INSTITUTE AND COLLEGE, PUSA, FOR 1913-14. 69 



collecting the larvse, it was found that they are preyed 

 upon extensively by a Carabid beetle (Broscus punctatus). 

 The study of insects affecting stored grain was con- 

 tinued by the Supernumerary Entomologist, and the life- 

 histories of Mthriostoma undulala, Tribolium castaneum 

 (ferrugineum), and Rhizopertha dominica have also been 

 worked out by Mr. Nowroji. 



Special attention has also been paid to the insect pests 

 of paddy and sugarcane, and large numbers of insects have 

 been bred out and their study will be taken up when suffi- 

 ciently long series are secured both from Pusa and the pro- 

 vinces. It may be noted here that paddy stubble, collected 

 in the fields at Pusa in February, showed that about forty 

 per cent, of the stalks contained borers. 



Work on Termites has been continued and determin- 

 ations of upwards of four hundred lots of these insects were 

 received from Professor Nils Holmgren, of Stockholm; the 

 identification of this material not only increases by some 

 twenty species the list of known Indian forms, but will 

 prove of great assistance in the discrimination of the 

 various kinds found to do damage and in the writing up of 

 a large accumulation of notes on their bionomies and occur- 

 rence. Wood treated by various processes was examined 

 in February 1914 and some of the pieces of Powellized 

 wood were found to be attacked by Microtermes obesi 

 (anandi). This process is therefore not so infallible as has 

 been claimed. Examination of some of the other series 

 indicated that exemption from attack depends on the 

 variety of the wood itself as well as on the method of treat- 

 ment and in addition to the preferential tastes shown by 

 the various species of termites locally prevalent ; this point 

 scarcely seems to have received proper consideration 

 hitherto and it is proposed to initiate further series of 

 experiments. 



The green scale, Coccus viridis (Lecanium viride), which 

 has proved such a serious pest of coffee in Ceylon and 

 Southern India, first invaded Coorg in 1913 and bids fair 



