Mr. H. L. Dutt. 
Mr. P. C. Sen. 
Mr. Fletcher. 
Mr. Gupta. 
Mr. Fletcher. 
Mir. Ghosh. 
64 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 
Dragging a rope, moistened with kerosine and turpentine, over the 
crop drives away the caterpillars. Even if they go into the neighbouring 
fields, the crop is saved. : 
Plusia orichalcea occurs on pea in Bengal also. 
Prodenia litura and Diacrisia obliqua are both sporadic pests of pea, 
attacking this crop along with any other low-growing vegetation that 
may be available. 
Monolepta signata is recorded from the Patna District on pea but 
is scarcely a pest, so far as we know. 
Hypera variabilis. The larva occurs on pea at Pusa, but has not. 
been found as a pest so far. 
Several insects attack the pods and seeds :— 
Etiella zinckenella. 
Polyommatus beticus. 
Bruchus chinensis. 
Bruchus affinis. 
Etiella we have already considered and need only just mention 
again now. It is not a very serious pest of peas as a rule. 
Polyommatus beticus occasionally occurs in some numbers, the larva 
boring into the pods and eating the seeds. It occurs all over India. 
It is found in peas at Jorhat, in Assam. 
Bruchus chinensis oviposits on the pods in the field, but the main 
damage in most districts seems to be done to the seeds after storage. 
Bruchus affinis occurs in the fields to a small extent and does some 
damage. 
As I said just now, we want to know a great deal more about these 
Bruchids—the distinctions between the various species and the habits 
of each, as the habits seem to vary a good deal. 
As Bruchus affinis 1s rather a eee pest of peas and we have been 
doing some work on it at Pusa; I will ask Mr. Ghosh to give you a short 
account of what we have found out. 
Bruchus affinis, although it is found in stored peas from July or 
rather August onwards, is really a field pest, as infection takes place in 
the field, the beetles laying eggs on the green pods. The grubs on 
hatching bore into the seeds and come into the store with the seeds. 
Most of the beetles on attaining the adult stage remain in the seeds 
and come out when the seeds are sown next year. Therefore before 
sowing seeds should be placed in water. Those which sink should be 
sown end those which float should not be sown. 
Damage is prevented if the seeds are fumigated with Carbon Bisul- 
phide before storing or 1f stored with Naphthaline in airtight vessels. 
