1028 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAI, ■MEETING 



came to hand, we went over all our material and made out that we- 

 had at least four or five species of Microh-acon, differing in habits as 

 well as in appearance and structure, and all reared from Earias, as well 

 as several other doubtfully distinct species reared from hosts other 

 than Earias. I may remark here that it is important for us to know 

 in what other hosts the Earias-'miesiing species are capable to breeding. 

 All this material, representing the collections made from rearing during 

 many years, was sent to Professor Brues with a letter pointing out the 

 differences which we believed to exist ; but unfortunately this parcel 

 was lost by 'submarine action and the whole of oxur collection was lost. 

 I mention this because, if be had received this second collection, it is 

 just possible that Professor Brues might have modified this paper to 

 some extent. As it is, we must wait until we can seciu-e more exten- 

 sive material from known hosts. 



81.— SOME RECENTLY NOTED SOUTH INDIAN MELOLON- 

 THIDyE OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE. 



By P. V. Isaac, Assistant to the Government Entomologist, Madras. 

 Under the term Melolonthidw there are included for the purposea- 

 of this paper the four important sub-families of pleiirostid Scarahceidce, 

 namely : — 



(1) Cetoniana?. 



(2) Dynastinas. 



(3) Rutelina>. 



(4) Melolonthinee. 



When in the summer of 1916 reports were received of damage to 

 cinchona seedlings by white grubs in the Government cinchona planta- 

 tions at Dodabetta (8,000 feet) in the Nilgiris, the study of Melolonthidse 

 received fresh imiiortance ; and the appearance in 1917 of the volume 

 on Rutelinae in the Fauna of India Series, has been of much help in 

 sustaining the interest in the group. 



The species which have in recent times come into prominence are : — 



Cetoniance. 



(1) Anthracophora crucifera, Oliv. This beautiful insect has been 

 found commonly on Lantana flowers and cholam inflorescence in Coim- 

 batore. 



(2) Protcetia avrichalcea, F. This also has been found at Coimbatore 

 both on Lantana and cholam flowers. 



