302 



SOME SOUTH INDIAN INSECTS, ETC. 



Distribution. Probably throughout Southern India all the year 

 round. 



Lifehistory and Food. -Early stages not known- Probably feeds 

 on dead \ egetable matter on or just below the surface of the ground. 



Remarks. A conspicuously common beetle to be seen wandering 

 about over the ground in dry. open plaees. 



MKLOID/E. 

 (CAMHAR1D.H; MYLABRID/E.) 

 GNATHOSPASTOIDES ROUXI, Cast. 

 (\intli, iris rouxi, Cast., Hist. Nat., II, 274 (1840). 

 Cantharis (Epicauta) rouxi. Lefroy, Ind. Ins. Life, p. 346. 



1 17. Gnathospastoides mux*. The small figure shows the 

 1 1 . 1 1 1 1 1 al size. (< Iriginal.) 



Distribution. - South ECanara, Kistna, Kurnul, Bellary, Coimba- 

 tore probably throughout the Plains. 



Lifehistory. Eggs were laid in captivity (in October toil) in 

 groups of 50 to 125 each. The young larva- hatched out after about 

 fifteen days and were extremely active. In captivity the larva 

 was found to teed freely on egg-masses ol the Decern grasshopper. 

 Further details of lifehistory not worked out, but this beetle has 

 been bred from a pupa found with these egg-masses. 



Status. The beetle itself often .Iocs considerable damage to 

 ear-heads of cumbu, cholam and tenai, eating the pollen so that no 

 grain is formed. In its earlj stages, however, ii is probably bene- 

 ficial by acting as a check on the increase ol i;iasshoppers. 



