84 SCIENTIFIC REPORTS OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



the Indian Empire of any insects which may be utilized as 

 efficient checks on the growth of Lantana. With this 

 object Mr. Y. Ramachandra Rao, Entomological Assistant 

 in Madras, has been placed on special deputation under the 

 Imperial Entomologist, for a period of two years in the 

 first instance, from 16th November, 1916. He has com- 

 menced work in Southern India and has made a study of 

 the insects affecting Lantana in Madras, Mysore and Coorg. 

 A large number of insects has been found to occur on Lan- 

 tana but most of these appear to be either casuals, not con- 

 fined to Lantana but usually very polyphagous in their 

 habits, or of no importance as checks on Lantana. The 

 insects found hitherto and which appear likely to be of use 

 are (1) Platyptilia pusillidactyla, Wlk., (2) a Eucosmid 

 moth, apparently a novelty, and (3) a Cecidomyiad fly; of 

 these, Platyptilia pusillidactyla, which was one of the 

 insects imported from Mexico into Hawaii to check Lan- 

 tana, is already widely distributed in India and Burma, 

 and of the other two insects further investigation is 

 required regarding their actual value and distribution. 



V. Bees, Lac and Silk. 



1. Bees. The experiments with the Indian Bee [Apis 

 indlca) were continued. There is, however, nothing of 

 particular interest to record. 



2. Lac. Emergence of Lac larvee took place at Pusa 

 on 20th September, 1916, and 23rd June, 1917. Numerous 

 inquiries for Brood-lac, etc., were dealt with during the 

 year. No student attended the short courses in Lac-culture. 



3. Silk. Three students completed short courses in 

 Eri and Mulberry silk and six remained under training ; of 

 these nine men one was deputed by the Indore State and 

 one by Travancore, one each came from Bombay, Mysore, 

 Bengal, and the United Provinces and three came from 

 Bihar. 



Mr. Lefroy, the Imperial Silk Specialist, Mr. 

 McNamara, the Director of Sericulture, Kashmir State, 

 and Mr. Gopal Krishnan, of the Mysore Sericulture Depart- 



