292 



SOME SOITH INDIAN INSECTS. KIT. 



Lifchistory and Food. —Both larvae and beetles have been found to 

 be predaceous on the Green Bug (Lecanium viride) of coffee, on the 

 leaves ol which the pupae were also found. 



Status. Beneficial as predaceous on Lecanium viride. 



EPILACHNA I2-STIGMA, Muls. (PLATE VI.) 



Epilachna dodecastigma, Muls., Spec, p. 789; Lefroy, Ind. Ins. 

 I ifi . p. s<>\ 1. 188. 



Distribution. Throughout Southern India all the year round. 



Lift history.- The yellowish eggs are laid in clusters on leaves of 

 the foodplant on which the stout, spinous, yellow grubs feed, 

 eating the epidermal layer of the leaf in characteristic patches. 

 The squat, yellow pupae are attached head-downwards to leaves, 

 or more usually stems, ot the foodplant. The beetles also eat the 

 lea\ es. 



Foodplants. Solanaceous and cucurbitaceous plants; especially 

 on Brinjal. 



Status. Often a serious pest on Brinjal and Bitter Gourd 

 (Momordica). 



Control. -Collection by hand of the insect in all stages. Spray- 

 ing of plants in bad cases. 



Natural Enemies. A small Chalcid was reared from a pupa ol 

 / . I2-stigma found in Bellary. 



Remarks. — The closely-allied and perhaps commoner species, 

 Epilachna 28-punctata, is also shown on the plate (fig. 5), which 

 depicts the colouring of the beetles as rather too deep a red. 



DERMESTIDiE. 



1 'I RMESTES VULPINUS, Kb. 

 Dermestes vulpinus, Fab.. Spec Ins., I. (14 (1781); Lefroy, Ind. Ins. 

 Life. p. 311, f. [QO. 



Dermestes vulpinus. The smaller figure shows the 



n.iiiii al 1 • (Oi iginal.) 



Distribution. South Kanara. Probablj throughout Southern 



India. 



