84 



With the exception of Scirpophcu/a xanthogastrella, which bores in 

 the top shoots, the borers occurring in Pusa do comparatively little 

 damage to grown sugar-cane. The cutting out of " dead hearts," 

 especially in the case of the young crop, has proved useless and also 

 injurious by interfering with proper tillering. The species previously 

 referred to as Chilo sp. in rice and Diatraea sp. in sugar-cane [R.A.E., 

 A, vii, 132] have since been identified as Argyria tumidicostalis. In 

 addition to sugar-cane, Saccharum spontaneum and S. arundinaceum, 

 S. fuscum is recorded as a food-plant of Scirpophaga xantJiogastrella. 

 Great damage was caused to sugar-cane by the Dynastine beetles, 

 Alissonotum impressicolle, A. piceurn and Heteronychus suhlaevis. 

 These beetles breed among the roots of various wild grasses. The 

 severe infestation by them of sugar-cane in April 1919 was probably 

 due to the retarded emergence of the adults owing to the drought. 

 Parasitism of the Aleurodid, Aleurolobus barodensis, destructive to 

 sugar-cane, was found to be highest at the end of November 1918, 

 reaching a maximum of 98 per cent., after which both host and 

 parasite rapidly diminished. 



New fruit pests include several weevils. The eggs of Alcides mali, 

 Mshl., are deposited in holes made in the tender shoots of apple trees. 

 The larvae tunnel in the stem, in which they remain for pupation. 

 The adults should be collected and the affected twigs cut off. Aclees 

 cribratus, Gyl., was found boring in the main stems of fig trees, Ficus 

 carica, in June and July. The beetles may be collected on the stems 

 by day. Another weevil belonging to a new genus, Deiradolcus, 

 was found in June and July on mulberry, apple, pear and other fruit 

 trees. Dyscerus malignus, Mshl., oviposits in small excavations 

 made in the apple fruits and fruits of Prunus nepalensis. All stages 

 complete their development within the fruit. D. fletcheri, Mshl., 

 also infests apple and has a similar life-history. A Lamiid, Linda 

 nigroscutata, Fairm., damages apple trees by girdling the twigs and 

 depositing eggs under the bark. The larvae bore into the twigs, 

 causing them to die off. The only remedy is hand collection of the 

 adults and the removal of attacked twigs. A Cerambycid, Cheli- 

 donium cinctum, Guer., was found depositing eggs in June in the 

 axils of young living twigs of orange trees. The larvae bore in the 

 twig and cause its death and eventually bore into the main branches, 

 making tunnels about one inch in diameter. Hand collection and 

 removal of affected twigs are advocated. 



A Sphingid, Oxyambulyx sericeipennis, Butl., occurred in July 

 on walnut, and Theretra gnoma, P., on grape vines ; another species, 

 probably Langia zeuzeroides, occurred on apples and pears. Other 

 Lepidopterous pests included the Saturniids, Adias selene, Hb., on 

 apple, pear, walnut, Betula alnoides and Odina wodier, etc., and 

 Antheraea roylei, on apple and pear ; a Pyralid, Heterographis bengalella, 

 Rag., on custard apple ; a Carposinid, Meridarchis reprobata, Meyr., 

 on olives and Eugenia jambolana ; an unidentified Eucosmid on apple 

 causing injury similar to that caused by Cydia pomonella ; and a 

 Gracillariid, Acrocercops ? hierocosma, Meyr., infesting litchi fruits in 

 May. 



Insects reared during the year included : a weevil, Sternochetits 

 (Cryptorrhynchus) gravis, which deposits its eggs in mango fruits, the 

 shortest period for completion of the life-cycle being about 3 weeks ; 



