. . Plant-juice Do. Do. Shoots (boring) Stem (boring) Plant -juice Leaves Not serious. Ditto. Not so serious as to cabbage. Not serious. Ditto. Once found in young plants on the Mandalay Farm, Found serious on the Mandalay Farm in 1918. Very serious. Found once at Katha. The caterpillars died and, there- fore, could not be identified. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 349 10.— A LIST OF THE PESTS OF TOBACCO IN BURMA. By K. D. Shroff, B.A., Entomological Assistant, Burma. Pest Agrotis ypsilon Brachytrypes portentosus Liogryllus bitnaculatus Prodenia litura Heliothis assulta Phikorimoea heliopa Gallobelicus crassicornis Aphids . Part of the plant attacked Seedlings Do. Do. Leaves Do. Stem Juice (sucking) Do. Remarks -Proved very serious in the Bassein District in 1907. "I IMinor pests ; damage some- > times perceptible in small J plots. Found only once in the Bassein District in 1907. Minor pest ; not serious. Ditto, 11.— LIST OF THE PESTS OF VEGETABLES IN BURMA. By K. D. Shroff, B.A., Entomological Assistant, Burma. Pest Part of the plant attacked Remarks 1. CrUCIFERvE. (a) Cabbage ; Cauliflower. Dorylus orientalis^ Agrotis ypsilon > Seedlings Sometimes very serious. Euxon segetis ^ Pier is brassicos Leaves . Minor pest. Prodenia litura Do. . Minor pest. Sometimes seri ous. Laphygma exigua Do. . Minor pest. Crocidolomia binotalis Do. . Ditto. Pluttlla maculipennis Do. . Ditto. Phyllotreta (choianica ?) . Do. . Ditto. Phyllotreki vittata Do. . Found once at Katha. 350 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 11. —LIST OF THE PESTS OF VEGETABLES IN BURMA— contd Pest Part of the plant attacked Remarks 1. Crucifer-s: — contd. (a) Cabbage ; Cauliflower — contd. Bagradapicta Juice (sucking) Sometimes very serious. Eurydema pulchrum Do. Minor pest ; not serious. Aphids . . . • • Do. Minor pest ; sometimes serious. (b) Radish. Phyllotreta chotanica Leaves . Minor pest ; not very serious. Bagrada picta Juice Minor pest. 2. SOLANACE^. (a) Potato. Agrotis ypsilon Seedlings Serious in Hills. Phthorimoea operculella . Seed-potato . Minor pest (b) Brinjal. Epilachna sp. ... Leaves . Minor pest ; not serious Eublemma olivacea . Do. . Minor pest. Nephopteryx minutella Do. . Found once at Hopin. Pachyzancla bipunctalis . Do. . Ditto. Leucinodes orbonalis Fruit . Minor pest. Urentiua echinus (?) Leaf-juice Minor pest ; sometimes serious. Mealy-bugs .... Juice of leaves and twigs. Minor pest but not serious. 3. CXJCTTRBITACE^. (a) Pumpkins. Aulacophora abdominalis . Leaves . Minor pest. Aulacophora atripennis Do. . Ditto. Apomecyna pertigera Stems (boring) Ditto. PKOCEEDIKGS OF THE THIttU ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 351 11.— LIST OF THE PESTS OF VEGETABLES IN BURMA— contd. Pest Part of the attacked plant Remarks 3. CcrcFRBiTACE^ — contd. (b) Gourds. Margaronia indica . Leaves of gourd. bitter IMinor pest ; not serious. Attacks cucumber also. Sphenarches caffer . Do. • Minor pest ; not serious. Epilachna dodecastigma . Do. • Minor pest. Attacks cucum- ber also. Ohoetodacus cucurbitce Chcetodacus caudatus Fruit Fruit of Trichosan- fhes palmaia. Also attacks Cucurbita maxima, Momordica Cha- rantia, Momordica dioica,. Cucumis melo, Cucumis sati- vus, Ciirullvs vulgaris, Cejifuilandra indica, L/ujfa acutangtda, Luffa cegyptiaca^ Mdlesis eumenoides Fruit of Cepha indica. landra Not so abundant as Chcetodacus cucurbitce. 4. Malvaceae. Lady's finger {Hibiscus esculentus). • Sylepia derogata Leaves . • Sometimes serious. Nisotra madurensis . . Do. . • Once found at Moulmein, Earias fabia . . ' . Pods • Minor pest. Dysdercus cingulatus Pods (sucking) • Ditto. Aphids ..... Shoots and pods. small Not serious. Mealy-bugs .... Do. • Ditto. 5. CONVOLVULAC^. Sweet-pohito Aspidomorpha indica Leaves • Not serious. Metriona circumdata Do. . • Ditto. Cylas formicarius . Tuber . • Minor pest. VOL. I 2 A 352 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 1].— LIST OF THE PESTS OF VEGETABLES IN BVmiA—concU. Pest 6. Amaeantace^. Dere«dus sparsus Lixvs hrachyrrhinus Cletus bipunctatus . Part of the plant attacked Remarks Leaves . Stem Plant-Juice Not serious. Ditto. Ditto. Mr. Fletcher. In this list of vegetables also I think that some of the names require check. It would, for example, be interesting to confirm the existence of Agrotis ypsilon in Burma. I also feel rather doubtful about Pieris hrassiccB as, when I looked over Mr. Shroff's collection at Mandalay in 1914. the Maymyo examples labelled as P. brassiccp were all P. canidia. 12.— NOTES ON MISCELLANEOUS PESTS IN BURMA. By K. D. Shroff, B. A. Entomological Assistant, Bnrma. The Paddy Case-worms {Nymphula). This pest is more prevalent in Lower Burma than in Upper Burma. The following notes on his obser- vations and experiments were submitted by Mr. R. A. Beale, Assistant Botanist, Southern Circle, Burma : — " Only tender leaves of young rice plants are attacked. Except in very rare cases (where the pest is present in large numbers) the attack is usually not fatal to the plants. When the plants reach a certain stage of development, their leaves become too tough for the pest which then seeks more tender food either among the crop of neighbouring fields or in the grasses on the bunds." " Keeping the bunds clean should be a fairly effective way of checking the spread of the pest, but it is hardly possible to do so on a large scale. Besides, the moths, which are numerous, may fly from field to field and deposit their eggs on healthy tender plants. The caterpillars in their cases may be carried by irrigation or drainage water ; .so it is advisable, when draining an infested area, to place a net or trap across the opening in the bund through which the water passes. The case-worms collect here in large numbers and may be removed and destroyed. Light traps may be used to catch the moths at night." Pdjje 353. PLATE 21. A Burmese fishing basket {dalti). PROCEEDINGS OF THE TIIIKD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 353 ■" Measures adopted on the Hmawbi Farm : — 1. Water was let out, where possible, from the fields attacked. 2. This was followed by two men walking along the bunds of the ■fields, holding a rope between them ; with this the plants were shaken "to dislodge the caterpillars. Generally it is safer to keep the field without water for three or four days, during which time the rope-dragging should be carried out a couple of times. This ensures the removal of all insects from the plants. 3. Where complete draining is not practicable, the insects may be collected after dragging with a rope either (a) by hand in the corners of the fields and near the bunds, whither they are blown by wind, or (b) by means of a dalu (See Plate 21). This is a flat, triangular, •open bamboo basket with handles, cft-dinarily used for catching mud-fish in drains, etc. By means of the handles it is pushed along, the open edge, which forms the base of the triangle, running along the ground. W^hen used for collecting insects on water, the flat edge should run on the surface of the water. The insects floating among the plants may thus be caught in large numbers. Very slight, if any, damage is done to the plants by the dalu passing over them." 2. Ripersia sacchari. This pest sometimes proves very serious to paddy plants in experimental plots and in patches in transplanted areas. If the plants are tender, they are completely killed ; if they are tough, they are damaged but side-shoots sometimes come out. These new plants are evidently inferior to the healthy plants in the uninfested area. Mr. Lefroy, when he came to Burma, recommended to Mr. Warth, Agricultural Chemist, the destruction of his infested experimental plots. This measure is not desirable. Is there any other remedy by means of which the attacked plants could be saved ? 3. A Plantain Stem-boring Beetle. Please see the specimen No. 1, sent for identification. This pest came to notice for the first time at Hmawbi. The grub first attacks the stalk of the leaf (probably the egg is laid on it) and gra- dually goes down to the stem. The slimy substance oozing out from the cracks and holes in the damaged parts, indicates the presence of the borer at work. It pupates inside the stem. All the stages are found inside the plant. It appears to be a serious pest. 4. A small Horned-beetle looking like a Rhinoceros beetle. See the specimen No. 2, sent for identification. Two beetles were found along with Orijctes rhinoceros inside the xotten top of a dead coconut tree at Moulmein. 2 a2 354 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 13.— A LIST OF THE PESTS OF SUGARCANE IN BURMA. By K. D. Shroff, B.A., Entomological Assistant, Burma. Pest Part of the plant attacked Remarks Long-homed grass-hoppers Leaves . Found eating leaves of young cane in pots. Parnara matJiias Do. . Not serious. Dasychira securis Do. . Ditto. Marasmia trapezalis Do. . Ditto. Chilo simplex {">.) Stem Found pretty serious on the Hmawbi Farm in 1918. Scirpophaga Do. . A larva was once found in cane at Mandalay. As it died,, the species could not be determined. Termites .... Dorylus orientalis Setts . Do. . ^ Found serious on the Nagu Farm, Shwebo District, in > 1918. Not yet reported fi'om any sugarcane-grow- ing locaUty. Callitettix versicolor Plant-juice Is found in large numbers on cane. Scarcelj' a pest. Phenict moesta Found on cane but not in- jurious. Abidama productu . Ditto. Elasmocdis platypoda Ditto. Ricania speculum Ditto. Ripersia sacchari Plant-juice Reported " serious " from Hmawbi in September 1918. 14.— BORERS IN SUGARCANE, RICE, Etc. By T. Bainbrigge Fletcher, R. N. F.L.S., F.E.S., F.Z.S., Imperial Entomologist, and C. C. Ghosh, B.A., Assistant to the hnferial Entomologist. Introductory. The borer pests of sugarcane, rice, etc., have a wide range of food- plants included under the Natural Order Graminese and some of them have been observed to extend this range into the Natural Order Cyperacese^ the plants of which order have stems very well suited to serve as food rKOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 355 for boring insects. Therefore in the investigation of these pests we have to inchide for observation not only the cultivated gramineous crops but also the wild grasses and sedges which can possibly serve as alternative food-plants. The endeavour to trace their occurrence in alternative food-plants, however, has so far been confined principally to the neigh- bourhood of Pusa. Some of the wild grasses have been observed to har- bour borers which do not, or have not yet been found to, occur in the cultivated crops ; while among the borers of the wild plants there are others which, although principally confined to their wild food-plants, occur occasionally in the cultivated crops. The borers which are at present found only in the wild grasses may be considered as potential pests of allied cultivated plants and should very properly be included in any inquiry on borer pests of gramineous crops. The inquiry has been in progress for the last two years and is far from being complete and the present note must only be regarded as a preliminary one. As will appear later on, we have recorded the borers of twenty-nine gramineous and two cyperaceous plants, but of all these the borers of only two of them, viz., sugarcane and rice, have been under systematic observation. There are numerous other plants of these two Natural Orders which have yet to be examined and it is certain that at least many of the thick-stemmed ones among them will prove to be alternative food-plants of the borers of our gramineous crops. The Agents of Damage. Among the insects which bore the stem of sugarcane, etc., there are some which live in the soil and gnaw into the stem from outside. They do not live inside the stem and therefore cannot, strictly speaking, be called borers. But the eiTect of their attack is in most cases similar to that of attack by the borers proper. Moreover, they appear along with and at the same time as the borers. Therefore, in order to be able to obtain an approximate idea of the share of damage caused by the borers, not only all insects but also other agents affecting the plants with similar effect and simultaneously with the borers have to be taken into considera- tion. We have to include : — I. Fungal diseases. II. External agents of damage, i.e., insects which do not live and feed inside the plants but attack or gnaw into them from oat- side. III. Borers which live and feed inside the plants. 