INSTITUTE, PUSA, FOR 1916-17 73 



of Moth Borer (Chilo simplex), which was supposed to 

 attack sugarcane, maize, juar (Sorghum vulgare) and rice. 

 An attempt was made to find out whether there were really 

 one or several species concerned. As a result the following 

 species have been discriminated up to the time of writing 

 this Report, viz. :■ — 



(1) Chilo simplex, found in maize, juar and rice. 



(2) Diatrcea suppressalis (auricilia), found in sugar- 



cane principally. A few only have been found 

 in juar and none in maize. 



(3) Diatroea venosata (striatalis) , found in sugarcane 



and a thick variety of juar, and none in maize. 



(4) Diatrwa sp. There is one unidentified species 



found in sugarcane only. It was reported some 

 years ago from Pabna and has recently been 

 found at Dacca. 



All the above forms had hitherto been spoken of as 

 Chilo simplex. Besides these, there are : 



(5) Papua depressella, which, as reported last year, 



had hitherto been known as a rootborer. But 

 as will appear from the figures given below, it 

 proves to be the most injurious of all the borers 

 in the young stage of the sugarcane, its activi- 

 ties becoming less as the cane grows. 



(6) Scirpophaga xanthogastrella (auriflua), which is 



one of the first borers to attack the young cane. 

 It is active in cane throughout the year. 



(7) Sesamia inferens, whicn is known to occur in maize, 



juar, sugarcane and rice and several other 

 plants of the Order Graminese. 



This year a careful watch has been kept on the time of 

 occurrence of all the above borers and an attempt has been 

 made to find out the extent of damage which they cause. 



On the Pusa Farm about 4J acres are under thick varie- 

 ties of sugarcane, viz., Purple Mauritius (half-an-acre), 

 Sathi Xo. 131 (a little more than two-and-three fourths 



