182 



within the fold, eating the epidermis until the folded portion of the 

 leaf may be skeletonised and dry up. Pupation occurs within the 

 leaf-fold and lasts about eight or nine days. 



Its numbers are reduced by the Chalcid parasite, Asympiesiella 

 india, Gir., the larva of which feeds externally on the body of its host, 

 consuming all but the integument within two days. Its life-cycle, 

 from egg to imago, requires 13 or 14 days in January and February. 



SusAiNATHAN (P.) & SuNDARAM (C. V.). Life-histoiy Notes on 



Stauropus alter mis, Wlk,— Kept. Proc. 4th Ent. Meeting, Pusa, 



February 1921, Calcutta, 1921, pp. 291-292. 



Observations are recorded on Stauropus alternus, Wlk., reared from 



eggs taken on leaves of Cajanus. The eggs were collected on 27th 



November 1920, and the adult emerged on 11th January 1921. The 



six larval instars, with the dates of the moults, are described. The 



pupa is enclosed in a slight cocoon of yellow fibrous silk covered over 



by leaves. 



HusAiN (M. A.) & Mathur (U.). Preliminary Observations on the 

 . y Oviposition and Life-history of Microbracon lefroyt, a Braeonid 

 ^ Parasite of Earias insulana.—Rept. Proc. 4th Ent. Meeting, Pusa, 



February 1921, Calcutta, 1921, pp. 298-311. 



Earias insulana, Boisd., and E. fabia, StoU (spotted bollworms), 

 are such inevitable pests of cotton in the Punjab that damage to the 

 extent of about 10 per cent, has been considered normal. In occasional 

 years, however, they increase enormously and become very serious 

 pests.' The parasite that has been considered the most effective in 

 reducing their numbers is the Braeonid, Microbracon {Rhogas) lefroyi, 

 Ashm. Although the distribution of boxes of these parasites has 

 gone on for a number of years, no investigations have been made 

 as to the results, and very httle has been known regarding their life- 

 history. The parasite is apparently more susceptible to low tempera- 

 tures than the bollworms, and thus, after an exceptionally cold winter, 

 the latter may be more than usually numerous. There are probably 

 several species of Microbracon parasitic on E. insulana and E. fabia. 

 Brues' description of M. lefroyi is quoted. The occurrence of the para- 

 site in the Punjab varies according to the locality. In the south, 

 they have been collected in July and August ; at Ferozepur they are 

 seen in September and October, and at Lyallpur in November to 

 January. 



The manner of parasitisation is described. After puncturmg the 

 body of the host caterpillar, generally in the abdominal region, the 

 female sucks the liquid oozing from the wounds ; in the laboratory 

 the food thus obtained seems sufficient for the parasite. The eggs 

 are laid outside the body of the host, in groups of from 2 to 6 or more, 

 and always on a fully-grown caterpillar. The largest number of eggs 

 found on one caterpillar was 21, but 219 have been obtained from one 

 unfertilised female. The parasitic larva hatches in from 24 to 26 hours, 

 and begins to suck the body-juices of its host, probably utilising the 

 wounds made by the female for this purpose. The larval stage lasts 

 from 32 to 37 hours in July, about 67 hours in October, and more than 

 10 days in December. When fully fed the larva leaves the host and 

 pupates, generally close to it, in a white silken cocoon. In the summer 

 pupation lasts 5 or 6 days, while in winter it may be as long as 27 days. 

 The longevity of the adult is not known ; in the laboratory males 