356 TEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING I. Fungal diseases. The fungal diseases 'observed in sugarcane are of the nature 'of Red Rot which causes a redness of the internal tissue. Their occurrence has only been noted in an attempt to allocate their share of the damage to the crop. Smut appeared extremely rarely. The first effect of the occurrence of these fungal diseases in new shoots of sugarcane is the " dead heart " characteristic of borer attack. On splitting open the stem the growing buds of the affected shoots are found to have become red. Ultimately the shoots dry up. When the diseases appear in plants which have developed their stem, e.g., cane, to some extent, the plants become stunted and gradually wither. Entire stools may be affected in this mamier. Sometimes the leaves of the affected young shoots lose their green colour, becoming yellowish white. In all cases 'the affected plants wither. Besides being the primary agents of damage themselves, these fungal diseases invariably follow in the wake of the borers, both external and internal, and in all stages of the cane. In fact at Pusa grown-up canes do not actually suffer much from the borers themselves but the real damage is caused by the fungal diseases which follow. Thus, when Scirpofhaga caterpillars bore the top, the top withers and the cane may dry from the top downwards, the drying being due to fungal diseases^ When borers or rats gnaw the base of the cane, fungal diseases working at the base cut short the supply of sap and the entire cane dries up. Similarly borer or jackal damage in the middle of the stem introduces fimgal diseases which may redden the whole of the internal tissue of the stem, ultimately leading to the death of the entire plant. //. The External agents of damage., Among the external agents are included — (1) Termites, commonly known as " white ants," (2) Mole-crickets {Gnjllotaljpa ajricana). (3) Beetle grubs (Melolonthid, CurcuUonid, Chrysomehd and Elaterid grubs) ; also the Red Ants {Doryhis). Termites. Termites or white ants are common pests and attack young fruit and other trees, cuttings of plants, garden vegetables, and also PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 357 field crops such as sugarcane, rice, wheat, barley, maize, etc. They gnaw the roots of plants but more often the base of the stem, causing entire young plants and shoots to wither. Usually they avoid wet and muddy places and are common m all moist soils. Thus, rice plants standing in water or growing in muddy places are immune but are liable to attack when the water dries up. Most of the other important crops such as sugarcane, wheat, barley, etc., cannot be grown in water and the moist soils in which they can be grown are the most favourable situations- for termites' activities. Only in the case of sugarcane have attempts- been made to check their ravages. The setts are liable to be attacked as soon as they are placed in the ground and in the worst cases all the setts may be eaten. Trials in treating the setts with chemicals, etc., -which can act as repellents, formed a subject-matter of discussion at the Second Entomological Meeting and the information regarding them will be found at pages 137 — 139 of the published Proceeditigs of that Meeting. It is a common behef that sugarcane setts are attacked only through the cut ends and recommendations have been made to protect the ends by dipping them in melted resin. Our experience has been that setts may be attacked at any point on their surface as well as at the ends and that it is the young shoots which require to be protected more than the setts. Our observations at Pusa as well as outside and the experiments wliich we have carried out to protect setts against termites go to show that the liability of cane to damage by termites depends largely on the nature of the soil in which it is grown. Generally speaking, the crop suffers much less or not at all when grown in clayey soils than in sandy soils. In soils which are liable to be infested by termites no single treat- ment of the setts can render them immune nor can any treatment of the setts save the shoots ; whilst in other soils little or no damage is done by termites either to setts or to shoots even when no treatment is adopted. Later on, when we come to discuss damage to sugarcane by the borers, we shall see that sugarcane grown in Chaunia field at Pusa in 1917 suffered very little from termites without treatment, and in the Brickfield both treated and untreated plots suffered equally heavily. In order to find out what it is in the soils which makes this difference the first step we have taken is to submit the soils for analysis to the Imperial Agricultural Chemist to whom we have to acknowledge our thanks for undertaking this work. We quote below the results of his analyses of the surface nine inches of soils of the places where no or httle damage >vas done as well as of the places where damage was severe. There are small differ- ence?^ in the constituents of the soils but without further experiments which we have in hand we cannot hazard any opinion. 358 TROCEEUINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING til a ce 0-3 00 lal| o I-H CO CO i> o o ^H ■* o t^ CO CO CO C5 o ^H CO >o CO o t> (N (M CO OS t- t- OO -♦< IC <-^ CO CO CO O 6 CO CO f-H CO 6 LO o o o o CD o lb o 6 o po »o 1-^ ^H ? s so -3 o CO a> o OO LO T)4 o -NO *~^ F— 1 o o CO ■* o t^ r- C3 o Oi o !>• <^ >> ..Ot) CO CO (N >o )— ( CO o o -* r- 00 CO LO ^ e o ^ «'-2i^ Oi -* 03 CO o I-- 05 -* CO o O tH o o r*^ tJ S5?S| i-H tH M CO o cb ^ o cb o o LO o o >• •*o U •^'i^^ >o r— < I-H "^ H O s &4 v s ?n° 0 o *^ CO LO o t^ o o I-H 03 CO f-H I-- CO CO LO t^ •^ o OO LO CO o CO 0 S ^ (M o o o f-H (N (M i-H 00 ■* 00 o o 0 --s* CO tJH 00 CO o CO ^H »o CO o i-H (M o o ,.0 •*-i ^ Sf'^ r— 1 M est CO 6 cJj M o o o 6 CO o o 0 S o ?J 3 «o ^H W r. ■= *» •^ <» S die :i jT y_i Q. o CO 00 CO (N LO C-l (M '^t C5 o (M o CO CO CI »o t^ t^ (M -jH 0 ' -TO O a 05 CO CO o CO (M o Ci >o -*< r- o ■3 c S " 1— 1 C5 CO CO CO l^ "# CO o '* t^ Op O CO o o o 6 4< O o o o 0 a d o 1— ( I-H •■ *» S r-"*^ ~ 5S 0 Q 2 " C5 iO LO o LO I-H >>3 o CO -t< 1.0 CO o o CO 05 o -t* Tt* t^ -t< p-4 M CO lO o CO 1 — 1 o ■* CO (M lO CO o 0 11 00 C5 CO c^ o i-H c;i UO (N f-H CO OO ■ o o 0 ^H CO CO 'i* 6 lO F-H o o 6 6 M o o 6 CO M lO I-H I-H ^i ^ . • . • . , • • • ?!h S P * i» "*~» =0 • , , • ^-^ • -^ O CO ^..^ • • • • • • • • • =0 ~ — o ^ u • , • , • • • • ^ § to **..^ 5- 'S CO a -a • • • • • • • **,^ o N o 3 o • • • • • . p-i .CO a -^ ^ CO 1 S n g n O • O n © • • • o O o ^ ri o j3 0 0 r* "^ u ^ o « o IN < d g '2 3 '3 o "d o -Q r3 © to a, "3 1 CO o © o O O "o o c2 (3 o c d 'p. o 'E o © s to d J2 O © g c3 d 1^ m S3 O (3 o o -d &. TO O J3 O 'u 3 -d "5 'd _o 'd to 3 > ,2 o OT f^ < S J Oi cc P-l y;? O C < PLATE 22. V I «< 3 ■O cs c 5.' Hid o ^ Page 359{2). PLATE 23. Diagrammatic figure to show how mole-crickets feed. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 359 When termites attack the new shoots of sugarcane the first visible external symptom is the " dead heart." The termites begin to gnaw in just at the base of the shoot and gradually eat into the centre, thus destroying the growing point. Therefore the heart leaf dries quickly. They may continue to eat and consume the entire base, detaching the shoot entirely from the sett. Then the entire shoot dries and comes out of the ground at the slightest pull. Cases are frequent when onl}'- the shoots are attacked, leaving untouched the setts from which they arise ; but more often the setts as well as the shoots are corroded. Older canes with well- developed stems or even ripe canes are not immune, as has been observed at Dacca and other places. Damage to grown or ripe canes has so far been shght at Pusa even in the Brickfield plots where damage to new shoots and setts has been severe. In this field the termites were active from about March to July and what led to the stoppage of, their activity afterwards cannot be explained. We propose to continue our observations by growing sugarcane in the same field. Mole-crickets. The mole-crickets {Gryllotnlpa ajricana) are common underground insects which usually frequent moist soils. They are very common in the moist or rather wet sandy beds of the River Gandak where their eggs can easily be collected. Eggs collected from this place have been reared in the Insectary. The nymphs were fed wholly on live fly maggots and they took about five-and-a-half months to come to the adult stage. The life-history is illustrated in Plate 22. Up to about fifty eggs are deposited loosely in a cluster in a chamber* specially formed at the bottom of the hole. There does not seem to be any regularity of broods as all stages of the insect are observable throughout the year. Gryllotalpa ajricana has been observed to cause rather serious damage to new shoots of sugarcane at Pusa on two occasions, once about jMarch- April in the JJiiUi field in 1913 and again about the same time of the year in the Brickfield in 1918. In cultivated fields, the insect lives in under- ground holes about two feet or more deep. It comes up and attacks the new shoots of sugarcane much in the way somewhat diagrammatically shown in Plate 23. The shoots are gnawed from the side at a point above their junction with the sett, the gnawing being Hke a scooped-out round hole with chewed-up fibrous margins and extending up to the core of the stem. The tender base of the heart leaf is eaten. Therefore the heart leaf dries and a " dead heart," characteristic of borers, is the result. It is not easy to observe the mole-crickets in the act of gnawing the shoots. Therefore the following corroborative experiment was carried 360 mOCEEDINGS OF THE THIKD E>"TOiIOLOGlCAL MEETING out in the Insectary. A zinc cylinder with a solid bottom was filled to a depth of a little more than a foot with earth which was carefully examined before being put in. Six perfectly healthy sugarcane shoots with the setts from which they grew and of the age at which they were observed to be attacked by this insect in the field were transferred into this cylinder and eleven mole-crickets introduced into it between 13th and 15th March. The characteristic " dead heart " with the characteristic damage appeared as early as the 17th March in one shoot. Another shoot exhibited " dead heart " and damage on 3rd April. On the 12th April five pumpkin chips w^ere buried in the earth and two of them were found on the next day to have been bored. The buried pieces were removed on the 15th April and a few fresh pieces were placed on the surface of the earth. On the 17th April they were observed to have been bored from below. The pumpkin chips were removed on the 19th April. On the 5tli May a third shoot was damaged. The remaining three shoots were not damaged and the insects were dead before the 30th May. This experiment seems to prove that the mole-crickets cannot live on sugarcane alone. They attack sugarcane if it is planted in the land in which. they are present. There was practically no damage to sugar- cane by this insect in the Chmmia field which has been under cultivation for many years. The experimental plots of sugarcane in the Brick- field in 1918 were situated in a piece of land brought under cultivation about five or six years ago. It was previously a waste land overgro'yj'n with Sacchanim sfontaneum and Im/perata anmdinacea and was bordered by similar waste lands. (See Plate 69.) Mole crickets have been observed to eat Sacchanim sfonianeum ^oots in the same way as they do sugar- cane shoots. As proved by rearing in the insectary, they can live on animal food and probably depend on such food principally. Many kinds of soft-bodied Melolonthid, Chrysomelid and Curculionid grubs are known to abound among Saccharvtn spontanevm roots. Therefore mole-crickets obtain plenty of food in such waste lands and would naturally occur there in large numbers. This explains why so much damage was done to the experimental plots in the Brickfield. The occurrence of this insect in the sugarcane in Jhilli field in 1913 was under exactly similar conditions. Sugarcane was grown again in Jhilli in 1918 but so much damage was not done by this insect as on the former occasion. Repeated cultivations for a series of years naturally kill and drive away the mole- crickets from the field. Beetle-grubs. Among the third class of external agents of damage we have included the Melolonthid, Chrysomelid, Curculionid and Elaterid grubs and may PLATE 24. P./xje 361(1) Anouiala hiharensla (C. S. 1744). a. Larva, natural size and ""ag^'fied -J»- h\ details of posterior extremity of larva. c, Pupa, natural size and enlarged. U, Imago, II II II II Page 361{2). PL 8. (N.B.— The smaller outline figures '',1b, c, and d are 1i times the natural sizes.) PLATE • EXPLANATION OF PLATE 30. Pachydiplosis oryzae, Wood -Mason. Fig. 1. A cluster of rice plants several of whieh are affected. Fig. 2. An affected plant, with the pupa in its natural position exposed. Fig. 3. Egg enlarged. Fig. 4. FuUgrown maggot. Figs. 5 — 7. Different views of pupa. Figs. S & 9. The adult Hy in sitting and flying attitude.s. The small outline figures indicate natural sizes. Page if 1(2). I>'LATE 3t. Rg. 1.