[ 725 ] 



spraying should be done when the fruits are still green but 

 properly developed. 



CHAPTER CXXII. 



THE INDIAN GOLDEN- APPI<E-BEETI,E 



(Aulacophora Abdominalis.) 



'"PHIS is a Coleopterous insect belonging to the family 

 Chrysomelidae. It destroys various Indian crops and 

 in its turn it is usually destroyed by a Coccinellid beetle 

 known as Palaeopeda sex-masculata. We have noticed both 

 these insects in the Sibpur Farm on cotton, gourd, melon and 

 cucumber plants. Water melons, jhingas and palval creepers 

 growing in the same field were not attacked. In the Saha- 

 ranpur Botanical Garden it was found to be generally des- 

 tructive to all Cucurbitaceous plants. It is said to attack 

 the floating water-nut plants (Trapa bispinosa) also. The 

 beetle is a little under half an inch in length, brilliant reddish 

 yellow in colour ; the wings are yellow and do not entirely 

 cover the abdomen. The legs are reddish yellow. The under- 

 surface is partly yellow and partly black. 



CHAPTER CXX1II. 



PIvANT-UCE AND SCALE-INSECTS (APHIDES AND COCCID^). 



'IPHESE homopterous insects are very destructive. Plant- 

 lice (aphides) are more destructive to agricultural crops 

 than scale-insects. The commonest aphis of Bengal is the 



