PHOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 87 



"hand-net by the light of a lantern. I have tried to trap the moths with 

 fermented toddy but only caught one specimen in fifteen days. 



.^.^^^The early stages were described and figured in Moore's monograph of Mr. Fletcher, 

 the Ophiderinse of the Indian Eegion in the Transaction'^ of the Zoological 

 Society and also by H. Tryon in the Queensland Agricultural Journal, 

 Vol. II, t. 18, 20, 21, 22' (April 1898) ; Tryon states that the larvae 

 feed on several distinct species of Menispermacea3. 



How did you try the trapping of the moths ? 



I placed the fermented toddy in narrow-mouthed earthen vessels, Mr. Ramrao. 

 •one jar to every five trees. 



What is the percentage of loss to oranges at Poona ? Mr. Fletcher. 



I have calculated that on an aveiage, taking one season with another, Mr. Ramrao. 

 from twenty to forty per cent, of the fruits drop off when nearly ripe. 

 Punctures are made by these moths and only occasionally fruit-flies lay 

 eggs in the wounds so caused. Fruit-flies do not harm oranges in Poona 

 to any extent, as out of several hundred fruits examined only a few were 

 found to contain fly maggots. 



Perhaps oil of bergamot might be used to attract these moths. Dr. Gough. 



At Nagpui' we tried spraying the trees with phenyle as a deterrent Mr. Khare. 



but I am not sanguine of the results. 



What is the nature of the iniurv caused? Mr. Ramakrishna 



Ayyar. 



The moths probably inoculate some bacillus whilst sucking the fruit Mr. Ramrao. 

 and this sets up fermentation from the point of puncture and this extends 

 right up to the stalk, so that the fruit drops down within three days of 

 the puncture. 



Uninjured fruits also drop down. There is some relation between Mr. Kunhi Kannan. 

 the watering of the orange plants and the falling of the fruits. 



I have not been able to find the caterpillars so that I do not know Mr. Ramrao. 

 where the moths come from. 



The caterpillar feeds on jungle creepers and is not easy to find, as a Mr. Fletcher, 

 rule. I doubt whether much can be done"to check it in the larval stage. 



Similar fruit-piercing moths have been noted in South Africa. Did 

 you ever come across any when you were in South Africa, Dr. Gough ? 



No ; I never heard of any there. Dr. Gough. 



Calpe ophideroides, Guen. 



Hmpsn., F. I., II, 564, Entl. Note 04 ; Proc. Second Entl. 

 Meeting, pp. 240-250. 



Has been recoi'ded as a destructive pest of nectarines and peaches Mr. Fletcher, 

 in the Kumaon Government Gardens, the moths piercing and sucking 

 the fruit in exactly the same way as in the case of O.fullonica. 



