COLEOPTERA. 



299 



Lifehistory. Small flattened scale-like elliptical eggs arc laid 

 on the stem or on one of the branches of the plant sometimes aw a \ 

 from the stem. The grub is ij^ inches when full fed. It bores down 

 along the stem tissue to the roots, devouring the main root. The 

 pupation period lasts 10 days, the milk-white pupa being formed 

 in the Ian al burrow. 



Foodplants. Chiefly groundnut (called the Verpuchi of ground- 

 nut) and other leguminous plants such as Cow-peas, Redgrami 

 gram, Agathi, Cassia, etc. Also tunnel in wild sannhemp 

 i I ' otalaria striata). 



Stains. A serious pest in certain years especially in South Arcot 

 where groundnut is grown extensively. 



Control. Destruction oi affected plants is the only remedy that 

 can be advocated at present pending further investigation. 



TENEBRN >.\1D/E. 



GONOCEPHAl.l \l HOFMANNSEGGI, Stev. 



. . . . hofmannseggi, Steven, Nouv. Mem. Mosc, t, 96 (1829). 

 Opatrum, Lefroy, Ind. Ins. Life, p. 338. 



I IG. it;. Gonocephahim hofmannseggi. The small outlini t 

 tin oatui al 1 e. u Iriginal.) 



Distribution. Trichinopoly probably throughout Southern 

 India all the year round. 



Lifehistory and Food. The larvae of these beetles arc found on 

 the surface of the ground where they feed on dead and decaying 



vegetable matter. Exact lifehistorj not worked out. 



Status. These beetles sometimes occur in enormous numbers 

 and enter houses in such quantities as literally to co\ er the walN of 

 rooms. ( )ccasionally they do damage to potatoes, grape-\ ines, 1 tc, 

 but as .1 mil- they arc probably rather beneficial as scaveiu 



dead \ egetable mattei 



