513 



M. versicolor has been reared in Europe from a variety of moths. 

 In New England the adult parasites of the first generation evidently 

 prefer the last two stages of the brown-tail moth larvae for parasit- 

 isation. Other species occasionally attacked are Lymantria dispar, 

 Hemerocampa leucosfigma and Orgyia {Notolophus) anliqua ; Hyphantria 

 cunea has also been recorded as a host. Species that were apparently 

 chosen for oviposition, but from which no adult parasites emerged, 

 were Alsophila pomelaria, HsirT. , Phigalia titea, Cram., Xylina antennata, 

 Wlk., several species of Tortricids and a Tenthredinid. There is 

 undoubtedly at least a partial third generation on various native 

 hosts, particularly upon species of Hemerocampa, Hyphantria and 

 other closely allied forms, early stages of which are in the field during 

 July. Adults of this generation, together with those of other genera- 

 tions still living (for they may live even 2 or 3 months), oviposit in 

 the small larvae of Nygmia phaeorrhoea during the early autumn. 



The importance of M. versicolor as a parasite is much less than that 

 of A. lacteicolor ; it destroys only a small percentage of the hibernating 

 brown-tail moth caterpillars. Parasitism of the nearly mature larvae 

 of N. phaeorrhoea is slight, while that upon native caterpillars appears 

 to be almost insignificant. The reasons for this lesser importance 

 are probably dependence upon the brown-tail moth for hibernation 

 and the fact of the cocoons bemg parasitised to the extent of 50 to 

 75 per cent, by various Chalcidoids and Ichneumonids. Many larvae 

 of M. versicolor fail to pupate after having spun their cocoons, and 

 some that occur in the same host larvae as individuals of A. lacteicolor 

 are killed by the latter. 



MisRA (C. S.). The Present Conditions of Lac Cultivation in the Plains 

 of India. — Agric. Jl. hidia, Calcutta, xiii, no. 3, July 1918, 

 pp. 405-415, 1 plate, 1 map. 



The cultivation of lac has from time immemorial formed the means 

 of livelihood of millions of the poorer classes of India. Lac is a resinous 

 secretion produced by the scale-insect, Tachardia lacca, which sucks 

 the juice of plants and transforms it into re.sin with which it completely 

 surrounds itself. This is secreted by the epidermis, and on exposure 

 hardens into a deep red or orange-coloured substance, semi-transparent, 

 hard, and breaking with a crystalUne fi'acture. The yoimg insect on 

 finding a suitable spot attaches itself ; the males emerge from the 

 incrustation twice a year, either as a winged or wingless form, and 

 die after pairing. The young fertihsed female, on attachment, 

 rapidly develops, being permanently fixed by its secretion, and the 

 lac-bearing branches are then cut oft" and placed on trees having a 

 sufficient number of succulent branches. When the yomig insects 

 have emerged from the incrustation on to the new host-plant, the old 

 lac-bearing branches are removed, and the resin is scraped oft, ground 

 in a mill, soaked in water and washed. The pure animal resin thus 

 obtained is mixed with colophony and orpiment, heated over a slow 

 fire and drawn out into thin sheets, commercially known as shellac. 



The host-plants of the lac-insect are the babul {Acacia arahica), 

 the palas {Butea frondosa), ber {7jizyp)hus jujvba), kusumb {SchUichera 

 trijuga) and mirimah, a variety of tur (Cajan'is indinis). 