—Sti€t(tspis ceratitina, male (left) and female (right) natural sizes.) 5. (The smaller figures show the Fig. 2.— C. S. 1814. Larva. The smaller figure shows the natural size. Fig. 3.— Annual life-cycle of Lamiad Borer (C. S. 1814). PllOCEEDINGS OF THE THIEP ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 371 Food plants — contd. Dub {Cynodon dactyhn) — Marcli, June. Gandli {Panicum miliare) — July. Tlie above are some of the foodplants from which these flies have been reared in the Insectaiy. Fly maggots are found in other grasses and •even in the top shoots of bamboo branches. The maggots work at the base of the heart-leaf, lacerating and chewing the part entirely, producing the characteristic "dead heart." Usually the maggots are found in young plants. In China and Gandli, however, they occur in plants in ear, gnawing the bases of the ears which dry up. The effect is exactly similar to that caused by lepidopterous borers in ears of rice and wheat. These muscid flies are a real pest and very little is known about them. As will appear from the dates of collection of maggots given along with the foodplants above, the flies are active throughout the year. The period of their life-cycle is short, being completed approxi- mately withm a fortnight. Pachydiplosis oryzce. Plate 30. Foodplant — Rice. ^ This small Cecidomyiad fly causes serious damage to newly trans- planted rice seedlings, especially when transplanting is done late in the season. The maggots feed in the middle of the shoot, producing a peculiar long tube-like gall in place of the main stem. Further growth of the shoot is thus stopped. Therefore the result is the same as that of attack by the ordinary borers which cause " dead heart." This has not been observed to occur in the neighbourhood of Pusa, but it is a serious pest in parts of Bihar and Orissa, Bengal and Madras. Stictaspis ceratitina. Plate 31, fig. 1. Foodplant — Bamboo. The maggots of this Fruitfly have been observed to occur in large numbers in the new bamboo shoots which grow in the Rains. The grubs bore the soft stem, killing the shoots entirely. These, together with termites and to a less extent caterpillars of Argyroploce paragmmma, are responsible for the death of a large proportion of the new shoots, which do not become immune until their stem hardens. The stem and especially the apical portion of it, which is the part liable to attack, 372 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING does not harden very quickly and not until the shoot has grown to a great height. On the 18th September 1918 the top of a new shoot about fifteen feet high was observed to drop off. On examination, the top was found to be full of maggots of this fruit-fly, which riddled the soft stem, causing the internodes to break off. There were 178 maggots in it out of which 146 attained the adult stage between 29th September and 30th October, 82 being females and 64 males. The shoot itself somewhat shrivelled and dried at the top and did not grow any further. But it hardened and its branches, especially those towards the apical part, grew thick and long. Such damaged bamboos are frequently met with. The Lamiad Borer (C. S. 1814). Plate 31, figs 2,3 ; Plate 32. Foodplants — Batri and Earhi {Saccharum sjiontaneum). This longicorn borer has only one generation in the year. The adults emerge about June and deposit eggs. Young grubs have been collected on the 20th Jun€^ The grubs are available in very large numbers in Rarhi and Batri from June onwards. They are extensive borers and voracious eaters and convert the stems into hollow tubes. They remain active till about November and then rest mside the stems, pupating just before emergence about June. The full-grown grub measures about 24mm. in length, about 3 mm. across the abdominal region and about 3'5 mm. across the thorax. The head is small compared with the thorax which is swollen and protuberant ventralJy. On the back of the sixth and seventh abdominal segments there are some small tubercles arranged across the segments in double rows. The hind end is truncated. The body has small brown hairs all over. There are no legs of any kind. The colour is yellow. The young grubs resemble the older ones in appearance and colour. The Weevil Borer (C. S. 1778). (Plate 33, fig. 1.) Foodplant — Rarhi (Saccharum spontaneum rarhi). The external symptom of attack is the " dead heart.'' The grubs are found in large numbers in March-April and although their size is small they are very vigorous borers and bore up and down the stem exten- sively. The full-growTi grub is about 5-5 mm. long and about 1-5 mm. across the middle of the body which tapers towards each extremity. The head is pale-yellow, glossy, and the body is also of the same colour Puf/z 37'Ml)i t>UtE 32. !M' V,'' C. S. 1814. (The smaller figure shows the natural size.) mmmm Pacjc 372(2). PLATE 33. ^ja''/;: • V;^^} MM ^S5> Fig. 1.— C.S. 1778. Weevil borer in yv/yV/y shoot, ff, larva ; h, pupa ; r, imago ; all magnified. The small figures show the natural sizes. Fig. 2.- (C. S. 1397). Weevil Borer in ntootlm stem x13. The small outline figure shows the natural size. Page 373. PLATE 34. ^•^S^W**!^, Fig. 1.- C. S. 1805. Purple zeuzerid larva boring in ham a ; .a, larva ; /*, pupa ; r, moth ; all magnified ; the small figuresshow the natural sizes. Fig. 2.— Annual life-cycle of Purple Zeuzerid Borer (C. S. 1805). PROCEEDS GS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 373 As, however, the contents of the body show through the skin the abdomi- nal region looks brownish. The grubs pupate inside the stems. The full seasonal Hfe-history is not knowTi. From grubs collected in March and April weevils appeared by the end of May. The Weevil Borer (C. S. 1397). (Plate 33, fig. 2.) Foodplant — Motha {Cyperus rotundus). Legless pale-yellowish- white grubs, boring the stem and causing dead heart were collected on 22nd May and weevils emerged from these in the Insectary between 13th and 17th June. The purple-coloured Zeuzerid Borer (C. S. 1805). (Plate 34.) Foodplant — Kanra {Saccharum armidinaceum). In the Insectary the caterpillars fed on maize and also on juar (Andropogon Sorghum) to a small extent. This borer has only one generation in the year. Young caterpillars have been collected from outside on the 8th July and gradually develop- ing ones onward till about November when they become fullgrown. Fullgrown hibernating and sestivating caterpillars have been collected in winter and up to about May. Moths emerged in the Insectary be- tween 15th June and 10th July. As usual with all internal borers, they cause " dead heart " in plants and bore in the centre of the stem, converting it into a hollow tube. The caterpillars go down right into the roots to hibernate and sestivate. A fullgrown caterpillar measures about 35 mm. in length and about 4-5 mm. across the abdomen. The shape is cylindrical and shghtly tapering posteriorly. The head is red-brown and smaller than the prothorax which is the broadest segment, measuring a little more than 5 mm. across. The prothoracic shield is large, yellow-brown in colour, having on its hinder part a number of posteriorly-directed flattened brown spines. The spiracles are elongated brownish shts and the five pairs of prolegs are rather short but equally developed. The colour of the body excepting that of prothorax is deep purple. Pupation takes place inside the tunnel formed by the larva. Before the emergence of the moth the pupa wriggles out to some extent through an opening on the side of the stem previously made by the larva, the mouth of the opening being left closed by a thin epidermal layer of the bark. 374 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING The violet-spotted Zeuzerid Borer (C. S. 1696 and C. S. 1857) (? Phrag matcBcia sp . ) . ( Plate 35 . ) Foodplants. — Bairi {Saccharum spontaneum hatri) ; juar {Andropogon Sorghum). In tlie Insectary the caterpillars fed on Saccharum arundinaceum {Kanra) stem. This borer has only one generation in the year. Moths appear about October and deposit eggs probably among the foodplants. The eggs hatch within a few days. The caterpillars feed throughout the winter, summer and the rains and are available in all these seasons. Their growth is very slow. They occur in profuse numbers in Batri and have been found in small numbers in juar. In the Insectary moths emerged between 1st October and 6th November. Young caterpillars have been collected from outside on the 11th October and more and more advanced ones practically in all the later months up to August when full-grown ones are available. They pupated in September-October. In the Insectary a moth laid 80 unfertilized eggs in an irregular heap. Each egg is about 1 mm. long and about 0-6 mm. thick, elongated, tubular ' in shape with truncated ends. The shell is glossy and has very faint longitudinal furrows. A fullgrown caterpillar measures about 30 mm. in length and about 5 mm. across the body. The head is yellow, glossy and smaller than the prothorax. The prothorax is pale yellow with a large shield similarly coloured as the head. The shield has a pair of brown spots one on each side and connected by a brown bar. The posterior half of the shield is armed with a number of posteriorly-directed flattened brown spines. The meso and metathoracic segments are divided into three and the abdominal segments into two sub-segments, the posterior sub- segments of all these and the anal segments have on the dorsum a number of minute tubercles surmounted with thin small hairs. There are similar tubercles clustered below the spiracles and also on the fold above the legs. The spiracles are elongated oval, yellow. The five pairs of prolegs are short but equally developed. The general colour of the body is yellowish-white. The metathorax and the first abdominal segment are violet coloured or rather purple with a violet tinge. The other abdominal segments have prominent violet markings which make up a thin middorsal stripe, a broad interrupted dorsolateral stripe and a similar spiracular stripe. The ventral surface is without any violet markings. The young caterpillars resemble older ones to some extent in appear- ance but have long hairs on the body. Page 374. PLATE 35. .«*''".'j2 0. Fig. 1. C. S. 1696. Borer in Sarc/tartnn spovt07}einn stem ; r/, larva (x2|) ; h, pupa (; 2^) ; c, moth ( > 2^) ; if, egg ( <2^). Fig. 2.— Annual life-cycle of Borei m Sarc/iantm sponUtneiim (C. S. 1696). MT / Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig 3. Fig 4. Fig. 6. Fig 6. EXPLANATION OF PLATE 36. Sesamia infer ens. 1. Eggs laid inside leal" sheath. A single egg magnified. Larva magnified. Pu])a inagnifietl. Moth with wings spread. An affected plant showing larva in tlie stem nnd moth sitting on leaf, Page 375(2). . . - ■ . - ■ 'h Vc-v'>A; ; ■-■'■,;: ■.;■■'.■•; Mir V E a> « N CO s (8 br k « 3 E R ^^^^^^^^^^B- P-^'^^^^^^^^^-~ I- OB V5 ,2? iZ PLATE 37 / '%,^ «•■•.,■ '. •■"•:•:'■ ..