484 



SOME SOL'TH INDIAN INSECTS, ETC 



PYRRHOCORIDjE. 

 dysdercus ( [ngulatus, fb. 



Cimex cingulatus, Fab.. Syst. Ent., p. 719 (1775). 



Dysdercus cingulatus, Distant, Faun. Ind. Rhyn.. II, 1 18 1 19, 

 f. 87; Lefroy, Ind. Ins. Pests, p. 104, f. 123, 125, Ent. Mem. Agri. 

 Dept., Intl.. I, 237, f. 78, II, 47 58, t. 5, Ind. Ins. Life, p. 692, t. 77. 



(See Plate XLVI.) 



Distribution. Throughout Southern India. 



Lifehistory.- The creamy-yellow eggs are laid in small masses, 

 usually in cracks of the soil. The young bugs hatch out after 

 about a week and are bright rid in all their stages. They feed, 

 often gregariously, fully exposed and are 1 consequently conspicuous. 

 At certain times of the year adult bugs and young in all stages of 

 growth may sometimes be found massed together in the open on 

 tree-trunks, walls, etc., forming a scarlet splash of colour visible 

 from a Ions distance. The length of the life-cycle is about 6 8 

 weeks. 



Foodplants. Cotton, bhindi (Hibiscus esculentus), Portia tree 

 (Tiwspesia popttlneaj, asa rule. Also occasionally on various other 

 plants. 



Status. A serious pest of cotton. 



Control. — The bugs are conspicuous, usually found on or near 



the boll and are easily collected by hand or in a bag fitted with a 



tin funnel. 



HXGIDID/E. 



STEPHANITIS TYPICUS, Dist. 



V 



Fig. 369. — Stephanitis typicus. Tin- lower figure shows a profile view 



of the head and thorax. The small outline figure shows the natural 



size. (After Distant.) 



