40 



and feed on the leaves for 15-21 days, after which they descend to 

 the ground to pupate, amongst dry weeds and leaves underneath the 

 plants. Pupation also occurs in dark and shady places between the 

 folds of leaves on the plants and between fruit pods. The adults 

 emerge in 10-14 days. 



The natural enemies of this pest include Hymenopterous and 

 Dipterous parasites, as well as birds, such as crows and mynahs. The 

 remedial measures recommended are hand-picking and destruction of 

 the larvae as they hatch. Clean cultivation is essential. Castor 

 should not be grown as a mixed crop, and any stray plants must be 

 destroyed, as they serve as breeding-places. 



SuBRAMANiA Iyer (T. V.). Notes on the more important Insect Pests 

 of Crops in the Mysore State. — J I. Mysore Agric. & Exptl. Union, 

 Bangalore, iii, nos. 1 and 2, March and June 1921, pp. 12-19 and 

 81-85, 5 figs. [Received 23rd November 1921.] 



Some account is given of the more important Coleopterous pests of 

 crops in Mysore. Potatoes and vegetables are seriously damaged by 

 two species of Epilachna. The eggs are laid in clusters on the food- 

 plant, and the larvae and adults feed on the foliage. These Coccinellids 

 breed throughout the year, feeding on weeds when no cultivated crops 

 are available. The remedial measures recommended are hand-picking 

 and destruction of the beetles in the early stages of attack. Potatoes 

 and other plants in which they breed out of season should be destroyed. 

 Mylabris {Zonabris) pnsUdata occurs largely in September on the 

 flowers of Rosa sinensis, Hibiscus esculentus and nearly all Cucurbi- 

 taceous plants. Vegetable flowers and a paddy crop were damaged 

 in September by Epicanta hirticornis. These beetles should be 

 collected in hand-nets. 



Pests of coconut and date palms include Oryctes rhinoceros, L. 

 (rhinoceros beetle), which also attacks the growing shoots of American 

 aloes, and Rhynchophorits ferriigineus, F. (palm weevil). 



The Chrysomelid, Sagra nigrita, breeds in large numbers on the main 

 stems of climbing beans. In Bangalore the adults are found from 

 June to September. The eggs are laid in the stems, and the larvae 

 form large galls in the stem two and a half months later. Pupation 

 occurs in these, the adults emerging four to five months afterwards. The 

 total life-cycle occupies about one year. The galls should be split 

 when they are forming and the larvae destroyed. 



An occasional serious pest of ragi, potato and vegetable crops is 

 Gonocephaliim hoffmannseggi [R.A.E., A, viii, 64]. 



Xylotrechiis quadripes (coffee borer) is a serious pest of coffee, 

 especially at low altitudes. Old plants survive attacks for a few 

 seasons, but young plants die in a year or two. The remedial measures 

 recommended for this Longicorn have already been noticed [R.A.E., 

 A, vi, 74 ; vii, 288]. 



Citrus is attacked by two Longicorn beetles, Chelidonium cinctum 

 and Chloridolum alcmene, though the latter is rare. They are found 

 in the adult state from April to June, when oviposition occurs. The 

 larvae bore into the twigs and branches of the trees. Large stems 

 can withstand attacks for a few seasons, but young twigs wilt in two 

 or three months. The measures recommended are pruning off and 

 burning small twigs containing larvae. 



A serious pest of grape vines and mulberries is another Longicorn, 

 Sthenias grisator, the adults of which are found in January and 



