72 



H. ahelmoschiis, E. cupreoviridis also occurs, but this moth has not 

 been found in cotton. 



The parasites of bollworms in India inckide two Braconids, two 

 Ichneumonids and a Chalcid. Of these Microhracon lefroyi is the 

 most important. The method of parasitism by this species is described. 

 The complete life-cycle has been found to occupy from 9 to 13 days. 

 Alternati\T hosts of this parasite are Platyedra gossypiella, Epice'phala 

 chalybacnia, Enbleninia quadrilineata, E. amabilis, Adisiira atkinsoni, 

 Sylepta derogata, Phycita infusella, Anarsia melanopleda, Chlumetia 

 transversa, Alcides leopardus and Carpomyia vesnviana. These were 

 studied with a view to utilising them for breeding the parasite when 

 required in various localities. 



Very little success has as yet been obtained with light-traps, though 

 E. insiilana and E. fahia frequently come to lights, and P. gossypiella 

 occasionally does so. 



Tests have been made with thick and thin sowing, which have given 

 no very decisive results, and also in growing cotton alone or inter-sown 

 with tur [Cajanus indicus). In the latter case, the tur plants became 

 so bushy that they interfered seriously with the growth and subsequent 

 bolhng of the cotton. Tables show the results of the various tests, as 

 well as of trials to determine the relative immunity of different varieties 

 of cotton to bollworm attack. The figures are, however, too inconclusive 

 to do more than indicate the tendency of certain varieties to resist 

 infestation. 



In the discussion following this paper it was stated that a trap-crop 

 would be the best remedy against bollworm attack, but that the chief 

 difficulty is to induce cultivators to pull these up at the proper time, 

 especially when the crop has been H. esculentus, which is a valuable 

 vegetable, sometimes even more valuable than cotton. Topping the 

 cotton is only practicable with a very vigorous crop, otherwise the 

 destruction of the early shoots causes a severe check to the growth of 

 the plant. 



GouGH (L. H.). The Pink Bollworm in Egypt. — Repl. Proc. 3rd Enloin. 

 Meeting, Piisa, February 1919, Calcutta, ii, 1920, pp. 472-532, 

 13 plates. 



A review is given of the appearance and spread of Platyedra gossypiella 

 (pink bollworm) in Egypt. The life-history, habits and food-plants 

 are described [R.A.E., A, iv, 277], and the effect of bollworm attack on 

 the yield of cotton is discussed [R.A.E., A, vii, 489]. The measures 

 undertaken in Egypt for the control of the pest and the organisation 

 for carrying them out are explained, and machines for the treatment 

 of the seed are described and illustrated R.A.E., A, ii, 218, 319; 

 iv, 472 ; vi, 42, etc.]. 



The campaigns of 1916 and 1917, as well as a general review of the 

 situation, have recently been described by Ballou [R.A.E., A, viii, 

 67, 222]. 



P. gossypiella is the cotton pest of outstanding importance in Egypt, 

 Earias spp. no longer being regarded as serious pests, and the whole 

 question of its control centres in the possibility of the early removal 

 of growing cotton plants from the fields. A September campaign 

 would give immeasurably better results than an October one, but 

 unfortunately this is not yet possible from an agricultural point of view. 

 The treatment of the seed is also an important measure, though far 

 less so than field work. Much is hoped from the establishment of a 



