84 SCIENTIFIC REPORTS OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



The Board of Agriculture, at their Meeting in Decem- 

 ber 1919, recommended that the problems of grain storage, 

 with especial reference to the question of damage by 

 insect pests, should be taken up on a large scale and tha I 

 the staff of the Imperial Entomologist should be increased 

 for this purpose. Proposals for an increased staff have 

 been included in my general proposals for expansion of 

 entomological work in India. 



Trogodenixi khapra (Dermestidae) was under observa- 

 tion to ascertain its behaviour and seasonal history at Pusa. 

 A long cycle occupied the whole period from end of June 

 1919 to March- April 1920. The moist weather during the 

 Rains and the cold weather in the winter retarded the 

 development of the larvae. 



• 



IV. Bees, Lac and Silk. 



Bees. No special work was done with bees except 

 carrying on a few colonies of Apis indica. A number of 

 improved hives were supplied to inquirers in various Pro- 

 vinces. 



As noted above, Achroia grisella has now to be added 

 to the list of enemies against which the bee-keeper has to 

 contend. 



Proposals have been forwarded for the entry of a bee- 

 keeping expert in order to develop this important branch 

 of Applied Entomology. 



Proposals for legislation to restrict the importation of 

 bees into India, with a view to avoid the importation of 

 bee-diseases, are now before the Government of India. 



Lac. The emergence of lac larva?, took place at Pusa 

 on 29th October, 1919, ancf 30th June, 1920, the latter being 

 a very unusually late date. Broodlac was sent to the Gov- 

 ernment Entomologist, Coimbatore, to the Superintendent 

 of the Agricultural Farm, Ratnagiri, to Gwalior, Lyallpur 

 and Mymensingh. There is a great demand for broodlac, 

 which cannot be met from Pusa. 



Mr. C. S. Misra, First Assistant, visited Bhopal State 

 in December 1919 to advise regarding steps to be taken to 

 develop the lac industry there. 



