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15 
was little more than 7 inches, the beetles may have laid 
eges which developed and were near pupation in August. 
It is difficult to explain otherwise that grown up larve 
were found as late as August, seeing that the rainfall in 
May was sufficiently heavy for pupation. 
Remedies.—From the habits of the species already 
discussed it will have become obvious that remedial mea- 
sures are difficult to apply. Any application of gaseous or 
liquid poison is out of the question as the area to be treat- 
ed is too large even if the remedy should prove within the 
reach of the raiyat. Equally impracticable is the applica- 
tion of tobacco dust and similar repellants. ‘Tobacco dust 
was actually tried as an experimental measure but failed 
to affect the larve at all. We have thus no alternative 
but to fall back upon the adult stage as the only point of 
attack. The beetles are usually found on the upper sur- 
face of the soil and any attractive bait will easily bxing 
together large numbers which can be collected and des- 
troyed without difficulty. Various baits were tried as 
decaying straw of paddy, ragi (Hleusine coracana) and 
bharagu (Panicum miliacewm) soaked long in water. Weeds 
with roots from the ground were also tried. While each of 
the above proved as good baits, the most attractive was 
found to be the weeds. ‘To secure the best results, these 
have to be spread on the bunds an hour or so before sunset. 
The beetles are best collected soon after nightfall when they 
emerge from their hiding places and begin to feed. Where 
the beetles attack potato the best remedy appears to be a 
poison bait. Chopped grass soaked in a solution of jag- 
gory and some. form of soluble arsenic will attract the 
beetles which are killed in about a day after the first feed. 
The bait is prepared as follows—One pound of sodium ar- 
senite is dissolved along with 8 lbs. jaggory or molasses in 
10 gallons (23 kerosine tins) of water. Chopped grass in 
sufficient quantity is mixed with the solution and spread 
over the field in the evening. 
The chief obstacle in the way of carrying out the 
remedies suggested lies in the fact that it is impossible 
to tell in any one year whether the pest may appear in 
numbers in the next or not and since in normal years the 
raiyats do not suffer any serious loss, they are apt to neglect 
the collection of the insects. However, it should not be 
difficult to eradicate the pest if the collection and destruc- 
tion on the lines suggested is carried out year after year 
for three or four years. Once this has been done, the raiyats 
