1903.] E, P. Stebbing — Economic Entomology 85 



times does great damage. This is, I think, a case for the effective use of 

 a poisonous spraying mixture, as it could be easily applied whilst the 

 seedlings are still in the nursery in small compact blocks and the 

 attack could thus be checked in its initial stages. Once this treat- 

 ment has been conclusively proved by careful experiment to be effect- 

 ive there can be no reason why the Bengal rice hispa should not be 

 kept within bounds. Attention has been already drawn to the point 

 which will bear reiteration that such experiments must be carried out 

 by experts if they are to prove successful, otherwise they become objects 

 of unmerited ridicule. 



Another class of remedies which can only here be mentioned sin ce 

 nothing is known of their capabilities are the parasitic insect fungi. 

 The locust fungus is a case in point. Much good has been attained by 

 its use in some parts of the world, though in India it has been said to 

 have been unsuccessful. I have experimented with it myself, using 

 consignments from the Cape and America, and it is certainly deadly to 

 small locusts and grasshoppers and I do not hold the opinion that it is 

 useless for the purpose in view, i.e., that of killing off locusts during big 

 invasions. 



There are, however, other forms of remedies entirely different from 

 the above, measures which depend upon an accurate knowledge of the 

 habits of the pests to be attacked. Amongst such may be mentioned the 

 well-known trench system for getting rid of locusts. The successful use 

 of this depends entirely upon our knowledge of the fact that young 

 locusts soon after hatching and before they have acquired wings pack 

 together and march in serried brigades down to the nearest crops. 

 They can at this stage be driven into trenches dug for the purpose 

 and exterminated. 



A cricket ( Brachytrupes aclicetiniis) at times does great damage to 

 the roots and stems of young tea, indiarubber, and various other 

 plants in nurseries. It lives in holes in the loose soil of the nursery 

 beds or adjacent areas and in the day time can with profit be dug up 

 and killed off. Internal borers, such as the caterpillar of the sugarcane 

 moth, can be effectively attacked when their action on the cane is 

 understood. The removal and burning of all infected canes as soon 

 as the insect is observed to be at work in them, and whilst they are 

 still young, will do much towards stamping out this pest. 



Finally, we come to a remedial measure of quite a different nature 

 to those considered above, and that is the careful study of the various 

 varieties of particular crops and the attacks to which they are subject, 

 with a view to selecting for future use that variety which is the most 

 resistant to such attacks. There can be little question that such in- 



