PREFACE. V 



regards the incomplete state in which it is presented and the 

 reason for this has already been explained. Any merits it 

 m.L\ possess consist in its efficacy as a stop-gap until a more 

 complete account can be prepared. 



The preliminary chapters, giving some general account 

 of the structure, habits, etc., "1 insects and of insect-pests are 

 necessarily brief and incomplete and indeed anj one of th 

 might readily be expanded into a whole volume by itself, 

 whilst the various aspects of Entomology that have been 

 omitted would form a companion series of tomes. 



In the succeeding and main portion ol the hook some 

 of the more important insects are briefly considered, each 

 being treated under the head of (1) References, (2) Distribu- 

 tion in Southern India, (3) Lifehistory, (4) Foodplants, (5) 

 Status from an economic view-point, and (6) Control. Under 

 the first heading, the synonyms and references, which will 

 generally only appeal to entomologists, are necessarily limited 

 to the original description and the more important or acces- 

 sible references. Under the last heading, only such control- 

 methods are usually given as are generally efficacious, special 

 methods being often applicable to local conditions : in some 

 eases in which no effective method has yet been found, the 

 information under this head is left blank or represented 

 by a " ? . 



The list of Crop Pests is not complete and it must be 

 clearly understood that it cannot be complete for ver) 

 many years, if ever. Every month new pests come to light, 

 many of them altogether unknown even by name, and our 

 knowledge of old pests is augmented. Many of the 

 commoner species maw it is hoped, be identified !>\ the 

 figures here given and specimens of an) others found as pests 

 should be sent to the Government Entomologist, Coimbatore, 

 for idem if ■, ation and advice. 



'Idle w riting of a 1 're face to a book of this nature provides 

 a welcome opportunity for acknowledgment of assistance 

 freely rendered by various helpers. The whole ol the Insect 

 l'ests enumerated in the latter half of this volume were 

 discussed in collaboration with M.R.Ry. T. V. Ramakrishna 



