AND COLLEGE, PUSA, FOR 1914-15. 61 



Bombay in combination with other malvaceous plants, and 

 weekly counts made of the bollworm infestation. The 

 boll worms found were also examined for the presence of 

 parasites, which were recorded, bred out and liberated in 

 the experimental area. So far as noted hitherto the infes- 

 tation of E arias by Rhogas is remarkably small (less than 

 5 per cent.) even under the most favourable conditions, and 

 it would appear that the influence of Rhogas has been 

 greatly exaggerated. In May and June 1915, in compli- 

 ance with a request from the Director of Agriculture, all 

 the Rhogas pupae obtained were sent to the Punjab to 

 assist in establishing the parasite there. 



Some work has also been done on the life-history of 

 Machairota planitia?, whose nymph lives in a curious 

 calcareous tube on stems of cotton. The presence of this 

 insect frequently stunts the growth of the young shoots and 

 it may occur in sufficient numbers to do considerable 

 damage. 



2. Sugarcane Borers. Borers in sugarcane (both new 

 sowings and ratoon canes), maize, juar, and rice stems 

 and stubble have been collected and the insects bred out 

 for further study and comparison. Affected canes were 

 also received from the North- West Frontier Province and 

 the insects reared. In March 1915 fresh sowings of cane 

 were made with maize as a trap-crop and, as soon as the 

 presence of borers became apparent, these were collected, 

 counted and reared for further study to ascertain whether 

 the borers in cane and maize are really distinct ; this experi- 

 ment was not concluded at the end of the year. 



3. Garden Pests. The study of pests of fruit-trees, 

 flowers and vegetables was continued and illustrations 

 made for a Bulletin on Fruit-pests. 



4. Parasites of Scale-insects. With a view to sending 

 parasites of Aspidiotus aurantii to Italy, a study was begun 

 of the parasites of this scale-insect which occurs commonly 

 at Pusa on Citrus spp. and roses, but very few parasites 

 could be obtained, 



