Jfo. I. ] Miscellaneous Notefi. 47 



(plant lice). The specimens liave been forwarded to Europe for identi- 

 fication, as tbey are unrepresented in the Museum collection. He also 

 notices that wheat is attacked by one of the Lady-bird insects [Cocciuel- 

 lidm) . 



In December 1890, from the Overseer of the (Jovernment Farm^ 



Nao^pur, were received — (1) Bombyees cater- 



Nai'pur pests. . 



pillars, probably belonging- to the species 



Spilosoma sufnsa of Walker ; these were said to have attacked the Til cro}) 



{Sesamnm itidic?iin), as many as thirty caterpillars being sometimes found 



upon a single leaf ; tbe same insect was said in the rains to defoliate 



plantains and Sun-hemp [Croialaria juncea), thence spreading over the 



neighbouring foliage plants of all kinds. (2) Pods of the Popat plant 



{Lablab vulgaris = Dolichos lablab) tunneled by tbe larvae of a minute 



Plume moth said to be known locally as Melcada ; a note on this insect 



will be found on p. 19. (.3) Noctues caterpillars thought to belong to the 



genus Lencania, found boring into the pods of Tiir [Cajaiius inrlicu ft), the 



seeds of which they destroy. Tbe injury caused by the three foregoing 



insects is reported to have occurred owing to the cloudy weather which 



prevailed fur about a week without rain, and was then followed by 



plentiful rain, which was expected to kill off the insects, and thus prevent 



further damage. 



From the District Engineer, Patna district, were received, in February 



1890, larvae of the Noctues moth, Beliothis 

 Patna pests. . i p /-> / 



armigera, and ot a deometres moth, for the 



precise identification of which specimens of the imago are required. 



These insects are reported to attack Khessari pods in the months of 



January and February. 



The following is a report by tbe Officiating Collector of Monghyr 



Monghyr pests. on insect pests in his district : — 



"In this report are embodied the results of the enquiries made by the Sub-divi- 

 sional Officer for the sub-divisions and the Sub- Deputy Collector for the sndder sub- 

 division. Several zemindars, &c., in this district were also requested to furnish any 

 information they could regarding the damage insects do to different crops, and to send 

 specimens of such insects, live or dead, but none of them seem to have takeu any 

 interest in the matter yet. 



" The species of insects which are most injurious are — 



" Gudhiya. — A small fat grasshopper of about an inch and a quarter long and three- 

 eighths to half an inch broad and quarter inch high, of a dull white colour. The eggs 

 are hatched and the young insects born in May and June. They at once look out for 

 all the young and tender plants just germinating at that time with the early showers 

 prior to the regular rainy season. When this pest attacks a field it eats up either the 

 whole field or a portion of it in patches. It frequently affects a whole village to the 

 extent of about 25 per cent, of its yield. 



