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PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 208 
Oxya velox. All these have been considered already and there is no 
more to add now. 
In Gujarat the larva of Amsacta moorei attacks kodra in common 
with all other crops. 
GRASSES. 
We will next take the sect pests of grasses generally. These are Mr. Fletcher. 
sometimes of importance in grazing areas and in the case of gardens, 
lawns, ete. 
Hodotermes viarum is a common termite in some parts of Madras, 
as at Coimbatore, and often does damage to grass lawns by cutting off 
the stems and carrying the cut portions below ground. It is a most inter- 
esting species of termite, both the workers and soldiers being provided 
with eyes ; most termites, as you know, are entirely blind in the worker 
and soldier castes. It tunnels below the ground, throwing up little 
hillocks of loose pellets of earth at intervals, and in the evening and 
early morning the workers sally out in the open and cut off pieces of grass 
which they carry into their galleries. The soldiers generally remain 
in the open gallery, ready to repel any intruders, but sometimes come 
out and run about over the ground, apparently urging the workers to 
hasten in their task. When sufficient grass has been collected. the 
workers all scuttle back into the gallery which is promptly blocked up 
with pellets of earth. When these termites are in numbers, they may 
produce regular bare patches on lawns. 
Eutermes heimi, which also oceurs at Coimbatore, has somewhat the 
same habits, but often feeds on dead cholam stalks or similar dead vege- 
table matter. However, it does cut living grass on occasion and so may. 
do a little damage. 
Other species of Termites sometimes damage grass by cutting the 
roots but we seem to have no exact records of the species concerned. 
Euxoa spinifera occurs throughout India, Burma and Ceylon, the 
larva feeding at the roots of grasses, especially Dubh grass (Cynodon 
dactylon). It is usually a very minor pest, but occurs sporadically in 
enormous numbers at roots of grasses» When in numbers it is usually 
attacked by birds such as hoopoes, crows, etc., and the only control that 
can be used is flooding where that is practicable. 
Spodoptera mauritia, which we have already discussed in connection 
with paddy seedlings, feeds normally on grasses and may do damage 
on grass farms. 
Prodenia litura also sometimes occurs in numbers on grass. We 
have already discussed Spodoptera and Prodenia and 1 do not think 
there is any more to add here. 
