MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 413 



it has been found to infest agathi, red gram, indigo and cluster bean 

 plants also. The insect enjoys a wide distribution, and it has been noted 

 in several districts in the Madras Presidency. 



Life Histori/. — The whole life history of the bug from egg to imago is spent 

 on the plant itself . As is usual in bugs, coupling takes place in opposition. 

 This process was noted in some cases and found to occupy a period ranging 

 from oO to 70 minutes. 



Egg. — -In from 4 to 7 hours after union, egg-laying takes place. After 

 coupling, the female crawls about the tender shoots and leaves evidently 

 on the search for a suitable spot to deposit the eggs ; they are generally 

 laid on the leaf-surface but they are also often found on the tender stems 

 and the beans. One bug lays from 10 to 40 eggs, the commonest number 

 being 35. The eggs are laid invariably |in two parallel rows arranged 

 back to back. Each egg when laid is cemented to the plant surface by a 

 sticky fluid secreted by the bug. The eggs are very soft on being laid, but 

 soon harden when exposed to air. Each egg is a tubular object measuring 

 § m.m. along its long axis. In colour it is creamy white showing 

 iridescent colours in certain lights. That end of an egg which is away 

 from the adjacent parallel row is circular and has a toothed rim ; it is 

 covered up by a circular lid-like structure. The long axis is faintly 

 sculptured and granular. The eggs hatch on the sixth day after being 

 laid. As the hatching time approaches the egg group appears 

 darker in colour. Just before hatching the lid at the end of the egg shell 

 is pushed open from inside and the young insect slowly emerges out along 

 the passage made. The young nymph takes a long time to extricate itself 

 completely from the egg shell. The lid when open remains like a door on 

 its hinge. {See Plate B.) 



Isi Instar. — The just-hatched nymph is a tiny oval object, having a shin- 

 ing orange colour. From head to the tail end it measures f m.m. and 

 across the body" transversely |- m.m. The antennse are fairly long : the 

 small eyes are bright red. The dorsal and lateral portions of the body are 

 hairy, being covered by short setsB. The insect at this stage is not active, 

 a number of them remaining gregariously at one spot. Owing to its minute 

 size the insect is easily overlooked at this stage. {See Plate B.) 



2nd Instar. — The period of the first stage occupies 8 days, at the end of 

 which the first moult takes place. The insect now measures 1| m.m. long 

 and has a pale brownish colour. The body is as before hairy with setse. 

 The wing rudiments appear as very fair.t dark spots. The mid-dorsal 

 region of the abdomen has a pinkish patch (probably the beginnings of 

 the stink glands). The eyes turn paler from their original bright red 

 colour. 



3>'cZ Instar. — Six days after the first moult the insect casts its skin for 

 the second time and gives rise to the third instar. The nymph is now 

 decidedly bigger, being 2^ m.m. long. The colour becomes pale-green. 

 The wing pads appear clearer and of a darker green than before. The 

 pinkish patch on the mid-dorsal region of the abdomen now appears as two 

 or three small oblong patches. 



^th, Instar. — The third instar lasts 9 days, after which the 3rd moult takes 

 place. The insect now measures 2f m.m. The body is light whitish-green 

 in colour. The wing pads form dark olive patches slightly lengthened 

 backwards. The setee around the abdomen on the lateral plates (?) are 

 brownish green. Body and head hairy. Two small black spots are found 

 on the middorsum of the abdomen. 



Mil Instar. — Another 9 days pass and the skin is cast by the nymph 

 for the fourth time. This is the last stage in the nymphal period of the 

 life of the bug. It is now 4 m.m. long. The body is oval in shape 



