PEOCEEmNGS OF THE TIUKD EMTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 353 



" Measures adopted on the Hmawbi Farm : — 



1. Water was let out, where possible, from the fields attacked. 



2. This was followed by two men walking along the bunds of the 

 fields, holding a rope between them ; with this the plants were shaken 

 to dislodge the caterpillars. Generally it is safer to keep the field without 

 water for three or four days, during which time the rope-dragging should 

 be carried out a couple of times. This ensures the removal of all insects 

 from the plants. 



3. Where complete draining is not practicable, the insects may be 

 collected after dragging with a rope either (a) by hand in the corners 

 •of the fields and near the bunds, whither they are blown by wind, or 



(b) by means of a dalu (See Plate 21). This is a flat, triangular, 

 open bamboo basket with handles, ordinarily used for catching 

 mud-fish in drains, etc. By means of the handles it is pushed along, 

 the open edge, which forms the base of the triangle, running along 

 the ground. When used for collecting insects on water, the flat edge 

 should run on the surface of the water. The Insects floating among the 

 plants may thus be caught in large numbers. Very sUght, if any, damage 

 is done to the plants by the dalu passing over them." 



2. Ripersia sacchari. This pest sometimes proves very serious to 

 paddy plants in experimental plots and in patches in transplanted areas. 

 If the plants are tender, they are completely killed ; if they are tough, 

 they are damaged but side-shoots sometimes come out. These new 

 plants are evidently inferior to the healthy plants in the uninfested area. 

 Mr. Lefroy, when he came to Burma, recommended to Mr. Warth, 

 Agricultural Chemist, the destruction of his infested experimental 

 plots. This measure is not desirable. Is there any other remedy by 

 means of which the attacked plants could be saved ? 



3. A Plantain Stem-boring Beetle. Please see the specimen No. 1, 

 sent for identification. 



This pest came to notice for the first time at Hmawbi. The grab 

 first attacks the stalk of the leaf (probably the egg is laid on it) and gra- 

 dually goes down to the stem. The slimy substance oozing out from the 

 cracks and holes in the damaged parts, indicates the presence of the borer 

 at work. It pupates inside the stem. All the stages are found inside 

 the plant. It appears to be a serious pest. 



4. A small Horned-beetle looking like a Rhinoceros beetle. See the 

 No. 2, sent for identification. 



Two beetles were found along with Oryctes rhinoceros inside the 

 jotten top of a dead coconut tree at Moulmein. 



2 a2 



