125 



and Dichomeris ianthes were reported from North Bihar ; soap sprays 

 gave good results against them. Coffee suffered from a serious out- 

 break of coffee borer, Xylotrechus guadripes, in Coorg. Beetles began to 

 emerge in the last week of October. Eggs were obtained and hatched 

 out and it was proved that sunshine is not essential to the hatching of 

 the eggs, as former observers have stated. Experiments to ascertain 

 the life-cycle are being carried on. 



Orchard and garden pests have been made the subject of special 

 study ; Myiopardalis jKirdalina (Baluchistan melon fly) was reared 

 at Pusa from fruits of Cucumis trigomis ; hitherto it has only been 

 found in north-west India. Dacus oleae (European olive fly) was also 

 found on wild olives in the North- West Frontier Province ; this 

 discovery is important in view of the attempts now being made to 

 introduce the European olive into north-west India and Kashmir. 



In the course of the life-history investigations at Pusa, insects reared 

 successfully for the first time numbered about 200 species, including 

 some 50 Coleoptera whose breeding places and habits were previouslv 

 unknown. One Elaterid beetle grub, Agrypnus sp., has been living in 

 the insectary for 21 months on Scarabaeid and other beetle larvae 

 which damage plant roots in the soil. Bruchus affinis has been the 

 subject of detailed investigation. The grubs of this beetle are brought 

 into stores inside peas, which are externally quite sound at harvest- 

 time, about the end of January. The beetles begin to emerge in 

 August, but do not become active until December or January, the 

 majority remaining inside the peas and thus being taken back to the 

 field at sowing-time. Treatment with carbon bisulphide or naph- 

 thaline has successfully prevented damage to stored peas, and when 

 immersed in water, the damaged seeds float, while those unattached 

 sink ; it is therefore easy to separate the affected seeds and avoid 

 liberation of the beetles in the field at sowing time. Bruchus chinensis 

 breeds throughout the year in stored pulse seeds as well as in 

 Phaseolus mungo, P. radiatus, P. aconitifolius, DoUchos hiflorus, 

 Lathyrus sativus, Cajanus indicus, Vigna catjang and various kinds of 

 peas. 



Investigations were continued into the manner in which Agrotis 

 ypsilon passes through the hot weather [see this Review, Ser. A, iv, 

 p 96]. In the insectary this moth continued to breed throughout this 

 period, but no fertile eggs were obtained from adults which emerged 

 in July and August. During 1916 an Andres-Maire trap was worked 

 throughout the hot weather at Pusa, but failed to attract a single 

 example of A. ypsilon, and it is not yet known what happens at this 

 time imder normal conditions. The insect can continue to breed under 

 favourable conditions, but there is no proof that it does so, and no 

 trace of the insect has been found in the field from April to 

 August. The migration theory fits the known facts but as yet 

 remains an unproved hypothesis. The habits of Meiriona circumdata, 

 Aspidomorpka indica, and Philemostoma trilineata were observed 

 throughout the year. These beetles hibernate and live for about six 

 months. The moth, Ancylolomia cJirysographella was observed to 

 hibernate in the larval stage and breeds continuously in the hot weather. 

 The Tineid larvae. Melasma sp. andMynnecozela leontina, were observed 

 to have only one brood in the year ; hibernation, as well as aestivation, 

 was noted in the case of the Sphingid, Leucophlebia lineata, in the larva4 



