

SOME sol "I H [\DI.\\ INsi-i 1 v. ETC. 



• Meloe cichorii, Linn., Syst. Nat. (eel X), 1,419(1758). 



Distribution. Found very commonly .ill over South India. 



Lifehistory. Eggs arc laid in masses (one mass found to contain 

 gj are bright-yellow, elongate and cylindrical. 

 Further history not known. 



Foodplants. The hectic Feeds on the flowers and tender shoots 

 ol many plants such as cotton, gogu, redgram, groundnut, cowpea, 

 lab-lab, Cucurbitaceae, wild [pomceas, prickly-pear, garden spp. 

 ol Hibiscus, rose plants, sometimes found on cereal ear-heads also 

 such as cumbu, tenai and cholam. Especially on yellow flowers. 



Control. Collecting by hand with small nets. 



Observation. The correct nameol this extremely common beetle 

 seems to be a matter of doubt. It has for a long time been known 

 as Mylabris pustulate, but specimens very similar in appearance have 

 been returned by Dr. Creighton Wellman under the name of Zona- 

 bris orientalis, Mais. Probably there are several closely allied 

 forms confused under the name pustulata. Linne's cichorii is 

 perhaps a composite species and probably inculded the beetle here 

 referred ti >. 



/.1 IN \BK1S Sp. 



.. ISO. -L'ltim 



arabidokll larva. 



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y.niiiti'iis sp 



I "1... 152. Adult Bi 

 laller figures >li"« tin- natural sizes, (< Original.) 



