PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 717 



were carried on with a number of gunny bags and earthen vessels (as 

 shown in Plate 111) in a godown for two years. This insect never 

 occurred in gunny bags or in earthen vessels kept with their covers 

 loose. It occurred only in those vessels in which the cover was made 

 airtight by being plastered with mud and in kerosine tins similarly 

 treated. 



The life-history of this insect is given in detail by Messrs. Barnes 

 and Grove. It hibernates in the cold weather from about October to 

 March. During the rest of the year the generations occur after roughly 

 about four weeks. 



Trogoderma khapra. (Plate 102.) 

 Tliis Dermestid is of importance as a pest of wheat, maize and pulses 

 in the western parts of the United Provinces, the Punjab and Gujarat. 

 Its life-history is given in detail by Messrs. Barnes and Grove. The 

 period of activity coincides with the months of May to August or Sep- 

 tember, when the generations are passed through in quick succession, 

 each cycle of life occupying about four to five weeks. During this 

 time there is an enormous increase in its number. The foiu-th genera- 

 tion occupies a long period from about September to April, the cold 

 weather from about October to March being passed by the larvae in a 

 dormant condition. 



In the godowns examined at Cawnpur numerous grubs were observed 

 inside cracks and interspaces between the bricks on the walls. In these 

 places they can live from Reason to sea.son and feed on the dust and 

 particles of grains which are usually present there. 



Messrs. Barnes and Grove remark that the interesting feature of 

 attack of this insect is that it is usually present at the top of the wheat. 

 It certainly can and does penetrate to some depth into the wheat but 

 the greatest amount of damage always occurs in the first six to twelve 

 inches and during the first year. As a matter of fact, the other pests 

 (Calandm oryzce and Rhizopertha dominica) also begin at the top and 

 gradually go downwards. 



Triholmm castaneum. (Plate 103, figs. 1-5.) 

 These small red-brown beetles and their slender brownish grubs are 

 frequently found in damaged grain in company with the principal pests, 

 viz., Calandra oryzw, Rhizopertha dominica and others. They cannot 

 damage the grains by themselves and simply follow the real pests and 

 breed in the dust produced by the latter. They however occur in pro- 

 fuse numbers and seem to prefer the company of Rhizopertha to that 

 of the others. When, however, in want of food they are forced to 



