519 



Beeson (C. F. C). Forest Entomology. — Reprint from Ann. Rep. 

 Scientific Advice for India, 1916-17, Calcutta, [n. d.], Economic 

 Zoology, pp. 1-3. [Received 30th September 1918.] 



The sal Longicorn, Hoplocemmbyx spinicornis, Newm., was studied 

 under insectary conditions, and an outbreak of this borer, which 

 resulted m the death of 7,000 sal trees, was investigated in January 

 and February 1917, remedial measures being planned for 1918. 

 Systematic work on the early stages of Acolesthes holosericea, Fairm., 

 and of associated Longicorns of the genera Xijlotrechus and Chlorophorus 

 attacking sal has been carried out and the life-cycles have been deter- 

 mined in the insectary. The identification of large numbers of 

 shot-hole boreis, Longicorns and Lepidoptera infesting sal-logs is in 

 progress. 



Breeding work in the insectary yielded a series of Microlepidopterous 

 parasites of the chir-pine scale. Ripersia resinophila, Cxreen, among 

 which are the new species : — Batrachcdra silvatica, Meyr., Blastobasis 

 transcripta, Me}T. , and Staikmopoda adalatrix, Me}T*. , and consignments 

 received yielded Promolactis cornigera, Meyr. Observations in chir 

 plantations indicate that the trees are killed off by the successive 

 attacks of the blister fungus, Aecidium complanatum var. corticola, 

 and the weevil, Cri/ptorrhynchus brandisi. 



Two new Arctiid defoliators of toon {Cedrela toona), Diacrisia 

 ohliqua, Wlk., and Creatonotns transiens, Wlk., were recorded ; an 

 investigation into the life-history of Hypsipyla robusta was completed, 

 and measures for its control in avenues and plantations successfully 

 demonstrated. 



The following new pests and new hosts of known pests were recorded 

 or identified during the year : — Coleoptera :-Tiberioides huwerti, 

 Arr., a borer of Juglans regia ; Holotrichia hngipennis, Bl., defoliating 

 Qitercus incana in the Punjab ; Hetewbostrychus aequalis, Waterh., 

 boring into newly felled timber of Odina modier in Burma ; 

 Stromatium barbatum, attacking plants of Stercidia alata and Pongamia 

 glabra in the Research Institute Museum, Dehra Dun ; Hoplocerambyx 

 spinicornis, Newm., boring into newly felled timber of Shorea obtusa 

 in Burma ; Sipalus kypocrita, Boh., boring into newly felled timber 

 of Pinus khasya ; and Pacliymerus (Caryoborus) gonagra, 01., attacking 

 the seeds of Prosopis jvliflora. 



Lepidoptera : — -Trabala vishnu, Lef . , a defoliator of Quercus incana ; 

 Acrocercops loxias, Meyr., bred from leaves of Eugenia jambolana ; 

 and Sitotroga cerealella, 01., injurious to bamboo seeds. 



BuRKiT.L (L H.). A Beetle which attacks Yams.^ — Gardens' Bull. 

 Straits Settlements, Singapore^ ii, no. 1, 4th July 1918, p. 6. 



This note describes the damage to the aerial bulbils of Dioscorea 

 bulbifera in Singapore by a beetle of the genus Lema or Crioceris, which 

 lives and tunnels in the mature bulbils. Eggs are laid in the tunnels 

 and the mature larvae apparently leave the bulbils and burrow into 

 the earth. So far no economic importance attaches to this insect 

 because the bulbils of D. bulbifera, though eaten in India, Java and 

 elsewhere, are not used in the Malay Peninsula. 



