181 



MiSRA (C. S.). Anatrachyntis falcatella, Stt. {Pyroderces spodoctha, 

 Meyr.). — Kept. Proc. 4th Ent. Meeting, Ptisa, February 1921, 

 Calcutta, 1921, pp. 249-252, 1 plate. 



This moth, which has hitherto been recorded as a rubbish feeder, 

 has recently been observed infesting broodlac [Tachardia lacca] on 

 Shorea talnra. From four different consignments received from 

 Bangalore, so many moths emerged that it seemed highly probable 

 that the caterpillars were not harmless, and investigation showed 

 that they were feeding on the healthy lac females within resinous 

 cells. The caterpillars are often founcl in company with Euhlemma 

 amahilis, and in the consignments examined were far the more numerous. 

 E. amahilis is a serious pest of lac in northern India, and also occurs 

 to a less extent in the south ; Anatrachyntis falcatella has not been 

 reported as damaging lac in northern India. In the Pusa collection 

 it has usually been taken from cotton buds or dry shoots attacked 

 by other cotton pests. Both species attack and destroy the gravid 

 females of the lac insect, the caterpillars gnawing a hole in the resinous 

 cell, and in order to reach the dead and dry female lac cells they bite 

 their way through the living female cells as well. When fully fed, and 

 after having penetrated to a certain depth, the caterpillar spins a thin, 

 whitish cocoon, having first made a circular exit hole for the adult 

 on the resinous incrustation. If this moth, in the course of time, 

 diverts its attention from cotton to lac, it will require rigorous measures 

 for its suppression, and this should be borne in mind when the question 

 of the establishment of nurseries for the distribution of broodlac is 

 discussed. 



MisRA (C. S.). Determination of Emergence of Larvae from Examina- 

 tion of the Ovaries of Lac Insects. — Rept. Proc. 4th Ent. Meeting, 

 Pusa, February 1921, Calcutta, 1921, pp. 253-258, 1 plate. 



The determination of the local dates of emergence of lac insects 

 has always been a difficult matter, and this ignorance has largely 

 handicapped the successful extension of lac cultivation, as well as 

 contributing to bring about the frequent heavy fluctuations in the price 

 of the material. As the future seems to hold great possibihties for 

 the development and consohdation of the industry, it is essential 

 that adequate precautions be taken to safeguard it. It is of the greatest 

 importance that broodlac intended for transportation should be cut 

 at exactly the right moment with regard to emergence of the larvae, 

 and a method is explained for determining this moment in any part 

 of the country. A plate shows the development of the eggs in the lac 

 insect up to the moment of emergence of the larvae. By the examina- 

 tion of a few of the ovaries of females taken from the cells, and a 

 comparison with the figures on this plate, the date of emergence in the 

 particular locahty from which the insects were obtained can be 

 determined. The drawback to this method is that it is only suitable 

 for laboratory workers possessing a microscope, and cannot be 

 attempted by most of the poorer growers. 



DuTT (G. R.). Gracilaria soyella, van Dev., and its Parasite, 



Asympiesiella india, Girault. — Rept. Proc. 4th Ent. Meeting, 



Pusa, February 1921, Calcutta, 1921, pp. 287-290, 1 plate. 



Gracilaria soyella, van Dev., occurs every year at Pusa, generally 



in fields of tur {Cajanus indicus), from November to March or April. 



The caterpiUar rolls up the apical extremity of the leaves and lives 



