PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 197 
-attack happened to be in progress at the time of my visit, as the wheat 
was just coming into ear, and the attacked plants were plainly visible, 
showing up in yellow patches against the green of the healthy 
plants. It was evident that the suppression of the mound-nests had 
made no difference in the area treated and further observation showed. 
that the attacked patches had no apparent relation to the positions 
of the mounds, so that it began to look doubtful whether termites were 
really responsible for the damage at all. This point, however, was 
soon set at rest by examination of the plants which were actually being 
attacked. On carefully digging these up, termites were actually found 
in the act of cutting the stem below ground-level, but it was at once 
evident that the termites domg the damage were not the same as the 
mound-builders. The mound-builder was an Odontotermes, O. obesus 
for the most part ; the termite damaging the wheat plants was a Micro- 
termes, since identified by Professor Holmgren as M. anandi, which 
1 have since ascertained to be the same species as M. obesz. 
Now, that is another case in which the importance of systematic 
‘work is obvious. If I had not happened to visit Hoshangabad at that 
‘time and to secure specimens of the Microtermes ia the act of damaging 
‘the wheat plants, we should probably have gone on destroying the 
mounds of the Odontotermes, which was not the culprit after all, and 
‘furthermore we should have been utterly at a loss to reconcile the want 
-of relation between destruction of the mound-nests and continuance 
‘of the attack. Because wheat was being damaged by termites 
and a mound-building Odontotermes was common in the locality, 
it was presumed that the Odontotermes was the cause of the 
damage; which’ was not the case as it happened. Similarly, 
borers in cane and guar were all lumped together as Chilo 
simplex, and other similar cases may be adduced. We have, for example, 
seen under sugarcane that there is considerable doubt regarding the 
identity of the common Hispine beetle found on cane at Pusa and 
represented on our coloured plate as Phidodonta modesta. Other similar 
cases will probably crop up, as we get to know our common insects a 
little better, but | want to impress upon you the necessity for not 
jumping to conclusions and Jumping several things together merely 
because they }ook a little alike or happen to be found on the same food- 
plant. 
Aphids on the roots of wheat plants were found at Hoshangabad. Mr. Ratiram. 
As a result of attack the plants dried up. 
Damage of wheat plants by root-feeding Aphids does not seem to be Mr. Fletcher. 
general in India. At all events, we do not seem to have heard of it 
before. 
