MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 1007 



abels, papers, etc.. which are not poisoned or shut up. This is hkely to be due to 

 the fact that, as yet, Croce Jilipennls has not found the building to be a suitable 

 habitat, and the fish insect is breeding unchecked when, in an old building, 

 its enemy would also be in occupation. This may apply also to other enemies 

 of the fish insect if there are any ; the fish insect was brought into the Labora- 

 tory with records, etc., and is extremely abundant now. 



(c.)— Storage op Inskcts. 



In a previous issue of this Journal, some information was given about storage 

 of pinned insects. Another year's experience has shown that the paraffin- 

 napthalin box described there has been almost entirely successful ; in three 

 boxes, out of over 150, mould appeared on a few specimens ; no insects were 

 found attacking the specimens at all. 



A modification of the box, in which an enamelled cork sheet, set in paraffin, 

 was put in the bottom of the box, and the paraffin-naphthalene mixture above, 

 has proved a failure, and the box, as originally made, is apparently the best. No 

 benzene or other chemical at all is applied to these boxes, and, in spite of a 

 very wet season, the collections have been better preserved than in any previous 

 year. 



(d.) — Alcides. 



The genus .4 tor/es. among the weevils, is known to contain several species 

 injurious to crops, and a new one has recently been added ; A collaris, Pasc. 

 has been reared from swellings found upon the stems of tur plants ( Cujanus 

 indicus ) ; these swellings are like galls, found upon the stem at soil level on 

 young plants at Dharwar farm. The grub is in the gall and pupates there, the 

 weevil emerging by biting through the gall. The insect is in no way a serious 

 pest, as it is not a common or abundant insect ; so little is known of weevil's 

 life-histories that this record is of interest ; the other two common species 

 of A Icides in India breed in cotton ( A Icides leopardus 01 ) ; and in species of 

 Sesbania used as shade for the growth of pan i Ale ides bubo, F.), both being 

 destructive pests where they occur. 



(e).— The Deccan Grasshoppei:. 



Amongst the interesting occurrences of the year is the study of 

 the curious wingless Grasshopper of the Deccan, which has been 

 doing an increasing amount of damage, culminating in a fairly large outbreak 

 this year. The insect is a species of Orthacris of the Pyrgimorphim 

 division of the Acridriidcc ; five Indian species are described and the present 

 species is probably a new one. 



It is, when mature, wingless, and resembles an ordinary hopper ; it is likely 

 to be one of the insects which, by coupling in a wingless and therefore ap- 

 parewii?/ immature condition, has given rise to the statement that there ai-e 

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