■'(■••" 5/ I ' ' i^ C8 E T5 3 es c TEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 375 Pupation takes place inside the stem. Before pupating, the larva gnaws an opening on the side of the stem, the mouth of the opening being just covered by a thin epidermal layer of the bark. The pupa is provided with a snout having spines on its tip with which to pierce this epidermal covering. The pupa wriggles out to some extent before the moth bursts out of the pupal case. Sesamia infer ens. Plate 36. Foodplants — Rice ; wheat ; barley ; oats ; mania {Eleusine coracana) ; sama {Pankum irumentaceum); Guinea grass ; Sudan grass; Jove grass {RottbaUia cotnpressa) ; golmootha {Scifjms afpnis) ; narJcat {Phragmites karka) ; sugarcane ; maize ; juar {Andro'pogon Sorghum) ; kanra {Sacchariim arundinaceum) ; rarhi and batri {Saccharum spontaneum) ; ikri {Saccharum fuscum). Caterpillars have been collected from the above plants. Besides these, they have fed in the Insectary on bajra (Pennisetum tyjjhoideum) stems. In Madras they are known to occur in Setaria italica. The caterpillars of Sesamia inferens, S. unijormis and the moth reared under C. S. 1666 are liable to be confused, as all of them are similar in appearance. Those of C. S. 1666 are more slender-looking than the larvae of the Sesamia spp. and have a faint purplish tinf^e. The larvae of the two species of Sesamia cannot yet be distinguished. The pupa of C. S. 1666 (Plate 38, fig. 1) can be easily distinguished as it has no hair or spine on its hind end. The pupae of Sesamia inferens and S. uniformis are liable to be confused but can be distinguished by the structure of, and the spines on, the hind end (PI, 37, f. 3). The hind end of the pupa of ;S. inferens is rounded and has four spines on a dis- tinct stalk. The hind end of S. uniformis pupa is protruded into a horny process concave on the ventral side and having four spines arrang- ed on its tip at some distance apart and two more spines behind the first four, i.e., six spines in all. The moths of S. inferens and S. uniformis are liable to be and have been confused in the past. They can be dis- tinguished easily by the trained eye from the shape of the forewings (Plate 37, figs. 1 , 2) and also from the structure of the male antennse as indicated in Entomological Note No. 62 of Pusa Bulletin No. 59. In the neighbourhood of Pusa S. inferens is active throughout the year, active caterpillars being available in all the months of the year. Also the larvae are observed to pupate and adults to emerge throughout the cold weather. In the cold season however the period of the hfe- cycle is very much extended. In ordinary years, in March, April and WT 376 TEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETI•^•G May, the shortest period of Hfe-cycle observed is 49 days, viz., egg 7 days, larva 30 days, and pupa 12 days, the longest period taken by some of the individuals out of the same lot being 71 days in which the larval life only was extended to 48 days. In the cold weather from November to January the larval stage has been observed to take about 2| months and the pupal stage about a month. As growth is very slow in the cold season the caterpillars are hardly found in numbers in winter. With the spell of warm weather about February their activity is observed in wheat and barley in wliich dry ears appear. In March-April they are common in all the foodplants mentioned above which happen to grow at the time and may cause serious damage to maize. They occur in new shoots of sugarcane at this time. But ordinarily they have not been observed to infest sugar- cane in large numbers. From about June onwards they occur commonly on rice and in very large numbers when rice is in ear about October- November. From observations so far made S. inferens can be considered a pest only of maize and rice. Normally it does not cause much damage to the other foodplants mentioned. The female moth is capable of laying more than 400 eggs. One laid 419 eggs in the Insectary. The eggs are thrust between the leaf- sheaths and the stem in rows two to three deep. As many as 161 eggs have been counted on a single plant. The egg is hemispherical in shape, being about 0-7 mm. in diameter and having fine ridges on the surface, the ridges running in regular order down the sides from the top. The colour is creamy white, changing to brownish and ultimately to grey before hatching. The newly-hatched larva is about 1-5 mm. long, pale yellow in colour and has its head and cervical and anal plates dark brown. After the first moult it assumes the characteristic appearance and colour seen in older larvse. On hatching from the eggs the young caterpillars issue out of the leaf-sheath and may disperse, going into neighbouring plants. They may gnaw into the stems of young seedling plants either from the top or from the side and bore in the central part causing " dead heart " invariably. A\Tien they hatch on tall plants such as rice and wheat in ear, most of them bore into the upper part of the stem and do not disperse until they are somewhat grown. Many young caterpillars are therefore found in individual plants with dry ears. The caterpillars migrate from plant to plant, thus injuring many plants in the course of their life. Page 377. PLATE 38. -^ t^-jSW- mill .■,MMTic&^. !■;. <:-=?"vr-'^f.,.«v.v\^ : W F'g* 1.— C. S. 1666. Borer in Sctfchafinn sjxmtonrtnn. ((. larva ( 4) ; h, pupa ( > 4) ; r, moth (x4) ; the smaller figures show the natural sizes. 0. Fig. 2. — C.S. 1771. Borer in /vVo>/Y^ root. a. larva- /. n-m 9 ■ ^* m<4a4I« PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 377 Pupation takes place inside the bored stem or under a leaf-sheath on the stem in which the larva has fed. Before pupating the larva prepares an exit hole for the moth. Sesamia unijormis. (Plate 37, figs. 2,3.) Foodplants — Sugarcane ; maize ; rarhi and hatri {Sacchanim spontcmeimi) ; ikri {Sacchanim fuscum) ; kanra {Sacchanim anmdinaceum). Besides the above, the caterpillars have been fed on jiiar {Androfogon Sorghum) in the Insectary. Like S. injerens, S. unijormis also remains active practically through- out the year, the growth in \vinter being however very slow. In March young larvae are available in large numbers, especially in kanra, and active caterpillars have been collected practically throughout the year^. To judge from its occurrence it prefers kanra to the other foodplants. It is similar to S. injerens in habit. C. S. 1666 (Plate 38, fig. 1.) Foodplants— i?ar7«i and hatri {Saccharum sjwntaneum) ; ikri {Saccharum juscum) ; sugarcane (Munni, Muzaffarpur, October). The caterpillars of this species have been observed to be active- throughout the year and occur in enormous numbers in rarhi and hatri. Only on one occasioa were they found in ikri at Pusa in small numbers. At Munni, a village in the Muzaffarpur District, they were observed in fair numbers in sugarcane in October, probably because there was no hatri growing there within a radius of about three miles. In winter, active caterpillars have been collected from outside but the pupal stage has been observed in the Insectary to extend to more than two-and-a- half months, although moths emerged in November and January. As usual with all internal borers, the caterpillars cause " dead heart " and bore extensively up and down the stem, converting it into a hollow tube. They pupate inside the bored stem after gnawing an opening on the side for the emergence of the future moth, the mouth of the opening being stopped by a thin layer of the epidermis of the stem. Emmalocera sp. (C. S. 1771). Plate 38, fig. 2. Foodplant — Kanra {Saccharum arundinaceum). These caterpillars exactly resemble those of Emmalocera depressella in appearance and Uke the latter bore the stem near the roots. Their 378 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING seasonal liistory also is apparently similar. They remain active in the hot weather and the rains and hibernate right inside the thick roots. Hibernating larvae collected in March developed into moths between 13th March and 14th April. , Phycitid Borer (C. S. 1700). Foodplant — Tender maize cob. On the 18th September a single caterpillar was collected boring a tender maize cob. It was 10 mm. long, cylindrical and tapering slightly hindwards. • The head was yellow and body pale yellowish-white \n\h. faint and indistinct spiracular and dorsolateral stripes visible under lens. The spiracles were round, a brownish rim enclosing a clear space inside. The booklets on abdominal prolegs were in complete circle. The caterpillar pupated on 23rd September in a silken cocoon formed lining the tunnel. The pupa was about 7-5 mm. long, yellow-brown in colour and without any marking or spine on any of the abdominal segments or on the hind end. The moth emerged on the 3rd October. It resembles the moth of C. S. 1837 to a very great extent. Phycitid Borer (C. S. 1837). Plate 39, fig. 1. Foodplant — Marua {Eleusine coracana). Caterpillars were collected in Mania stems which they were boring near the base, on 16th August. They were not however found in large numbers. Three of them developed into moths between 28th August and 6th September and the rest have been hibernating. The caterpillars resemble those of Emmalocera depressella in colour and appearance but are much smaller in size, being only about 12 mm. long. The head is yellow-brown and the body creamy-white. The spiracles are round with a clear space inside. The five pairs of prolegs are equally developed. Pupation takes place inside the stem. The pupa is yellow-brown and has on its hind end two conical tubercles, one on each side, and four to six much smaller tubercles between these two, all being surmounted with a thin hair. Page 378. FL/^.TE 39. Fig. 1.— (C. S. 1837). Bcier in Elevs.i})<' rorafdva : a, larva 5; />, details of larval spiracte ; r. arrangement of crochets on proleg of larva ; -^^^^' Fig. 2.— >Scii'pop/tf( (J a monosthfni% >;5. Thj s.nillsr figure shows the natural size. WW rage 3S2('J). PLATE 42. Fig. 3.— Annual life-cycle of Schunobius bipunctlfer irr EXPLANATION OF PLATE 43. Schoenobius hifunctifer. The caterpillar (fig. 3) bores into the stem and destroys the heart ; consequently the ear dies. The female moth (figs. 6 & 7) deposits eggs in a cluster on the leaf (tigs. 1 & 2) and covers them with yellow hairs. The cat ei pillars which hatch bore into the stem and eat the interior parts. When fuUgrown they prepare a white cocoon hning the hollow stem ; one end of the cocoon is open and a round hole is cut in the stem opposite the open end in order to enable the future moth to come out easily (fig. 5). In these cocoons they turn into pupae (fig. 4) and ultimately come out as moths (fig-'. 6, 7 & 8). Normally the caterpillars pass the winter in the stubbles after rice is harvested. Figs. 1 & 2. Eggclusters. Fig. .3. Caterpillar. Fig. 4. Pupa. Fig. 5. Cocoon in stem. FigH. 6 & 7. Female moth. Fig. 8. Male moth. ■■f^, PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 383 The season of activity, as in S. xcmtJiogastreUa, lasts from about March to October, the winter being passed in hibernation. This species has so far been observed to occur in verv small numbers at Pusa. Out of a lot of hibernating caterpillars collected in February, 114 S. xantlio- gastrella moths and only three of this species were obtained, these latter emerging on 10th and 11th March. Similarly, out of a lot of caterpillars collected in new sugarcane shoots in April, 22 S. xanthogastrella and only one of this species emerged. Schcenobius bipunctifer, Wlk.* ^ Plate 43. Foodplant — Rice. This is a specific pest of rice and occurs in all rice-growing tracts. It has not yet been observed in any other plant. In Bombay Bulletin No. 69 of 1915 — TJie Rice Stem Borer in the Konkan — Messrs. Kasar- gode and Deshpande state that it has been observed to occur in the following plants : — (1) Coix lachrjjma-jobi, (2) Ischcenvmn aristatum, (3) Andropogon odoratus, (4) Anthistiria ciliata. This statement, however, should be taken with caution as the hiber- nating larvae found in them do not seem to have been definitely reared and identified. Similarly in Formosa, Dr. T. Shiraki, in spite of his very careful work on this insect, recorded in a large volume,"]' did not succeed in tracing any other foodplant. In the neighbourhood of Pusa the moths have been observed to oviposit in May on a large scale on a reed- like grass, locally known as cliicliori {Heleocharis plantaginea), growing in rice fields, especially in marshy situations. Search has been made in these grasses at different times in the year but no trace of any larva has been found in them* Schayiobius bipunctifer is active from about March to October or November and the rest of the year is passed in hibernation in the stubbles. Moths emerged in March from hibernating larva3 collected between December and March. Some larvae may continue to rest till about May or June. On the other hand, young larvae hatched from eggs in * The name bipunctifer, Wlk., although ante-dated bj- incertdlus, Wlk., is retained for this species for the present. f Paddy Borer {Sclianobius inccrteUus, Wlk.) ; Taihoku Agrie. Expt. Station, Formosa^ 1917. VOL. I 2 C »r 384 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING November have been observed in January to feed on ratoon shoots growing from stubbles. During the active season the life-cycle is com- pleted in about six weeks, viz., egg 5 to 6 days, larva 25 to 30 days and pupa 9 to 10 days. Eggs are deposited mostly on leaves in clusters covered over with brown hairs. The young larvae hatch and bore into the stem in the middle of which they feed and pupate. As will appear from the record of its occurrence along with the other borers in rice (Table XII), it is found in small numbers up to about September, after which oviposition takes place on a very large scale on rice in ear in October and the earlier part of November. The larvae which hatch from these eggs hibernate. (Plate 42, fig 3.) Schcenohius sp. (C. S. 1780). Foodplant — Narkat {Phragmites karka). The larvae and pupae of this species are apparently indistinguishable from those of Schcenohius bipunctifer, with which it seems to agree in seasonal history. Procometis trochala (C. S. 1708). Foodplant — Usually decaying sugarcane stem. The larvae of this moth were found in drying stems of sugarcane which they were boring. On only one occasion a larva was observed boring a fresh stem. The larvae have the habit of webbing up pellets of excreta and forming galleries under which they live hidden. The fullgrown larva measures about 28 mm. in length, has a dark brown glossy head, a large prothoracic plate of the same colour as the head and the body dirty light-brown with six yellowish longitudinal stripes on the back. The tubercles on the segments bear longish hairs and are small brown spots, the supraspiracular ones being larger than the others. The five pairs of prolegs are equally developed. \;^^ j ^ ^1 Pupation takes place in the stem in holes previously made by the larva and opening on the side of the stem. The pupa is brown and can be easily distinguished by a pair of pointed spines on the hind end joined at their bases and bent so much ventrally as to have their longer ►axis almost at right angles to the axis of the body of the pupa. ir Page $85. PLATE 44. a.. Fig. \.—liupltiitietopus^ahlutella in sugarcane (C. S. 1801). f^. Larva, x5. b. Pupa, x5. c. Imago, >5. The smaller figures show the natural sizes. Fig. 2.— Annual life-cycle of Chilo simplex. I'ROCEEDI^iGS OF THE TPIIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 385 Raphimetopus (Anerastia) ablutella (C. S. 1801). Plate 44, fig. 1. Foodplant — Sugarcane. In the course of the two seasons 1917 and 1918, the caterpillars of this species were observed to occur in very small numbers in young sugarcane in April 1918 and to cause '• dead heart " like the other borers. The full-grown larva is about 16 mm. long and about 2 mm. across the middle of the body which is cylindrical and slightly tapering at the ends. The head is yellow-brown, glossy. The prothorax green ; the meso-and metathorax and the abdomen copper-coloured dorsally and greenish ventrally. The spiracles are round, yellow-brown. The hairs are brown, thin and longish. The booklets on prolegs are in a complete circle. One pupated on 3rd May and emerged as moth on the 11th May. The pupa is about 8 mm. long and tapering hindwards, the hind end having a few long circinate hairs. The colour is greenish brown. |This. insect is stated by Messrs. Mackenzie and Lefroy to have been found in great numbers at Siripur, Hatliwa, Saran, in young sugarcane when about three weeks to a month above the ground. {Agri. Journ. liul. Ill, p. 104). The larva observed by them was completely green. Chilo simplex, Butl. Plates 45—47. Poodplants — Maize — Pusa ; Mirpurkhas ; Sukkur ; Poona ; Jhalrapatan ; Lyall- pur. Juar {Andropogori Sorghum) — Pusa ; Mirpurkhas ; Landhi ; Lar- kana ; Sukkur ; Jalaun ; Jhalrapatan ; Babugarh ; Lyallpur. Sugarcane — Pusa. Rice — Pusa ; Konkan. Bajra {Pennisetum typhoideum) — Pusa ; Sukkur ; Mirpurkhas. Sama {Panicmn frumentaceum) — Pusa. Marua {Eleusine coracana) — Pusa. Sudan grass — Pusa. Job's Tears (Coix lachrgma-jobi) — Konkan. In this list of foodplants the localities cited are those from wh ch the larvse have been collected in the course of the last two years and ■definitely identified as those of Chilo simplex. 2c2 Fr.^ i 38 G PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING The seasonal history of Chilo simplex is most irregular. Many larvse- begin to rest from September and may continue to do so till July or even August next year. On the other hand moths have emerged up to 12th December and oviposition has been observed to continue in the fields up to the earher part of November. Again, from the same batch of eggs laid in September some larvae have been observed to develop into moths in the earlier part of the cold weather while the others rested till the following July. The earliest date after the cold weather on which moths have been observed to emerge from over-wintering larvse is the 13th of May, The time when over- wintering larvae generally develop into moths is May to July. But active feeding caterpillars, apparently hatched from eggs laid after the winter, have been collected on the 10th April and the eggs from which these larvae developed must have been laid towards the end of March. Therefore the shortest abso- lute resting period when no activity is observable extends from about December to about March and the longest resting period so far noticed lasts from about September to about July or August. Some larvae have been observed to continue their rest 43eyond July but they died in August and it is not known whether they would have rested, till the hot weather in the following year. While over-wintering larvae rest in this manner, normal successive broods occur in the case of those which become active in spring. (Plate 44, fig. 2.) The shortest and longest periods required for the completion of the life-cycle in the warm weather during the active season have been observed to be 36 and 63 days respectively, viz., egg 3 to 5 days, larva 28 to 50 days and pupa 5 to 8 days. In the case of resting larvae the life-cycle may take up to about nine months. The creamy- white flattened scale-like eggs are deposited on the stem or leaves, more usually on leaves in clusters, and overlapping one another like the tiles on a roof. The clusters stick to the substratum like scales. When the eggs hatch, the young larvae walk down into the heart of such plants as maize and juar. Some may be disturbed by the waving of the leaves by wind and let themselves clown with silk and are thus blown on to neighbouring plants. They are active creatures, capable of walk- ing over the ground to neighbouring plants and effecting their entrance into the stem through the side. In the worst cases the plants may be- riddled by the larvae and maize and jiiar which are somewhat grown may not show " dead heart " although their stems may be bored through alid through. The larvae pupate inside the stem. It is really a pest of maize, juar and rice. Maize is mainly attacked when young and practically wholly avoided when mature. Juar is however attacked in all stages. It occurs in rice throughout the season P<((J( 3S6{1). PLATE 45. Fig. 1 — Egg-cluster of C7filo simplex (C S. 1819) x30. Fig. l.—t'hilo simplex, larva, lateral and dorsal views, x 5. «^^^r ^^m EXPLANATION OF PLATE 46. Fig. 1. Chilo sim'plex (C. S. 1580). o. Lateral, and, ft* dorsal view of larva, x 5. c. Details of spiracle on fifth segment, more highly magnified. d. Details of first proleg, seen from below, more highly magnified. {^Note. — Anterior hair on right side of anal plate was absent in this specimen ) Fig. 2. Chilo simplex (C. S. 1561). a. Pupa, X 5. b. Posterior segments of pupa, lateral view, mOie highly magnified. c. Anal segment of pupa, ventral surface, more highly magnified. Page 3S6{2). PLATE 46, .^0S^0^^ OL. Fig. -\.—ChUo si tuple Ji' (C. S. 1£80) Fig. l.— t'hiJo shii2)fex (C. S. 1561) Pngp. 3S0{.3). PLATE 47. V;- • •■.':;.i 'yw %\\\sy# ..::':V^ f ;sai --;30. ^ Fig. 2.— Eggs of Diutrwa venosaUi ( x 24). Fig. 3.-Annual life-cycle of JJiatrwa venosatu. Fig. 4.— Annual life-cycle of JJiatraa auiicili PROCEEI)I>GS OF THE THIRD EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 287 and in greatest numbers about October-November when the rice comes into ear. Hibernation and aestivation take place mainly in rice stubbles and juar stalks. Of all the borers in gramineous crops this is the most widespread and occurs in the largest numbers. The appearance of the caterpillars varies a little. The common form is shown in PI. 45. f. 2 in which there are distinct sub-dorsal brown stripes with the warts indistinct. In a second form (PI. 46, f . 1) the sub- dorsal stripes approach one another on the back and practically meet. In a third form the stripes are rather indistinct and the warts prominent. This third form is not common. Diatrcsa auricilia (C. S. 1574). Plate 48 ; Plate 49, figs. 1,4. Poodplants — • Sugarcane — Pusa ; Sipaya ; Sabour • Munni, Muzaffarpur ; Chin- surah ; Bankura ; Cawnpore ; Lyallpur ; Sukkur ; Landhi ; Manjri. Juar (Andropogon Sorghum) — Pusa. Rarhi and Bafri {Saccharum sjjonfaneum) — Pusa. Ikri {Saccharum fuscmn) — Pusa. Jove grass (Rotthoellia compressa) — Pusa. The localities mentioned above are the places where caterpillars have been collected in the course of the last two years and definitely identified. Out of these foodplants it occurs in the largest numbers in hatri and, next to that, in sugarcane. In the other foodplants it has been found occasionally and in small numbers. The seasonal history of this species too is very irregular. Some larvae begin to rest from about July and pupate and emerge as moths in the following March- April. Many caterpillars however, continue to be active up to about October when hibernation on a general scale commences. Moths have been obtained up to 15th November before winter and the earliest date after winter when moths have emerged from over- wintering larvae is the 12th March, on which date young larvae also have been collected from hatri. During the active season the life-cycle occupies about five to six weeks, viz., egg about 3 days, larva about 30 days and pupa 7 to 8 days. Eggs are deposited in the same maimer as observed in the case of Chilo simplex. The caterpillars boie in the middle of the stem. In sugarcane they occur more commonly in young shoots than in grown canes. In halri they occur in all stages 388 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING of the plants. Tliey pupate in the affected stems and the moths emerge through holes previously made by the larvse. (Plate 49, fig. 4.) The caterpillars have five bro^^Ti stripes on a pale yellow body and show no variation or change in appearance. Diatrcea venosata (0. S. 1607). Plate 49, figs. 2,3 ; Plates 50, 51. Foodplants — Sugarcane. Sudan grass. Rarhi and Batri — (SaccJwrum spontaneum). Juar — (Andropogon Sorghum). Ikri {Saccharwn fuscum). Bajra (Pennisetum, typhoideum). All these foodplants have been recorded in the neighbourhood of Pusa. The caterpillars occur largely in batri, Sudan grass and juar and only occasionally in the other plants. The seasonal history of this species is more regular than that of Chilo simplex and Diatrcea auricilia. Hibernation iii the larval state commences about September and continues up to March-April when the over- wintering larvae pupate and emerge as adults. During the active season the life-cycle occupies about five to seven weeks, viz., egg about 6 days, larva about 21 to 30 days and pupa 9 to 11 days. Eggs are deposited in the same manner as Chilo sifnplex. The caterpillars feed inside the stem and have been observed to occur more in grown plants than in young ones, many of them being found in individual stems. Pupation takes place inside the tunnels in the affected stems. This insect is a real pest of juar among the cultivated crops. The caterpillars have large shining dark browm warts, u.sually with broad pinkish stripes along the line of the trapezoidal and supra-spira- cular warts. In some cases the stripes may be indistinct and in certain other cases again the warts may be indistinct. In hibernating larvae both the stripes and warts may be indistinct. Diatrcea sp. (C. S. 1610).* Plates 52, 54, aud 53, fig. 1. Foodplant — Sugarcane. This borer has so far been observed to be confined to Eastern Bengal and Assam, the western-most places where it has been found being Goalundo and Pabna. There has been no opportunity of investigating it properly. Therefore neither its seasonal history nor alternative * Since named bj Sir George Hampson as Argyria tumidicoslalis, Hmpsn. Paqp. S8S(1). PLATE 50. Fig. -i.— Hi of i (CO if^ujsata (C. S. 1635). a, lateral, and h, doissl vitw cf [arva /4 ; r. detail cf spiracle cf fifth segment, more hig'ily magnified ; m rfe^tfir^r^l^ >m^ «39 0 0 1^ «s»- P!«4 1 ^ a. "'^ifiA!^':^ Fig. 1. Argyria tumidicostalis (C S. 1610). c <>••' EXPLANATION OF PLATE 52. Fig. L Argyria tumidicostalis (C. S. 1610). a. Lateral, b, dorsal, and, c, ventral view of larva, x i d. Details of spiracle on fifth segment, more highly magnified. e. Details of proleg, seen from below, more highly magnified. Fig. 2. Argyria tumidicostalis (C. S. 1610). a. Pupa, x4. 6. Posterior segments of p'lpa, seen laterally, more highly magnified. c. Anal segment of pupa, ventral surface, more highly magnified. f» aooe .RQVQ lo eJjif»i Page 389(2). PLATE 53. Fig. ^.-^ iif/i/ri(( ttnniffirostafis, Hmpsn. (C. S. 1610), third form of larva. (Note.- The submedian hair on left side of penultimate segment was absent in this individual larva bui was present on the right side.) Fig. 2.- Annual life-cycle of Jiiatraa sp. (C. S. 1674) * f PdffeSSCiS), PLATE 54. Artjfjria tUHUilicostalLs (C. S. 1610). Moths ^5. ^The smaller figures indicate the natural sizes. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 389 foodplants are known. The larvae have been collected at Pabna in the latter part of August, at Dacca in July and September and at Jorhat, Assam, in August, in all cases in sugarcane. All of them developed into moths in August, September and before 2nd October. Mr. S. E. Gupta sent 138 larva? and 12 pupse from Jorhat in August 1918. Ninety- two of them developed into moths, 59 females and 33 males, between 23rd August and 26th September. Almost all of them were tried for eggs in the Pusa Insectary without success. The full-grown larva is about 30 mm. long and cylindrical in shape. The head is red-brown, shiny. The prothoracic shield is large, dirty brown in colour and divided longitudinally by a faint marking. The general colour of the body is pale yellowish-white. The marking and warts on the body show the following variations : (1) There may be two broad slightly pinkish-brown stripes on each side of the body, one subdorsal and the other supraspiracular, the dark brown large shiny warts being situated on these stripes ; such larvae closely resemble the active larvae of Diatrcra venosata. (2) The stripes may be indistinct, the warts only being very prominent on the skin. (PI. 52, f. 1). These larvae too are liable to be mistaken for those of Diatrwa venosata. (3) The warts may be altogether indistinct, the stripes only being present in an interrupted manner and the two stripes on each side approaching each other at intervals (PI. 53, f. 1). Such larvae are hable to be confused with those of Chilo simplex. (4) Both stripes and warts may be indis- tinct. Of these four types of larvae the second is the commonest. The morphological characters given in the key of the larval forms, on which the differentiation is based, are always constant. The caterpillars occur in large numbers in individual jilants which are literally riddled, some dust being thrown out from side-openings in the stem. They pupate inside the affected stems near previously- made holes through which the mature pupa wriggles out before the moth emerges. The pupa is bro^vn and the characters given in the key of the pupal forms distinguish it sufficiently. Of all the internal borers so far observed this is the most injurious to grown-up canes. Diatma sp. (C. S. 1674). Plates 55, 56. Foodplants — Sugarcane — Dacca ; Pusa. Rice — Pusa ; Karimganj, Sylhet. This species is active from about February-March to October -Novem- ber, the winter being passed in hibernation in the larval state. (Plate 53, fig. 2). f s- 390 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING The caterpillars were found in some numbers in grown-up sugarcanes at Dacca in July and September, and have been observed at Pusa only, in small numbers in rice from July to November and in grown canes in October. The larva closely resembles those of Diatrcea auricilia (C. S. 1574:) and Rice Chilo (C. S. 1677), but can be distinguished with the help of the key. The full-grown larva is about 20 to 25 mm. long. The head is red- brown, shiny. The prothoracic shield is almost similarly coloured as the head and divided longitudinally in the middle by a faint marking. The general colour of the body is pale yellow. There are five brown stripes on the back, one mid-dorsal and two on each side. In some larvae there is a black band on the inner side of the abdominal prolegs. The pupa is rather slender-looking compared with the pupae of the other borers and either brownish-grey or brown in colour. On the head end just above the eyes there is a transverse ridge the two ends of which protrude slightly in the form of a pair of short horns. The prothoracic spiracles are rather large arching ridges and the abdominal ones are protuberant short tubes with clear holes. These characteristics di^ tinguish it altogether from the pupae of the other borers. The Rice Chilo (C. S. 1677). Plates 57,58. Foodplant — Rice. This species has not yet been observed to occur in any other plant, In the Insectary the larvae fed on maize and sugarcane stems. But i1 was evident that they did not like these two plants and were compelled to bore them in the absence of rice. As a general rule, the caterpillars hibernate in rice stubbles from about the end of November to about March, the over-wintering larvae pupating and emerging as moths on a large scale in March to May. But moth.s have been observed to emerge up to 12th November before winter and on 5th, 13th and 20th January and 2nd, 18th, 20th, 25th and 28tl] February. The early- emerging moths breed in early-sown rice : larvae have been collected in desaria rice in April. Up to about September the larvae are found in rice in small numbere. They occur in larg^ numbers when rice comes ini o ear in October and November. This u why we observe such large numbers of the larvae in rice stubbles in winter. Pu/Vfr»vr^/ sp. in sugarcane at Dacca (C. S. 1674). n, lateral, and b, dorsal view of larva, 4 ; r. details of spiracle en fifth segment, more highly magnified; H(tr(i(i sp. in sugarcane at Dacca (C S. 1674). ti. Pupa 5. [h. Posterior segments of pupa, seen laterally more highly magnified ; c, anal segment of pupa, ventral surface, more highly magnified. racje -390{i PLATE 56. ■■■■■ •-■^^:ffi »'-•!■ •■■■'■fel 7:-; tots; $ ^^^^ *»/V. I '''u..».;v^'^ (C. S. 1674), Moths 5. The smaller figures shew the natural sizes. Page 390(3). PLATE 57. V. ■•' Fig. 1.— C. S. 1677 ; , larva, dorsal view > 5 ; r, details of spiracle ; . posterior segments of pupa, seen laterally, more highly magnified ; r, anal segment of pupa, ventral surface, more highly magnified. Page 390{4) PLATE 58. <<;;';• ••■to Va.- \ \ N |i''%yi# Fig. I.e. S. 1677. Moths 5. The smaller figures indicate the natural sizes. Fig. 2. Annual life-cycle of Rice Chiht (C S. 1677) \. Page 39 1(1). ^LATE E9. ct ■■W >i 3*! •k ^ K K.-U •«*;; A • 1' V1 .^^ ^J ^J '0 A >1 < Fig. 1. (C. S. 1769). ((, larva, lateral view 5 ; h, larva, dorsal view x 5 ; c, details of spiracle ; (f, arrangement of crochets on proleg. Fig. 2.- (C. S. i769). Borer in kanra stem ; moth, natural size and magnifed. "' - 11 irn I \< Page 39t(2). PLATE 60. Fig. 1. — (C. S. 1769). ((, pupa, posterior portion from side (> 13) ; h, anal segment ct pupa, end view, more highly magnified. Fig. 2. — (C S. 1795). a, posterior portion of pupa, magnified ; h. anal segment of pupa, posterior view, magnified. Fig. 3.- (C S. 1795). Borer in ifiii stem ; moth, natural size and magnified. niOCEEDlXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 391 Eggs are deposited in the same manner as tliose of Chilo simplex. The caterpillars bore inside the stems and also pupate there. The f\illgrown larva measures about 20 mm. in length, and tapers slightly , larva, dorsal view 5 ; r, spiracle more highly magnifiea ; il. arrangement of crochets on proleg of larva. Fig. 2. Pupa of (C. S. 1831), Borer in larhi; n, pupa 5 ; h. posterior extremity of pupa, side-view, more highly magnified ; r, posterior extremity of pupa, anal view more highly magnified. ^ r r . «, Page 392(2). PLATE 62. •.•■^n>.- •;;'(:;;;■' Fig. 1.— Borer in »'«*•/*/ stem (C.S. 1831). Moths x5. TtiJ smaller figures indicate the natural sizes,^ Fig. 2.~(C. S. 1835). Borer in Sncchmmm fuscinn, natural size and magnified ( x 5). fage 392{3). PLATE 63. Fig. 1. Borer in i/,i/ (C S. 1835). ff, larva, side-view > 5; //. cfcrsal view 5 ; r, details of spiracle ; tf, arrangtirtnt cf crtchtfs (n rrcifg. Fif, ■ i. (C. S. 1835). Pupa of borer in //./v ; f/. side-view, magnified 5 • h, posterior extremity, side-view, more highly magnified ; r. a single spine more highly magnified ; »/. anal segment, highly magnified. ' 1^ . u Page 393. PLAIE b4. Fig. 1.— Pyralid larva boring in SitctlHiniin spoHtdttrffiii x3. Fig. 2. -(F- 18)- Borer in //./■/ stem. (The smaller figure shows the natural size.) PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 393 ? Pyralid borer. Plate 64, fig. 1. Foodplant — Rarki and Batri {Saccharum spontaneum). These caterpillars, which we have not yet been successful in rearing,. occur in very large numbers. The hard steins of grown-up plants are converted into hollow tubes throughout their length, a single larva usually occurring in individual plants. The heart shoot dies and dries only when the larva bores near the top. The insect has only one generation in the year. Young larvse are found about July and they feed up to about the early part of November, by which time they become fullgrown. Then they rest through the winter and the hot weather, pupating and emerging as moths about June-July. The larvae have been observed to rest in the Insectary up to the middle of August and then die. The fullgrown larva is about 35 mm. long. The shape is cylindrical or rather semicylindrical being slightly compressed dorsoventrally. The head is glossy-yellow. The segments of the body have an elongated ■and slightly chitinized and glossy appearance. The hairs are small and black. The spiracles are elongated oval, brown with a dark narrow rim. The five pairs of prolegs are short, equally developed and have their booklets in complete circles. f- Pyralid borer. (Plate 64, fig. 2). Foodplant — Ikri (Saccharum fuscum) . A caterpillar with a glossy yellow-brown head and the body having a green colour on the ventral surface and the sides and dorsally a brow^lish tinge on the prothorax, pink on the mesothorax and deep pink or rather red on the rest of the segments, was observed to occur in large numbers- in March. They fed on sugarcane stems in the Insectary but could not be reared. ? Pvralid borer. Foodplant — Bairi [Saccharum spontaneum batri). A rather slender-bodied, pale-yellow caterpillar, "with a yellow head, reddish-brown patches in the subdorsal region of the segments of the body arranged in longitudinal rows on the back and a very prominent visible broad brown tracheal tube running from the thoracic to the last abdominal spiracle on each side, was collected in small numbers-; in June. It could not be reared. 394 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING Ramila ruficostalis (C. S. 1533). Plate 65, fig. 1. Foodplant — Bamboo. A few caterpillars were collected from the top shoots of bamboo branches showing "dead heart" on 10th January. They had bored the twigs and were apparently hibernating. They continued to rest and pupated in March, emerging on 26th March. Argi/roploce paragramma (C. S. 1631). Plate 65, fig. 2. Foodplant — Tender bamboo shoots. The caterpillars are very common in the rainy season, infesting and boring new bamboo shoots as they come out of the ground. Gene- rally a great many caterpillars are found in the same shoot boring the stem, completely hidden under the leafsheaths. They are responsible for the death of a fair percentage of the new shoots. Bactra truculenta (C. S. 1489). Foodplant — Mootha {Cyperus rotundus). The caterpillafrs of this Eucosmid moth were found boring the stems in October. Heliothis ohsoleta. Plate 66. Foodplants — Gram ; tobacco ; pigeon-pea {Cajamis indicus); mangel- wurzel ; lucerne ; hemp [Cannabis saliva) ; khesari {Latlujrus sativus); wheat ; val (Dolichos lablab) ; flax ; oats ; castor ; hajra {Pennisetum typhoideum) ; maize ; tomato ; onion ; indigo ; rose ; Dhutra {Datura stramonium) ; pumpkin ; sweet-potato ; sunflower ; cottonbud ; mania {Eleusine coracana) ; han-bhindi {Malackra capital a) ; Physalis peruviana. In the neighbourhood of Pusa Heliothis obselota occurs in large n'.nnbers only on gram and arhar {Cajanus indicus) of which they bore the pods. Sometimes the caterpillars occur in small numbers on maize of which the tender cob or the soft part of the top of the stem is bored. Similarly they occur in small numbers on bajra heads which are bored. Pngf .304(7). PLATE 65. ■■•::■:"{ '• '■•i^ ■■".'"• 1 1 ..Uol Fis. 1. -n«»„7r, r„/!ro,M/s 5. Tha smafler figure sl,ows Ih. oMural size. Page 30^(2). FL'TE C5. ■ J ■■^•n ^ t ;3' a. :m c. #:? Fig. 2. A I'f/i/roplocc /xn'of/ramiiia (C. S. 1631). r^, bamboo shoot with outer sheathing leaves removed, showing bore-hole of larva ; h. larva, natuial iiie tt6 magnified ( 5i ; c. pupa, natural size and magnified i 5) ; \'n:/:i^j<{x:^ VjW EXPLANATION OF PLATE 66. Heliothis obsoleta, Fb. Fig. 1. An egg laid on a tur-pod (magnified). Figs. 2 — 5. Caterpillars on a gram plant, two eating into the pods (life-size). Fig. 6. Pupa in its underground cell (life-size). Fig. 7. Moth in repose (life-size). Fig. 8 Moth with wings expanded (life-size). PLATE 66. r it -J g-' W ■f *•«» 8 ^^ V^ 1 ■ s-^..- i} ^y^J&l...A^' 1 HELIOTHIS OBSOLETA. V. PLATE G7. Fi^. 1.— J>rr«; /si"s i-iKfo^cl/in (C S. 1873), larva. (The smaller figure shjws the natiiral size.) F'g- 2.—Dafitfsrs rtif/ospfhf>i. natural size and magnified (x5). ntOCEEDlNGS OF TIIK THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 395' Dasyses rugoselhis (C. S. 1873). Plate 67. FoocI — Usually decaying vegetable matter. Caterpillars of this moth were observed to feed gregariously by boring inside sugarcane stems which had been afTected by fungal diseases following the attack of borers such as Scirpophaga and Diatrcea. They did not infest healthy canes. They exuded a profuse amount of silk with which the pellets of excreta were webbed up into tube-like galleries. The caterpillars were observed to hibernate from about October to February. Pupation took place in oval silken cocoons covered over with pellets of excreta. Moths emerged in March. The damage to sugarcane caused by borers. Let us commence with the planting of the setts in the ground. The setts are liable to be eaten by termites. A short account of what is being done to prevent this damage has been given when dealing with these insects. When the new shoots appear they are liable to be attacked by Termites, Mole-crickets, Melolonthid grubs and other external agents, as well as by all the internal borers mentioned under this crop. Of the internal borers, however, usually only Scirpophaga spp. and Diatrcea auricilia are common at this stage at Pusa, the others occurring in small numbers. The fungal diseases also may appear at this time. The first external symptom of attack by all these destructive agents is " dead heart." The infested shoots are either killed and become entirely dry or continue to be green for some time with their heart-shoot dead and dry. The effect however, is the same in all cases, viz., their further growth is stopped. Except when affected by fungal diseases, all such shoots throw out new shoots from the base, giving rise to the tillerincr effect so commonly observed. Many of the new shoots or tillers also are attacked in their turn. This struggle between the shoots and their enemies goes on and only those of the shoots which escape being attacked continue to grow. Those which have grown somewhat and formed stems (canes) become immune against some of the enemies but their growth may be stopped at a later stage, as they remain hable throughout their life to be bored at the top by Scirpophaga spp., in the stem by the species of Diatrcea, Sesamia and Chilo, and at the roots by Termites and EmmaJocera. E. depressella itself cannot kill a grown-up cane but the fungal diseases, to which its tunnel affords access, do the work for it. Termites may kill a grown-up plant and, even when they merely 396 niOCEEDINGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING gnaw the surface and do not kill it themselves, fungal diseases follow. When fungal diseases affect the base of the stem usually the entire cane dries up. The borers in the grown cane itself, observed at Pusa in the course of the last two seasons, did not prove to be serious. They are the same which infest the young shoots. They do not however occur in large numbers in individual plants and one or two caterpillars in the stem of a grown-up plant are not able to kill it or retard its growth seriously, although a single larva is sufficient to kill a young shoot. Besides, they seem to prefer young shoots to grown-up canes and, as there are plenty of young shoots always in the field, the majority of the grown canes escape being attacked. The tunnel of the borers in the stem always opens externally and, affords access to fungal diseases, which in extreme cases may cause the upper part of the cane to dry up. The effect of fungal diseases in grown canes is observed to be slow. Sometimes the tunnel of the borers may run across the stem in such a manner as to cause it to break at that point or to stop further growth above it. When growth stops in this manner vigorous plants put forth side shoots (PI. 68, f. 1 «, c, d). The effect of attack at the top by Scirpophaga caterpillars is always to stop further growth and the plants may either wither from the top downwards or put forth side-shoots (fig. 2 and fig. 1 b). No other borer attacks grown canes at the top. The planting of cane is usually done about February and the greatest injury to the crop is caused by the borers in the young stage and up to about July. By this time some plants are grown and become partly immune, the harvest being obtained principally from these plants. As will appear from records of actual observations given below of two varieties of thick canes, viz., Purple Mauritius and Sathi No. 131, on the average, out of every four shoots which grow only one comes to be harvested, the other three being killed at various stages of growth, mainly by the injurious activities of insects and fungal diseases. All thick varieties seem to be Hable to a similar amount of damage. Thin varieties are however more resistant. A rough idea of the comparative immunity of thick and thin varieties may be formed from column 6 in Table V giving the number of harvestable canes out of every 100 setts planted. The experiments of 1917. In November 1916 a plot | acre in area in Chaunia field at Pusa was planted with Purple Mauritius. In Table I, the percentage of affected plants, including dry ones as well as those with " dead heart," and the proportion of the agents of damage are shown. Paqe 396. PLATE 68. PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 397 o CO 5S a < a Eh < P^ fn O O in Z H o g CQ e CO o e»5 (N ?^ P-S «1 B'tS g e s l*^ tj ?^ oo lb 00 o o o CO o C5 o •+-; MH '"O _ C o o 5 O ffi O H CO CO CO eh fO CO eS c3 P C5 M >> § § cS 3 3 1^ t-s t^ ^ ^ ^ B +3 r- o 05 i-H 1 '^ 3 to to > r^-" 3 32 (1) -;? , *-^. ^t: rH -4-i ^' ffl u_( O o • t^ r^ o o o m ^ & .*:> ^ .H o Ci o r^ ;-< (11 0) -IJ p^ fl 03 CO o tJ £ 3 o d T-l e* rl o eS O s ^ ^ t! tt -»J p=- '-^ ii *-h-l CO o o t-( -t-> CJ « 2 3 t3 3 " OJ rt -t-> a> Si M '^ a o ^ £■- w tj A -M > 1— H ^ 1 Ol -^ -t3 »— 3 (U u 3 o a> &< 398 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING rSS »-':> i~-i s o ■^ <4> •♦o s ?^ !?s ■^ >» ^ Q S ** «o I-i O .§ ^ lO Cri S ^ ■■is o %» s ;^ 1 "^ ^ <» ■S^ !^ t--^ S ^ Os •*-i c "o* !L> >>* %. • rO ?-. o Oi " <>i f--l CO r*^ V. C t^ s; s c; fO %« « ^ •<^i g •t^ CO 60 JS o h«; CO ►-S •»-i ^ e g ^ H rJ2 o c <' ?i, o o 6 =0 CO o ^s ^ Bq •- la CO fiSI 00 CO 00 o , m m -^ o o .'■■A S .o CJ CO O 4-1 'C O ffl . . St « d . (-H cS © C5 S 03 ,„_, -d ft 1 •«2 1 ■4^ T3 OT a ^H (M O © -M c a ft 2 -to CT! © <1~' ^ e+-< ■(-> O c: -— © ©• o o fe -o Ph © ■^ ©■ 'l> is T! © -to c d © © ai u © © © •m r/) © -to C 3 C7) C o O o ej L*' O o © =g 1 O -to c © © ■n ^ -ta ^ © ■e ,^ c« © C o -+-» Tl C- c3 C © a^-n 4 -e !^ 1 (S o -*-» J r^ »-H 03 r— 1 C -to r o © s PEOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAi. JsiEElTNG 399 * • « 5 d 6 ■{a fi fl 2 a H P o <^ =*- 2 th ^ u o S eo . . ix 3 P^ -^ o S^" ft T a 1 to a 60 rH i o -?;! , , , C3 •-5 • • • R ^ O a to i-H o CO o ■"<« =s OS «o «5 o iH fH Q CI §1 1 a -4^ *iS .fl s .a o CI O o -»i +:< .1^ *i r-l ^ n 7a5 •eg .ti a ?H,^ ^^ *3l-5 T(i|-5 lOl-S 1— 1 o IH . a- © CO ir> in o Perce of damug -rt* t^ 0) o 1-1 .2 5 5 1. fi •4^ '/J i.2 J:S 1 <« 5S 1-H .^ ^ ■^i r% C-J I- l— t* a h H H fri H 0.-N Variety. Thick ( = T) Thin(— Tn. ■§ in • cj rH i-i 6 i •s - 11 5 C3 1 § - W4 1 Ph t« CO >« .iilrH O H 'J §1 a 2 c; 1-1 ^ fc- X! SC g^ 'u-i S° x: v5 Su cj m > ^2 p.*^ 14.^ 'S. 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PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 00 P3 •i HO o <3 c^ o -I- >i 00 fe O (1 ; the young earthing many ' Counted earth shoots. CO t- l> t-- i-H QO (N 00 M< CJ t- o ^ U-i "^ ^ 00 oo 05 o CI r5 n^ *^ '^ (n rt^ O t- M t- l> 00 05 o Eh P^ 05 Th o CI CO t- ic CO (35 00 o CO CI C-; >* -* ■* C2 lO t^ o -* »o I— ( I-H "+ CO CO C o CI CI 00 (N ■* f-H lO ■<*i Ci c« C5 P4 cS 1^ f-H < S r« V 1-* pQ u -W •4^ a CD a< Ci r- S CJ 1 <5 1 I-H 1 ^ i ^ i i -4-:> •*i -M -t3 >o >o eo 00 CD CJ -H ca 00 I-H o c^ 00 1-H C5 I-H >> 1-3 CO M ca 00 I-H 05 » (H O -^ o O I (X I-H C5 * ft i S 11 I'KOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 403 o 5-H d HO Q H o w H < ►J < El a ■A :j 'A o ss ^ nb s S s. a « -0 o o o 6 CO 6 o e 3 ^i 6\ » CO O Co 5^ 6 o to r-H ^ -k^ r; O o o S CD CO © 9 o r^ M O "? O M -3 S - o 3 02 o p.-^^ o >- - -is .t; -^ &,o p. 5^ CO 5-1 CO CO • • . • 00 CO • F^ -H ^4 OO 00 iuat Oi OS >-H (— t 00 1— 1 F-H OS OS 1—4 a Oi M h >> >> 1 I— 1 P4 P4 =3 1 < 5 jd t-5 ^H -*3 .4^ S ^^ *;" 1-^ 4 tS 1 j3 ■* d t^ £< -iJ (n M to CQ o d c3 o O d I— I to 00 " a ^§ * a B ■3 404 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING f — i ■^ S w 5 "I S p H o CO -w 1^ <=> H § H e 2 S o nS f-H eS 05 n3 S »o .■S^ ^ b § fl «o d m !^-S g .-H o3 l-H Jft eo O H-l B o O to ^ ft O m ^ c3 O a a e3 I 3 00 CO «o «o 00 00 00 O CO oo o 00 I— I o> O o O :S 00 00 (id o .A o a O 00 1 ^ O o ■*2 ^ CO CO ffi O e -4-3 p •s, ffl Ph CS le -a s P4 s o fcr ( •♦> • ■V £-1 cS eo P^ K i4^ ^ ai CS o 03 -1^ fe ^ c3 ■& e 1=1 © Q OQ CO C Cl M P P CS ts • •\ § 1 © -4^ cq H ^3 C P .2 © f4 tu n ft I-i o h-i © © t>J ^ ^ CO- h P 60 t-4 T3 ■*^ O .5 ^ P O • *i IS o § 1—4 a I>1 Ti © o fl is C3 S-4 >> i © rP T3 -w -4^ <1) 1 'S 5 Ph © c^ 8 ft h- 1 -3 © P P< 1—4 o a. § 8 o is o « ^ iri. C3 & £> •^ •c-" fll ft cS =Q ^ ^ T! Cf) w* fr> i; (N ^ % i^ t: e -M >- rt &> C o *w (1) « "-> hC o w a. © n 'O o * s CS fl> &, ^ o 1 T) PKOCEEDINGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 405 S5^ o < > < W Ph P o Pi o 5JU0l{ PB8(I xiniBOH fc p 8ni.ii(j Xjp Ap^eidraoo ti Id a a < « a sauBO poijoutJJqnii w H pq souBO paqouBJqnji C3 •s Siv.i .{(( poS^'oiBp S9ui'o UAvoao CO o 00 sjUJioiir Xq psAvgip souuo cln-u.wojg 25* .~5 uu )s U[ papsgB sauBO dn-nAvoiQ o Cl in (N CO ■■A Xjct 1- o -*• o IS CO o of C3 CO to CO o ■ (MOO (M saqouBiq AiQ 11 IM O t4 saqDUBJtq Aubui 1-t H sanco JO -ok ■* SO CO CO 50 a c^oo I iH ,C05 S)Oii.JUt;Jq AJ(J^ rH seiJouBiq XaBui Aioq ui "H 'a « SOUBO JO -OX ii Cl p< a P 3 & rH ir:^ '^ ^ P C3 :n m cc Ci ^ ^ o c^ C3 ■1— » >. -i a ^■ eo 1 ^■ r-i Ci H P5 406 rilOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING V. Co no O 5S Co Si 1 >.^ ^ 4- * For ever hundrec canes ho many young O 1^ CO 00 O •^ CI CO o 00 00 lO CO t~ •* to o "* I y 1 l-u^ 13 Grown anes pe cent. a setts plante !0 t^ o c o o CO o eo (>1 ir> o C-1 M o to r- CO o o L^ t- CI t^ w C5 . 6 ih ■?»< ih l^ (>1 in CO l"- K n t^ lO lO 00 to -* rH -<1 o . a la P o e-i

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CO r-l CO T-H o'd in 0 73 P ■ PSTS ea cs" C ^1 ^1 1' ■3^ OS J c3 CO CO CO Ph M O Q ^ \- •PPI JlJlJil •'ll!'lf IROCEEDIXGS OF THE IHIRD EXTOMOLOGIC^VL MEETING 407 As regards growth, in tlie middle of April 1917, the plants in the plot planted in November 191G ^Yere slightly ahead of those of the plot planted in February. But the difference in gi-owth did not indicate a difference of four months in planting. The difference disappeared by May. As regards yield the plot planted in November was better than that planted in February. This result, however, cannot be depended upon as conclusive. From the two plots of Purple Mauritius all the affected plants examined on the different dates given in Tables I and II were cut out with the insects. No other plot was similarly treated. The Experiments of 1918. In February 1918 two half-acre plots of SatJii No. 131 were planted, one for treatment by cutting out and removing plants and shoots which were dry or showed " dead heart " together with the insects found in them, and the other to be left untreated as a check. The two plots were in an area known as the Brickfield at some distance from the main sugarcane area of the Farm in Jhilh'. They were practically similar as regards soil and were not contisjuous. having about half-an-acre of indigo between them. This field was previously a piece of wasteland overgro^vn with Saccharum sponfaneum and Tmperala arundinacea and was even now bordered by similar wastelands on the west side, as will appear from the plan. The setts, about a foot in length, were examined by the Entomological and Mycological Assistants against borers and Red Rot. For the treated plot the setts were dipped in lead arsenate solution (lib. of Thompson Chemical Co.'s 40 per cent, lead arsenate in 2 gallons cold water) and dried in the shade before being planted, 51bs. lead arsenate being used for about 9,000 setts. The setts were planted in furrows made with a plough and, before the furrows were filled up with the harrow, powdered oilcake was sprinkled in them. Both the plots were weeded in the third week of June, powJered oilcake was sprinkled near the base of the plants and their bases earthed up by driving a ridging plough between the rows of plants. No further cultivation was given to either of the plots. As usual with the cultiva- tion of sugarcane at Pusa no irrigation was given. Between the 7th and 13th August both the plots were submerged in water, the water standing a few inches above the ground. The water was pumped out by the 1 3th and 1 4th August but the furrows between the rows of sugar- canes remained full and the soil did not dry or become fit to be walked on before the middle of September. Both the plots were examined on various dates, the actual number •of plants and those with " dead heart " or dry being noted, and the 408 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING afiected plants in the treated plot being cut out at intervals. The results of examination are given in Tables VI to X. The work of the different agents of damage is shown in Table VIII. In Table XI are shown the final results of the two plots and also the results of examin- ation of the thick varieties of sugarcane grown by the Farm in Jhilli. As has been indicated in the plan, portions of both the plots adjoining the wasteland became bare. This was practically due to termites which ate the setts as well as the new shoots. The figures in Table VIII relate only to the shoots which grew and were then attacked and not to the setts which were eaten underground by the termites. The crop was obtained only from the shaded portion of each plot as indicated in the plan, which in the case of the treated plot was about 13,544 sq. feet and in that of the untreated plot about 18,281 sq. feet. In calculating the harvested result given in Table XI the entire plots including the bare parts have been taken into consideration. (See Plate 69.) If we exclude the bare portion of each plot and calculate on the approximate number of setts which covered only the shaded parts which yielded the harvest, the number of canes which came to harvest- able stage represents 111 per cent, of setts in the treated. and 116 per cent, of setts in the untreated plot. The weight of canes harvested was 6,550 lb. in the treated and 11,440 lb. in the untreated plot. Taking only the shaded portions of both the plots into consideration the yield worked out at 21,066 lb. per acre in the treated and 27,259 lb. per acre in the untreated plot. Therefore, we see that the cutting out treatment, instead of helping the crop, actually does some harm to it. The same effect was observed in the 1917 experiment with Purple Mauritius. The yield of the treated plot of Purple Mauritius given in colurmi 6 of Table V may be com- pared with the yield of the same cane in 1918 given in Table XI. The reason of the inefficacy of the treatment is obvious. " Dead heart " in young canes is caused by various agents which are not removed simply by the removal of the shoots with " dead heart." Scirpophaga is the only insect which is likely to be removed if the shoot is cut before the moth emerges. Diatrcea and other internal borers usually Uve so far down the base of the new shoots that the majority of them are left behind unless the shoot is cut near its point of growth from the sett. In order to counteract the evil effects of borer attack the quicker and more the tillering the better. The cutting-out treatment interferes with tillering, as invariably some of the new side shoots, which begin to grow from the afiected ones, are either injured or removed in the operation. Therefore the treatment causes a set-back to the crop Page i08. PLATE 69. 7~'fc< o CI i . 1 rH a; See ■tii-H P.05 CO p, 5" O o O r-l 2» rH "o V. -u o 1-H CO Percenta of dea 1 Sch.cenobi larva; in t numbei shown i column C5 (M 6 : C5 CO o ■il' (N 6 CO r-l CO • 1— t © © > P3 iJ r^ a o o o 3 CSl -* 4( l-H f-H CO H Sf : ^■S rO H ^ S "oo 6 ^ CO 00 I-H W5 S iz K^^"^ 1^ > d fl '-; M 3 B M (M 1—1 t> « «§ «S -S O •KJ -1-3 ^H o .y O c3 ^ t-«^ CO >-s No. of stem which had been damaged by borers S 1— 1 o t- ►-s o O CO r-l I— 1 o I-H CO U5 ■6s OS ~- O tH lO ■^ ® © m 00 r- ^H M fl M ■* t~ o •l ■s'l t> to ■. 1 -«-> 1 -!3 t- j3 .d -t3 e3 S p 43 00 I— 1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 413 ■Jl -r- C a ■ CI O ^3 C cS o (D iS O •— ' i-O ••* O S !- a/ O g S P O o = I— I a; -s ce fl; t3 o LI -i:> r-) O O iC rd a; -tj m -4-> -1-3 SS O ce Ph & © s-t 43 (_) -tJ «- 00 O o CO o o § <5 o o o to c3 S3 s cS !^ o o a 00 l-H a o o CO o ■to -to 3- -to 414 mOCEEDINGS OF THE TIIIKD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING actually found being as many as 72. These young caterpillars spread after a short time and go into other plants ; but by that time the grains are formed and developed so that although many plants are bored they are observed to have sound ears. Three 2| yards x 2J yards plots were selected at random at Bhoraha which showed a bad attack, just before harvest, and the results of the examination are given in Table XIV. The plants in columns 6 and 7 of this Table must have been attacked before the crop came into ear and many of them were young undeveloped shoots the tillers 'of which developed and bore ears. As will appear from this Table, no correct idea can be formed of the actual damage by the borers from an examination of the stubbles. The presence of a large number of hibernating larvae, at least of some species, in the stubbles of a field does not seem to affect the crop in the next year. In September 1917 large numbers of Rice Chilo caterpillars were obtained in the sweepers' plot within the Estate. In 1918 there was hardly any Rice CMIo in this plot. Damage to Juar {Andropogon sorghum) by Borers. In the young state juar is very liable to be affected by Muscid flies and throughout its grown-up state by the other borers mentioned under it. Chilo simplex and Diatrwa venosata are however, the most injurious. Both these borers hibernate in large numbers in juar stalks, individual stalks harbouring as many as twenty or even more hibernating larvas. Twenty-five varieties of juar were grown in small plots (one-fortieth of an acre) in the permanent experimental area of the Pusa Farm in 1918. The result of examination of them in the first week of November is given in Table XV. Table XV. — The varieties of Juar mi sinall plots were side by side in the Punjab experimental area excepting No. 25, Dura, which ivas at some distance. Farm No. Variety Counted Cth Nov- ember 1918 Serial No. Total No. of plants in the plot No. of affpetod plants Insects found in two affected plants brought for examination 1 2 4 IB 2A 2B 3A Emphie juar Nilva juar . Utavali juar Siindhia juar 777 on 832 847 11 10 8 13 3 1). venosata larvae. 1 Chilo simplex larva. No living larva or grub or pupa case. 3 Chilo simplex larvae PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 415 Tabh XV. — The varieties of Juar in small plots were side hy side in the Punjab experimental area excepting No. 25, Dura, which ivas at some distance — contd. Farm No. Variety COUNTED 6th XO- VEMBER 1918 Serial No. Total No. j of plants ' in the plot No. of affected plants 5 3B Black Hall Kuslag. 65 21 6 3C White Parre 28 12 7 3D Maucher Brown . 63 18 8 3E Red Kaffer . 78 9 9 4A Black Hall Kaffer . 90 4 10 4B Dwarf Kaffer 109 None. 11 4C Standard Melo juar 94 11 12 4D Dwarf Melo . 169 13 13 4E White Melo . 252 4 14 5A Local juar* . 292 • None. 15 5B Emphie or Impey juar . 296 11 16 6A Alakh juar . 158 6 17 6B White Turee 201 24 18 7A Red Sathree 189 9 19 7B Nilva juar . 217 4 20 8A Utavali 206 10 21 SB Sundhia juar 227 24 22 9A ! Khaudia juar 248 13 23 [9B Hundi juar . 97 3 2-i 10 Slialu juar . 041 54 25 •• Dura . . . . 1 126 1 86 Insects found in two affected plants brought tor examination 6 Chilo simplex larvK. 16 Chilo simplex larvae. 7 Chilo simplex larvte. 1 Chilo simplex larva. 1 Chilo simplex larva ; stunted by fly maggots. some- 10 Chilo simplex larvce, 1 para- sitic grub. 3 Chilo simplex larvae. 6 1). venosata larvje, G Chilo- simplex larvae. 6 Chilo simplex larvre. 3 Chilo simplex larvae. 10 Cliilo simplex larvce (about 5- half-grown). 9 Chilo simplex larvffi. 1 Chilo simplex larva. 1 Chilo simplex larva, 1 V, venosata larva. 14 Chilo sim2)lex larvae. 1 Chilo simplex larva . 4 Chilo simplex larva>. 9 larvse and 1 pupa case of Chilo simplex. 2 C'lulo simplex larvae 1 para- sitized. By " affected " plants are meant those only which showed signs of being bored by borers. Two affected plants from each plot were brought and examined to see what the borers were. The borer larvas found were all grown-up. With regard to local juar, in 1917 up to about ]\Iay there was a large area grow^n as a rabi crop in JhilU and it was entirely free from borers, although there were large numbers of Chilo simj^lex and Sesamia inferens in the contiguous maize crop, VOL, I 2 E 416 PEOCEEDIXGS OF THE THIED laO'DMOLOGICAL MEETING For entomological observation the following plants were grown in •^ acre plots side by side : Maize Juar. Bajra. Sudan Guinea Rarhi Batri (Inipey grass grass variety). At a distance of about 200 yards from tbis variety plot there was in the trenching ground about 2 acres of winter paddy, there being no other rice within about half a mile. All of the above remained on the ground from about June to November. Rarhi and hatri did not have good growth as they require well-developed roots which cannot grow unless they be at a place for a few years continuously. In the jwar, Chilo simplex occurred in large numbers, Diatrcea venosata in smaller numbers and Sesamia hiferens in still smaller numbers. Between 11th and 16th October, out of 3,174 plants in the entire plot, 501 were observed to have been bored in the stem and each stem to harbour from 3 to 8 larvae and pupae of Chilo simplex. The affected plants were cut and kept under observation. The caterpillars hibernated in them. In Sudan grass, Chilo simplex and Diatrcea venosata occurred to the same extent as in juar. In maize, Chilo simplex and Sesamia inferens, the latter in smaller numbers, occurred up to about August. In the ripening plants there was hardly any borer. In' bajra there was no borer. Only one Chilo simplex larva was observed in the entire plot. This crop is usually observed to be practi- cally immune. In Guinea grass there was no borer. In rarhi, Diatrcea auricilia occurred in small numbers. In hatri, Diatrcea auricilia and the Zeuzerid borer (C. S. 1696) occurred in small numbers. In the neighbouring rice plot hardly any Chilo simplex occurred al- though it was occurring in numbers on rice outside the Pusa Estate. Parasites and Predators. Special attention has not been paid to parasites of the borers but parasites necessarily came under observation in the course of examining thousands of caterpillars and pupae. At Pusa, Dacca and Cawnporc and probably in the whole of North India there are hymenopterous para- sites including Chalcidids, Braconids and Ichneumons on practically I'KOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 417 all species of Diatrcea, Chilo and Scirpophaga, and they are present througliout the period of activity of the borers. No Dipterous parasite has been observed in Northern India although some were obtained from Chilo simplex caterpillars sent from Gujarat and the Konkau. Occasionally Carabid grubs (species of Chlcenius) are observed preying upon the larviB in affected stems. But the combined influence of all these enemies does not seem to be great. • Conclusion. The borer pests of gramineous crops of only one locality, viz., Pusa, have so far been investigated. Although most of them are wide-spread there are some which are apparently confined to particular localities. For instance, Diatrcea sp. (C. S, 1610) is confined to Eastern Bengal and Assam. As of all the borers it is the most injurious to grown-up canes, its introduction to other localities should be guarded against. Further work may reveal the presence of other borers in particular localities whose indiscriminate spread may not be desirable. The presence of one such borer is suspected in Southern India. In the present incomplete state of the investigation no practical effective measures can be suggested against the borers. The old recom- mendation of cutting out " dead hearts" in sugarcane is of hardly any use and is distinctly injurious under certain conditions especially when the crop is young. Similarly cutting out dry ears of rice has hardly any effect on the crop. We are not yet in a position to suggest any- thing. The presence or absence of alternative foodplants has certainly some efiect on the prevalence in any crop of the Pyralid and Noctuid borers. This, as already stated, has been definitely observed in the case of Scirpophaga and the Noctuid borer C. S. 1666. The presence of alternative foodplants has a great deal to do with the absence of Chilo simplex, Diatrcea venosata and Sesamia spp. in injurious numbers at Pusa although each of them is capable of doing serious harm. A good deal of work is necessary in order to be able to study this question thoroughly under different conditions and to regulate alternative food- plants as an effective weapon to fight the borers, if it is proved that control can be effected in this way. While we cannot suggest any treatment of the young crop of suf^ar- cane, in the case of those insects which attack grown-up canes such as Scirpophaga spp. and Diatrcea sp. (C. S. 1610) removal of the affected stems is expected to reduce their number or at least prevent the increase of their number and hence this practice can be followed in the absence of a better method of dealing with them. CALCUTTA SUPERINTENDENT GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA 3, HASTINGS STREET .«» V \/ i^ M i 1 J? SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES 9088 00574 6706