LEPIDOPTERA. 455 



Distribution. Godavari, Bellary, Anantapur, Coimbatore. Prob- 

 ably throughout the Plains of Southern India. 



Lifehistory. Eggs are laid singly on t lie stalk or rib of a leaf, 

 the newlj hatched caterpillar boring down through the stalk into 

 the stem in which it passes the rest of its immature life, causing a 

 characteristic swelling of the stem. The full-grown caterpillar is 

 about 10 mm. long, whitish or pale pink, with a darker head. 

 When full-fed it changes to a yellowish brown pupa inside the 

 gall-like swelling. 



Foodplant. Toba 



Status. — Usually rather a minor pest of tobacco in Southern 

 India, occasionally doing serious damage. 



Control, -(i) Killing the caterpillar by slitting the gall with a 

 sharp knife. 



2 Removal and destruction of all old stumps of tobacco- 

 plants as soon as the crop is harvested. 



Remarks. The hindwing of the moth should be more pointed 

 than is indicated on the Plate. 



PHTllORIMKA OPERCULELLA, Z. 



Gelechia opercnlella, Zeller, Verh., Z-B. Ges. Wien, XXIII. 262-263. 

 1. 3, f- 17(1873)- 



Bryotropha solandla. Boisd., J.B., Soc. Centr. Hon.. XI 1 1874). 



Phthorimaca opercnlella. Meyr., K.M.M. ( 1902). 103-104; Busck. 

 Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. XXV, 821 822, t. 30, f . [9; Wlsm., Faun.. Hawaii. 

 I. 483 4S5. t. 13. f. 27 ; Lefroy, Ind. Ins. Life. p. 535. t. 57 ; A. J.. I.. V, 

 19 2S. t. 1 (Jan. [910); Chittenden. U.S.A. Entom. Circ. No. 162 



(1912). 



(SEE I'L.vi K XI.IY.i 



Distribution.— Bangalore, Xilgiris up to 7,000 feet. 



Lifehistory. — Eggs are laid on stored potatoes into which the 

 caterpillars tunnel. Caterpillar about 10 mm. long, smooth, with 

 .1 few scattered short hairs, in colour white with dark-brown head 

 and prothoracic shield. Pupa pah- brown, in a cocoon on the out- 

 side of a potato-tuber or in any convenient situation giving a little 

 shelter. 



Foo i 5 >oes. 



Status. A serious pest of stored pot il 



Control.- Storage of potatoes under drj sand, examining about 

 twice a month and rejecting and destroying all affected tubers. 



Remarks. < hitside of India the caterpillar is known to mine in 

 the leaves of potato and tobacco in the tield. as shown in the Plate 

 and is sometimes a serious pest of tobacco. But SO far. it has only 

 been noted as damaging stored potatoes in Southern India. 



