134 H. H. Mann — Life-History of Helopeltis theivora. [No. 3, 



kills off the bulk of the mature insects and practically all the larvae, 

 but at all times sufficient remain to carry on the pest to the next 

 season, and in addition the bushes are full of eggs. These latter were 

 found not only in the usual position on the young shoot, but also at a 

 much lower part of the bush than has previously been noticed, embedded 

 in the usual fashion in the midrib of the large mature leaves. The 

 larvae were found on 11th January in small numbers on unpruned and 

 sheltered bushes, then forming about 2| per cent, of the total number 

 of insects caught. By 12th February, however, a very different pro- 

 portion of adults and larvae were obtained, and now instead of 2\ per 

 cent, the larvae formed 80 per cent, of the total catch. This proportion 

 was approximately kept up during several weeks from that date. The 

 difficulty in obtaining evidence of their presence at this time is due to 

 their attacking almost entirely the slightly shaded young leaves, the sur- 

 face growth being rarely injured in the early part of the year. 



The insect could, further, not be found on any jungle plant at this 

 time. Though jungle of very miscellaneous character was system 

 atically searched both by myself and by the children who are regularly 

 catching the insect, and who are extremely expert at the work, not a 

 single one was discovered in any form. 



It appears, therefore, evident that there is, from present knowledge, 

 no need to assume a hibernating stage at all for Helopeltis theivora, and 

 that the insects remain and can be found in every stage of growth from 

 the e^gto the mature female full of eggs, in the tea-bush, at all times of 

 the year. Whether the egg found low down in the bush, as described 

 above, can be considered as a special hibernating egg, I can hardly say, but 

 there certainly was no difference in structure or in method of deposition 

 from that usual during the regular season. Inasmuch, then, as there is 

 absolutely no evidence of the cold weather being passed by the insect 

 in the soil, in water, or on other trees, and furthermore, as careful 

 observation can always detect the insects and their eggs on tea bushes 

 in affected districts, there is no need to imagine any hibernation stage 

 at all in India, and beyond a certain retardation in development due to 

 the reduced temperature, the reproduction of the insect may be con- 

 sidered to take place in a similar manner thi'oughout the year, and to 

 be carried out on the tea bush itself during the whole period. 



These observations have a practical interest, and may lead to a 

 sound method of attempting to deal with the pest, and experiments in 

 this direction are now in progress. 



