8 
In Mysore both G. hofmannsegei and G. depressum 
occur but so far injury has been reported only by the 
former. This species has been several times reported as 
damaging potato and ragi (Kleusine coracana) in the 
field. In the case of the potato, damage may be done by 
either the adult beetle or the larva although the former 
seems to produce the more serious effects. The chief 
dainage results from the beetles gnawing into the stem 
just below the surface of the ground, much as has been 
- described by Koningsberger for tobacco. At times regular 
tunnels into the stem may be made with the result that 
the plant is either seriously weakened or killed altogether. 
In addition to the damage to the stem, tubers may also 
be attacked, in which case usually broad shallow excava- 
tions are made in the surface. These while not greatly 
injuring the potatoes seriously detract from their saleabi- 
lity. This type of damage seems to be comparatively rare 
in the tield although larve and adult beetles have been 
kept for months in the insectary feeding on nothing but 
potato tubers. 
In the case of ragi it appears that the larve are 
exclusively or almost exclusively to blame for the damage 
done. The damage here again results. from the gnawing 
through of the plants at or just beneath the surface of 
the soil, the appearance reminding one considerably of 
the work of cut-worms or surface-caterpillars except 
that the cut plants are not pulled into the ground. 
Only seedlings in the first two or three weeks of growth 
are subject to attack ;-as soon as they reach a height of 
about three or four inches they seem to be quite immune. 
Up to the present serious damage has been reported from 
three localities in Mysore. At each place several acres of 
young ragi were destroyed so that resowing became neces- 
sary. As the cause of the damage cannot be seen on a 
casual examination it appears quite possible that the 
damage caused by this insect is fairly widespread but that 
it has been ascribed to some other cause or has even been 
overlooked altogether. 
The following record of an experiment will indicate 
clearly the possibilities of damage by this insect on ragi 
seedling. 
18-1-10—20 larvz collected in potato plot in Laboratory com- 
pound, were transferred to pot containing, ragi seed- 
lings about ten days old. 
21-1-10—8 seedlings cut. 
_?.,23-1-10—About 100 seedlings cut. 
