PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 30) 
is briefly described in “ South Indian Insects,” and there is little to add. 
Distant gives several other foodplants in Ceylon, but it has not been 
noted on these in India. As regards control, the adult bugs may be 
caught in hand-nets, but they are active and not easy to catch. The 
immature stages may be sprayed with a soap solution. 
Aleurocanthus (Aleyrodes) nubilans [Indian Museum Notes, V, 36, 
t. 5, figs. 7-9] was described from Backerganj and was reported to be 
doing considerable damaze to ‘‘ betel leaves”, but it is rather doubtful 
whether the host-plant was betel vine or betel-palms. Anyway, it does 
not seem to have been noticed since. 
Coccids occasionally occur on betel-leaves but we seem to have no 
definite records and scales are not serious as pests of betel-vines. 
A mealy-bug |? Pseudococcus sp.| is found a good deal on betel leaves Mr. Ratiram. 
at Raipur. 
In the Sangamnar Taluq of the Ahmednagar District, earthworms Mr. Jhaveri. 
occurred in large numbers in a betel garden on one occasion. It was 
supposed that the earthworms had eaten up all the nutritious food from 
the soil and left it very poor. Ammonium Sulphate, saltpetre, and 
common salt were tried, but no éflect was noticed. 
Karthworms were also sent in on several occasions when I was at Mr. Fletcher 
Coimbatore. They were present in very large numbers in some betel 
gardens there and were supposed to be doing damage, but the amount 
of damage done seemed rather doubtful. The worms were probably 
in large numbers because the soil in these gardens is kept rich and damp 
and ordinary enemies of worms are excluded. _They may impoverish 
the soil, when present in such excessive numbers, but that is a point 
which requires further investigation. The usual idea about earthworms 
is that they do good. In the present case, no direct damage to the 
plants could be made out. If damage is actually done, it could pro- 
bably be met by manuring. 
ANISEED (Pimpinella anisum). 
The only insect pests noted on Aniseed are Agonoscelis nubila |‘ South 
Indian Insects,” pp. 472-473, fig. 351] and Aphids. Both are minor 
pests and control has not been applied. 
MrLons AND PumPpKins (Cucurbita, Cucumis and Citrullus Spp.). 
Various species of melons and pumpkins are cultivated and ag re- 
gards pests it is not necessary or practicable to distinguish between 
them. 
The flowers are attacked by various Meloid beetles, which may be 
caught by hand or in hand-nets. 
