154 



by birds. The greatest damage occurs, therefore, in years when the 

 monsoon is late. The occurrence of early rains about sowing time 

 also has considerable influence on the appearance of 5. mauritia. 



A thorough campaign was instituted at the beginning of the season 

 of 1920. The remedial measures that were advocated have for the 

 most part been noticed previously [R.A.E., A, v, 500; ix, 10]. In 

 some parts of Malabar it is customary to scatter rice when S. mauritia 

 appears, in order to attract birds. The provision of perches for birds 

 in the fields is also recommended. 



Parasites of S. mauritia include the Tachinids, Actia aegyptia, 

 Villen., Pseudogonia cinerascens, Rond., Tachinafallax, Meig., Sturmia 

 himaculata, Hart., and Cyphocera varia, F., and a Braconid, Chelonus sp. 

 The birds that feed on S. mauritia include the common crow {Corvus 

 splendens), jungle crow (C. macrorhynchus), cattle egret {Buhidcus 

 coromandus), paddy bird {Ardeola grayi), white-breasted water hen 

 {Amaurovius phoenicocurus) and the common mynah {Acridotheres 

 tristis) . 



Ballard (E.). Results of Investigation of Bionomics of PTatyedra 

 gossypiella, Saunders, in South India, together with some Notes 



on Earias insulana and E. fabia. — Rcpt. Proc. 4th Ent. Meeting, 

 Pusa, February 1921, Calcutta, 1921, pp. 70-83, v3 plates. 



Platyedra gossypiella (pink bollworm) has been regarded as a serious 

 pest of cotton in South India only during the last few years, and 

 it received very little attention before that date. The life-history is 

 described. Investigations in 1919-20 show that it is extremely 

 doubtful whether the resting or long-cycle type of larva occurs in 

 South India, possibly owing to the absence of any cold weather. 

 Graphs showing the seasonal incidence in various localities indicate 

 that during the hot months the larval life is longer than later in the 

 year. Therefore, at the time of season-picking, the larvae have not 

 reached their last instar, prior to pupation ; after this the increase 

 in numbers is steadily maintained, the generations succeeding one 

 another rapidly. 



The relative increase of Earias fabia and E. insulana during the 

 season is shown in tabular form. In October and November 1919 

 these species did much damage to the top-shoots of young cotton 

 plants, but as a result the plants branched and produced more bolls, 

 so that the crop was a good one. Towards the end of the year 

 Earias spp. increase in numbers until the first flowering season is over, 

 after which the numbers fall again. 



The enforcement of the Pest Act in Coimbatore has given most 

 encouraging results ; it remains to be seen whether the extension 

 of the area under the Act will be attended by equal success. The 

 essential factor in control of this pest in South India seems to lie in 

 strict enforcement of the Act, in putting sheep and goats to graze 

 off the boUs before the plants are pulled up, and in the selection of 

 an early-maturing strain of cotton. The fact that the pink bollworm 

 shows no sign of producing long-cycle larvae makes the above remedial 

 measures easier and obviates the introduction of machines or other 

 apparatus for fumigating or otherwise treating the seed after ginning. 

 It is doubtful whether hot-air treatment could ever be enforced in 

 South India. 



