102 Indian Museum Notes. [ Vol. LI, 



The figure is drawn from a specimen from the- West Indies presented 

 to the Museum by Mr. W. F. H. Blandford. The length of the speci- 

 men is nbout two and a half millimetres. Its colour is light chestnut 

 brown. The legs and antennae in the figure are merely dotted in to give 

 an idea of their probable shape, for the setting of the specimen does not 

 permit of an accurate drawing being made of these appendages, and it 

 h;is been thought best not to run the risk of damaging the specimen by 

 disarranging it for the purpose as it is at present unique in the Museum 

 collection. The markings shown in the figure on the prothorax and ely- 

 tra will probably be sufficient to enable the insect to be recognized when 

 met with in sugar-cane, but it should be noticed that there are a large 

 number of very similar, though distinct insects, to be found boring into 

 the bark of trees in India. 



An interesting summary of what is known on the subject of the Fun- 

 Fungoid disease versus gw& disease (Isaria densa Link. = Botr/jtis 

 Melolonthini lawse. tenella Saccardo) which attacks Melolonthin 



larvse is given in the April number of the periodical Insect Life. The 

 large amount of damage which is done by Melolonthini larvse or ee white 

 grub " in India makes the question of the practicability of utilising this 

 disease for destroying the pest, an important one, but the evidence at 

 present available on the subject is very contradictory. According to M. 

 Alfred Griard's paper in the Comptes Rendus of the 3rd August 1891, the' 

 spores retain their germinating powers for more than a year and the dis- 

 ease can be readily communicated not only to Melolonthini larva? but 

 also to other insects which live in a similar manner in damp situations. 

 According, however, to M. JeanDnfour's paper in the Chroniqua Agncole 

 i'ificole et Foresiier du Canton du Vaux, November 1 0th 189 1, though the 

 disease can be disseminated to a certain extent by infecting the soil 

 either with artificial cultures or with fragments of diseased insects, the 

 number of fresh grubs which take the disease is very limited. 



E. C. COTES, 



Calcutta, Deputy Superintendent, 



2oth June 18b2. Indian Museum. 



Govt, of India Central Printing Office.— No. 441 R. & A. (113).— 6-4-93.-1,000.— R. B. 



