68 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE 



piceus, Lepisma sp., Chilo simplex, Laspeyresia pseudoncc- 

 tis and many other insects. Special attention was paid to 

 leaf-mining Lepidoptera and numerous species, including 

 many hitherto undescribed novelties, were bred out from 

 crops and other plants. 



Unsuccessful attempts were made to breed N ephotettix 

 bipunctatus, Zonabris pustulata, Lytta actceon, and Helio- 

 copris bucephalus. 



Large numbers of Fruit-flies were reared out to dis- 

 cover to what extent they are checked by parasites but it 

 was found that the proportion of parasites is extremely 

 low. The only Fruit-fly which is parasitized to any appre- 

 ciable extent is Carpomyia vesuviana, whose larvae feed in 

 fruits of Zizyphus jujuba. About 800 pupae of this fly 

 were sent to Italy, to endeavour to introduce the parasite 

 there, but owing to postal delays they failed to reach their 

 destination alive. 



8. Insecticides. A series of experiments was carried 

 out to test the effect of poisoned sprays on Fruit-flies, the 

 species used being Bactrocera cucurbitce. It was found- 

 that a spray of guv (sugar) and Lead Arsenate killed the 

 flies in the course of about 36 hours. A similar mixture, 

 of gur and Lead Chromate, had practically no effect and. 

 proved quite useless as a poison. 



9. Protection of Timber against Termites. The 



trials under this heading were continued. Further tests of 

 Powellized wood and of Microlineum were made. Pre- 

 liminary tests of Sideroleum were made, further tests being 

 held in abeyance pending receipt of more material promised 

 by the Agents of this preparation. Tests of Timborite were 

 put in hand. 



10. Grain storage experiments. The storage of 

 wheat, rice and pulses, commenced last year, has been' 

 undertaken this year on a larger scale based on the first 

 year's results. In addition, in order to determine the pests 

 of stored products more exactly, over sixty different sub- 

 stances have been placed under ordinary storage conditions- 

 for observation of their insect pests. 



