Mr. M. M. Lal. 
Mr. Fletcher. 
Mr. David. 
Mr. Fletcher. 
Mr. Ramakrishna 
Ayyar. 
Mr. Ghosh. 
Mr. Fletcher. 
Mr. Ghosh. 
Mr. Fletcher. 
Mr. Fletcher. 
82 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 
by use ofa Soap solution. Under natural conditions it is usually checked 
by Coccinellid beetles. 
In the indigo-growing districts of the Punjab an Aphid is found on 
the plant buts does not do much damage. 
Dolycoris indicus occurs on indigo as on numerous other plants but 
is not a regular pest. 
Anoplocnemis phasiana has been reported on indigo at Cawnpur 
but we have never seen it on indigo in Bihar. 
It was found on indigo at Cawnpur in small numbers in July 1915 
but did not do much damage. 
Thrips, whether of one or more species we do not know, are found 
on indigo but not as a serious pest. 
Thrips occurs on indigo in the Bellary District. 
Thrips is found commonly at Pusa but is never serious. 
Mites also occur on indigo, but we know very little about them and 
they do not seem to be real pests. 
Mites also are found occasionally at Pusa but are not serious. They 
cover the leaves with a thin webbing and puncture them. They have 
not occurred in sufficient numbers to require control. 
The roots of indigo plants are sometimes cut by crickets of sorts 
and Schizodactylus monstrosus 1s commonly accused of doing this in Bihar, 
where it is known as “‘ bherwa.” There is no doubt that Schizedactylus 
may do damage at times, but this seems to be accidental and only 
incidental to its activities when tunnelling underground. We have 
reared this insect at Pusa and found that it is exclusively carnivorous, 
feeding on small frogs, caterpillars, and so on, and starving rather than 
feeding on roots and vegetable diet. The species is widely distributed 
in India. It is common in Bihar and extends as far south as Bellary 
and is also found in North-Western India. It is described and figured 
in “‘ South Indian Insects ” [p. 533, fie. 427] and we have since issued a 
coloured plate showing all stages of its lifehistory. ~ 
In many cases where Schizodactylus is accused of damage, there 1s 
no doubt that it has been confused with Brachytrypes, which is the 
real culprit. 
The next group of crops may be taken under the general name of : 
OIL-SEEDS 
and under this item we will deal with the insect pests of Sesamum, castor, 
linseed, groundnut, niger-seed, sunflower and safflower. 
I may remark that it is very difficult to group crops into classes 
with any exactitude, as in some cases a crop may fall into more than 
one group, whilst in others it is more convenient to take alhed crops 
