187 



Hibernating individuals have been found under stones, in sheds amongst 

 loose and baled tobacco, and in cupboards and other warm places. 



At Durban the maximum number of generations appears to be 

 eight, but the average from an overwintered female will be smaller, 

 owing to the extended egg-laying period, it being possible for a female 

 to be still ovipositing long after her first progeny has become adult. 



The observed food-plants of L. hilineata are tobacco, Nicandra 

 physaloides (wild Cape gooseberry), Physalis peruviana (Cape goose- 

 berry) and other species of Physalis. Datura stramonium and 

 D. tatula, whilst Salpichroa rhomboidea is recorded in Argentina. 

 All these are Solanaceous plants, and none are known to be natives 

 of South Africa. Not all Solanaceae can serve as food ; tomato, 

 capsicum, Solanum melongena, and Cesirum aculeata (inkberry) were 

 found unsuitable. A few other plants, such as sweet potato and 

 lucerne, were also refused. Potatoes are attacked, though only 

 slightly compared with Datura stramonium in potato fields. 



It is not possible to say whether the range of L. 6z7mga/a has been 

 extended in South Africa by natural spread or by traffic. The greatest 

 danger would appear to be in the bales of tobacco. According to 

 some reports wet weather greatly favours this pest, and there is some 

 hope that it will not thrive in the drier parts of the country. As 

 L. bilineata belongs to a genus well represented in South Africa, it is 

 likely that native parasites will adapt themselves to it in increasing 

 numbers. The most eftective enemy observed is the ant, Pheidole 

 punctulata, and at Durban no infestation by larvae has been found 

 on the dry friable soils preferred by this ant. Myrmecaria eumenoides 

 also carries off the larvae. Plagiolepis custodiens is apparently useless. 

 Various Reduviid bugs have been seen attacking both beetles and 

 larvae. Other enemies included spiders and poultry. 



Though only a few experiments have been carried out, it is thought 

 that this pest can be kept down successfully. The crop at the Piet 

 Retief Experiment Station was kept, entirely free in 1920 by hand- 

 crushing, an expensive but effective method. It is probable that 

 spraying with a stomach-poison, such as lead arsenate, will become 

 more and more popular. Sodium arsenite from the cattle-dipping 

 tanks has been tried, and usually one trial was enough to prevent 

 another, but as good results have been obtained with weak dilutions 

 of this poison it is necessary to utter a warning against its use. The 

 dry application of arsenate of lead powder may prove effective on 

 tobacco, the leaves of which are sticky and hold the dust well. A 

 simple apparatus for this purpose is described. The air should be 

 still and the plants moist with dew or rain. Dusting with fine sifted 

 lime or fine dry earth experimentally reduced the number of larvae, 

 but whether the results would be satisfactory in the field remains to 

 be seen. The tops of young tobacco plants may be dipped in a lead 

 arsenate spray solution prior to planting out, which provides a pro- 

 tection that enables the plants to get a good start. 



Beesox (C. F. C). The Food Plants of Indian Forest Insects, Part V. 



— Ind. Forester, Allahabad, xlvii, no. 1, Januarv 1921, pp. 



21-25. 



This continuation of lists previously noticed [R.A.E., A, vii, 534] 



deals with the Scolytids : — Crossotarsus bonvouloiri. Chap., in Shorea 



robitsta ; C. coniferae, Steb., in Cedrus deodora and Picca morinda ; 



C. fairmairei. Chap., in Piniis excelsa ; C. minax, Wlk., in Terminalia 



