T. BAINBRIGGE FLETCHER 73 
EPITHECTIS STUDIOSA, MEYR. 
Epithectis studiosa, Meyr., B. J., XVI, 591-592 (1905)(}). 
Described from Peradeniya, where the larva was found feeding on dried 
plants in the herbarium(!). The Peradeniya collection also contains specimens 
under this name reared from rice received from Northern India. 
PHTHORIMAA HELIOPA, LOWER. 
Gelechia heliopa, Lower, P. Linn. Soc. N. 8. W., 1900, 417(}). 
Gnorimoschema heliopa, Meyr., P. Linn. Soc. N. 8. W., 1904, 320-321(?), B. J., 
XVI, 592 (1905)(%); Lefroy, Ind. Ins. Pests, p. 156(4), Ent. Mem. 
Agr. Dept. Ind., I, 224(5), Ind. Ins. Life, pp. 534-535(8), Agr. Jl. Ind., 
III, tab.(7) ; Fletcher, 8S. Ind. Ins., pp. 454-455, t. 43 (1914)(8). 
Phthorimea heliopa, Fletcher, Entl. Note 81 (1916)(%), Proc. Second Entl. 
Meeting, p. 272 (1917)(29), § eet ee Hbrerhirg L. i508) (Nv. (92) 
Originally described from Australia(!) this species is widely distributed 
in India and Ceylon, and probably occurs in Java also. It occurs throughout 
the Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon, but we have no records from North- 
Western India. Our records are from Hanguranketa (Ceylon), Coimbatore, 
Shevaroy Hills, Hagari, Penukonda (Anantapur District), Tharsa, Gujarat, 
Nadiad, Anand District, Pusa, Rangpur and Zigonkwin (Burma). In most 
districts this seems to be a minor pest of tobacco, the larva boring into the 
stem and causing a characteristic gall-like swelling, but it is sporadically 
serious and in Western India it is a major pest of tobacco. 
The egg is elongate-oval, about 0°5 mm. long, greenish at first, changing 
later to orange-yellow. The eggs are laid at night indiscriminately anywhere 
on the plant but especially on the lower surfaces of the leaves. In confinement 
one female laid 58 eggs during one night, dying nextday. The egg hatches 
after about 19 days in December or 11 days in March. 
The newly-hatched larva is about 1 mm. long, cylindrical, translucent 
yellowish-white ; head large, black; prothoracic shield small, black; a few 
hairs scattered over segments ; five pairs of prolegs. It emerges from the egg 
by gnawing a hole at one end but the egg-shell is more or less burst open longi- 
tudinally. The empty egg-shell is not eaten by the young larva. As it grows 
the yellow tinge is gradually lost and the full-grown larva is about 10 mm. long, 
cylindrical, tapering slightly posteriorly, segments fairly distinct, translucent 
whitish or greyish ; head smaller than prothorax, dark-brown ; prothoracic 
shield large, black, divided medially ; fifth abdominal segment with a brownish 
patch ; spiracles round, rimmed with black ; five pairs of prolegs. 
