334 some south indian insects, etc. 



Mango Leaf-boring Weevil.] 



Fig. 192.— Mango Leaf-boring Weevil. The small figure shows the natural 

 size. (Original.) 



Distribution. -Godavari, Kistna, Guntur ; March and July. 



Lifehistory. The weevil bites into the under-surf ace of a mango- 

 leaf ami hollows out between the epidermal layers a small oval 

 pouch into which is inserted a minute oval egg, about 3.3 mm. long, 

 somewhat flattened and translucent. When the leaf is held up to 

 the light the places of oviposition are distinctly recognisable as 

 shining white dots. The newly-hatched grub begins to feed on and 

 mine in the green matter of the leaf, of which between a quarter 

 and half of one square inch is destroyed bj each grub. The full- 

 grown legless grub is about 3 mm. long, flattened, translucent, 

 whitish, the green matter contained in its intestinal canal showing 

 clearly through the transparent body. The grub cleans out a 

 portion of its tunnel and converts it into a chamber roughly oval 

 in shape, and changes into a pupa of normal weevil type. 

 The beetle emerges four days after pupation and escapes by cutting 

 a round hole in the wall of the pupal chamber. Life-cycle is 

 probably, egg three days, larva five days, pupa four days, total 

 [2 days. [Y.R.R.] 



Stiilus. A minor pest of local importance. As many as 20 — 30 

 larvse may be found in one leaf and such leaves are so badly 

 mined that thev turn red-brown and dry up completely ; in such 

 cases a good deal of damage may be done. The beetles also may 

 cut small holes in the leaves but the damage thus done is 

 inconsiderable. 



Remarks. In its general appearance and especially in the 

 dilated hind-femora, this weevil bears considerable resemblance to 

 .1 flea-beetle. It is very wary and active and jumps off the leaves 

 on the least disturbance. 



CYLAS FORMICARIUS, Fab. 

 Attelabus formicarius, Fb., Ent. Syst. Suppl., p. 163 (1798). 



