INSTITUTE, PUSA, FOR 1916-17 79 



instance, (1) a Cerambycid borer of Sann-hemp. The 

 beetle girdles the stem and deposits the egg inside the stem 

 The apical portion of the stem beyond the girdle dries. The 

 grub bores inside the plant which dies. (2) A Cerambycid 

 borer of Phaseolns aconitifolius. This also similarly 

 causes the plant to die. (3) A Dermestid beetle which 

 infested and destroyed some stored snake skins. (4) 

 Anobium sp. in stored Cumin seeds and Aniseeds. It 

 proves to be a serious pest of these seeds in store. 



Investigations into the life-history and habits of the 

 pests and other insects were continued. The important 

 points observed with regard to some of them are noted 

 below : — 



Pea stem fly. Three different varieties of peas were 

 grown in the Insectary compound, some mixed with barley 

 and others alone, for carrying on observation with regard 

 to Bruchus ajftnis. Incidentally it was observed that those 

 which grew alone and thinly were damaged by the stem fly 

 while the others escaped. 



Eugnamptus marginatus was kept under observation 

 throughout the year in the Insectary as well as outside on 

 an affected mango tree. The grubs have been observed to 

 rest in the soil from about September to March- April. The 

 beetles are active mostly in July and August although some 

 may be observed before and after this period of greatest 

 activity. Although the grubs were resting in the Insec- 

 tary, one beetle was found laying eggs and cutting leaves 

 in March, but under the climatic conditions in Bihar the 

 grubs had no opportunity of developing as the cut leaves 

 dried quickly; some of these eggs were collected and reared 

 in the Insectary, but only two attained the adult stage, one 

 in April and one in May, and the others were resting at the 

 time of writing the report. 



Heliocopris bucephalus. A complete cycle was obtained 

 in the Insectary. The beetles appear in the months of June 

 to September but mostly in July. The grubs take about a 

 year to grow. 



A ttagenus piceus has been observed to take one to three 

 years to complete its life-cycle. 



