INSTITUTE, PUSA, FOE 1919-20 79 



New borers discovered during the year in gramineous 

 and cyperaceous plants included : — 



(1) Hypsotropa tenuinervella, Rag. (Pyralidse; C. S. 



1920), in stem of Andropogon squarrosus at 

 Pusa. This has also been reared from the bulb 

 of Rosha grass (Cymbopogon schoenanthus) by 

 the Forest Zoologist. 



(2) Crambus corticellus, Hmpsn. (Pyralidse; C. S. 



2007), in stem of Scirpus corymbosus at Nagpur, 

 where it was found by Mr. J. L. Khare. 



(3) Chilo torrentelkis, Meyr. (Pyralidse; C. S. 2027), 



in stem of Saccharum sponianeum at Pusa. 

 This was reared successfully this year after 

 unsuccessful attempts during the last three 

 years. 



(4) Lychrosis zebrinns (Cerambycidse; C. S. 2010), in 



stem of Saccharum spontaneum at Pusa. 



The search for alternative foodplants of borers in 

 sugarcane, etc., was continued and the following of 

 importance may be mentioned : — • 



(1) Coix lachryma-jobi var. aquatica as a foodplant 



of Chilo simplex on the Farm at Cuttack. 



(2) Lemon-grass as a foodplant of Sesamia inf evens 



at Pusa. 



Brachytrypes portentosus (achatinus) (Gryllidse) did 

 some damage to cane at Pusa in June, cutting the shoots 

 practically level with the ground; but these shoots grew 

 again and practically none of them died. 



Mulberry. Frequent reports have been received from 

 Bengal regarding the damage done by Phenacoccus 

 Mrsutus, the mealy-bug scale-insect which is the cause of 

 " Tukra." Collection of alternative foodplants showed 

 that this scale was very common at Pusa on cotton and 

 guava. From colonies on cotton many adults of the Cecido- 

 myiad fly, Diadiplosis indica, Felt, which is predaceous 

 on the egg-masses and adult females, were bred out and 

 liberated to mark the effect of the predator. The Droso- 

 philid fly, Gitonides perspicax, Knab, was also found last 



