PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 7l9 



grain or between a few grains fastened together. The pupal sta^e at 

 ordinary temperatures is about 8 days. The adult beetles live for 

 about five months. They oviposit and breed any time in the year 

 when they find suitable conditions. 



Gihhium scotias (Plate 105). 



This has not been recorded before as a pest of stored grain, but it 

 was found by Sardar Harchand Singh feeding upon and breeding among 

 stored wheat grains in a shop in Patiala in July. Living specimens 

 were brought to Pusa where it was observed that they completed a gene- 

 ration in the course of a month. Small white eggs are laid among the 

 grains and both the grubs and adults feed upon the grains, either nibblin» 

 their surface or gnawing deeper into them. The grub is white with a 

 yellow head and is clothed with hairs to which particles of grain, dust, 

 etc., stick, bringing about a dust-covered appearance. The adult 

 beetles have a bulging back and long legs and look like spiders of a 

 brown shiny appearance. 



This insect has been recorded as boring into the outer parts of opium 

 cakes at Patna and damaging the records in the Dharwar Collectorate. 

 It is a household insect and may prove to be serious as it is capable of 

 breeding rather quickly. 



Attagenus piceus (Plate 106, fig. 1). 



This Dermestid beetle also has not been recorded as a pest of stored 

 grain. But it was originally received from the Punjab along with other 

 store pests, and actually breeding in wheat chaff. It is capable of 

 feeding and certainly does feed on grains in the store but it is oversha- 

 dowed by the more numerous and more active Trogoderma khapra. 

 It breeds very slowly, fresh generations occurring after one, two or 

 even three years. This is also one reason why it cannot be prominent 

 and it will probably never prove serious. 



Beetles emerge in April, May, and June and live at the most for 

 about three weeks, in the course of which they complete oviposition 

 and die. Each female is capable of laymg up to about 50 eggs, which 

 are deposited loosely among the stuff in which breeding takes place. 

 The eggs hatch in about 8 days. The grubs from the eggs of the same 

 mother may feed for one to three years, some attaining the adult stage 

 after one year, some after two years and some after three years. As 

 already stated, the beetles appear in April, May and June. 



VOL. ii" u 



