X36 EEPOBT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION 



both a dorsal and a ventral shield, the former being cut by a longitudinal median groove 

 not quite extending to the anterior border, and the latter by a Y-shaped, forwardly 

 pointing groove, also barely reaching to the anterior border. The remainder of the body 

 is flattened and wrinkled. The anus is situated at the apex of the terminal segment. 

 The whole body bears a few scattered short pale hairs. 



Pupa (fig. 3). Colour, yellowish-white, eyes dull purple. 



AduU (fig. 4). Length, 9-10-5 mm. Colour, greenish to reddish-bronze. 



When first it emerges from the pupal cell the beetle is covered with a fine yellowish 

 meal, especially on the frons, sides of the pronotum, prosternum, metasternum, and venter 

 generally. Head, pronotum, scutellum and venter, reddish-bronze, irregularly punctured 

 and bearing a few scattered, short, pale hairs. Mesonotum and metanotum, bright 

 metallic green, punctured. Metanotum bears a V-shaped, backwardly pointing groove 

 or gutter, in which is a median ridge, black. Dorsum of abdomen, bright metallic green, 

 punctured, and bearing a few scattered, short, pale hairs, with the exception of the basal 

 margins of the segments, and a longitudinal median ridge, which are smooth, and have 

 a bronzy tinge. Antenna of twelve segments — first, small, globular; second, elongated, 

 swollen : third and fourth, smaller ; remainder of antenna serrate. Elytron reddish-bronze, 

 with punctures arranged in longitudinal rows, ridged towards the apex, and terminating 

 in three short spines. Hind wing slightly clouded, especially towards the apex ; eosta 

 terminates in a short spine ; apical margin irregular. Tibiae with longitudinal rows of 

 short, sharp spines ; fore tibiae bear at the apices one longer spine ; mid and hind tibiae 

 two similar spines. 

 Habits and Habits and life history. — The eggs are deposited singly on the bark of the plant, 



life history q,^ either the main stem or the branches — usually the former — and preferably in a crevice 

 or wound. As many as nine eggs have been found on a stump of caravonica cotton, 

 scarcely twelve inches high, but these had probably been laid by several beetles. 



On hatching, the larva burrows into the stem, without rupturing the external shell 

 of the egg, and commences a tortuous tunnel in the wood. Freqirently this tunnel runs 

 immediately under the bark for some distance, but it may go deeper in the wood, especially 

 as the larva grows older, and may even, in the case of smaller branches, follow the course 

 of the pith. It may also extend below the level of the ground. As the larva proceeds 

 it packs the tunnel behind it with frass^ and wood chips, which, at first light in colour, 

 become dark brown in course of time. It invariably lies in its tunnel in a doubled-up 

 position. 



On attaining maturity the larva hollows out for itself a little chamber, usually near 

 the bark, and pupates with its head end pointing towards the bark. The adult eventually 

 gnaws a circular hole through the bark and makes its exit. 



Dnratioit of the life-cycle. — The observations made on the life history of this pest 

 indicate that there are at least two, and probably three, broods in the course of the year. 

 The season for planting cotton varies in different provinces from February to July, and 

 the crop usually remains on the ground for about eight months. The eggs of the first 

 brood are laid on the young seedling plants while they are only a few inches high, and 

 breeding continues until the cotton wood is dead. If an infested plant of any size is pulled 

 up and thrown aside, the larva can complete its development in the dead wood. 



Damage done hij the borers. — Young plants are killed outright, but older plants, unless 

 they harbour several of the borers, usually live to the end of the season, though obviously 

 unhealthy and stunted in growth. White ants — termites — if present in the soil, at once 

 ' Frtms — The term applied to the exereta of insects 



