PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 203 



Cuddapah. The distribution seems curious, as it is difficult to see how 

 a pest of this kind could have been overlooked in the areas from which 

 it is not known. The larva bores in the stem and produces a gall-like 

 swelling at or usually just above ground-level ; the plant is weakened 

 and, especially in the case of Cambodia cotton, may be broken off bv the 

 wind. Rigid elimination of all attacked plants seems to be the only 

 practicable means of control. 



Pempheres qffinis is not found in Bombay. Mr. Ramrao. 



There is no record of it in the Central Provinces. Mr. Khare. 



In Madras we find that its distribution is extending. It is the Cam- Mr. Ramakrishna 

 bodia cotton which is generally attacked and, as the cultivation of this Ayy3,r. 

 cotton is spreading, the insect is also getting into new localities. 



Is it already present in these districts or is it going with the Cambodia Mr. Fletcher, 

 cotton ? 



It is already present and probably breeding on some wild plant, Mr. Ramakrishna 

 as it is found where there is no cotton. • Ayyar. 



At Pusa it has been found on a species of Trivmfetta. Mr. Ghosh. 



We have worked out the life-history and we are trying to get it pub- Mr. Ramakrishna 

 lished in Madras. Ayyar. 



What is the effect of the destruction of affected plants ? ' Mr. Fletcher. 



Some good would result only if all the people do it. Mr. Ramakrishna 



Ayyar. 

 But has the complete removal of all the attacked plants had any Mr. Fletcher. 



effect on the Farm at Coimbatore ? 



No appreciable difference has been noticed ; but, if all do it, it might air. Ramakrish* a 

 have some effect. - Ayyar. 



I understood that the regular removal of affected plants on the Mr. Fletcher. 

 Coimbatore Farm had had some effect on lessening the incidence of 

 attack over a term of years. But whether this was due to any lessening ' 

 of the numbers of beetles present or to the gradual evolution of a more 

 resistant variety of plant, by continual selection from the non-attacked 

 ones, is another Cjuestion. It seems to me that a possible solution of 

 the difficulty with regard to Cambodia cotton may be attained by getting 

 a resistant race. 



The worst of it is that this Cambodia cotton is kept on in the fields Mr. Ramakrishna 

 for two or three years, so it is difficult to get rid of this beetle. That is ^^y^^^- 

 because the insect breeds throughout the year and the cotton is there 

 for it to breed in. If there were an arrangement to uproot all cotton 

 plants before a certain date, it might prove useful. 



Is any variety of cotton more affected ? Tree cotton was tried at Mr. Misra. 

 Pusa but was not immune. 



That was before my time. What height was the tree cotton when it Mr. Fletcher. 

 was attacked ? 



