298 



SOMKSOtTH INDIAN INSECTS, ETC. 



SPHENOPTERA GOSSYPII, Kerr. 

 Sphenoptera gossypii, Kerr., Ann. S.E. Belg. XXXVI, 195 (1892) ; 

 Lefroy, In d. Ins. Pests, pp. 100--103. ff. 114— 119, Ind. Ins. Life, p. 

 330, t. 20. 



• [Splienoptera neglecta, King; King, J. Ec. Biol., IV, 42 -44, t. 4 ; 

 King, 4th Report Wellcome Lab., Vol. B, p. 134, Plate; Aulmann, 

 Faun, deut, Kolon., pt. iv, pp. iX 22. | 



(See Plate VIII.) 



Distribution. Bellary. 



Lifehistory.- Eggs laid on tin- bark generally about midway 

 between base and crown of Stem. The larva on hatching bores 

 into the Stem, tunnelling a gallery up anil down the centre 

 When full-ted it prepares an exit hole, leaving only the bark intact, 

 and pupates in the larval burrow, the beetle emerging through the 

 hole previously prepared by the larva. 



Foodplants. Cotton (especially Egyptian). Hibiscus esculent us. 



Status. A bad pest where it occurs but apparently rarely found 

 in Southern India. 



( ontrol. Destruction of attacked plants which wither and are 

 easily noticed. 



NOTES. — (i) Except in Bellary, this insect has not been noted on 

 Cotton in the Madras Presidency. 



(ii) Two parasites (Hymenopterous) have been reared 

 attacking the grub. 



(iii) Local cottons were not found to be attacked so nuieli 

 as exotic ones. 



SPHENOPTERA ARACHIDIS, Lefrov .MS. 



11.. 111. Sphenoptera arachidis. 

 i . Pupa in cocoon (natural size) : 

 .:. Larva in root (natural size) ; 



lo 1 (ma inf. .l>. (< Iriginal.) 



142. Sphenoptera ara 

 chidis. I'll'' small outline 

 figure shows the natural 

 1 . a Iriginal.) 



Distribution. -In all Croundnut-growing districts of Southern 

 India, occurring from middle to end of cropping-period. 



