JJo, I,] Further Notes. 55 



Chanchal Estate, Maid ah, who reports that they are destructive to the 

 jute crops. 



The insect in question is probably Spilarclia suffusa, which is figured 

 by Moore in his Catalogue, Lep, Mus. E. I. C, pi. xvi, fig. 10. This 

 insect is a moth belonging to the family Arctiidse, which feed almost 

 exclusively on the leaves of plants, some of them beiug very destructive. 

 They generally form their cocoons of hair and silk on the leaves or 

 stalk of the plant they attack, the perfect insect being a small brownish 

 moth. 



With regard to remedies which are likely to be practicable, no in- 

 formation has been received. Hand-picking, or spraying with an insecti- 

 cide would no doubt destroy a great many of the caterpillars, but it is 

 very doubtful to what extent it would pay to adopt either of those 

 measures. 



Fuller particulars concerning the pest, and also live specimens, espe- 

 cially of the pupa (chrysalis or cocoon), are desired to form a record for 

 future reference. 



Some imperfect specimens of what appears to be the Arctiid moth 

 Aloa lactinea, Cramer, were received on 8th October 

 1888 from the Commissioner of Settlements and 

 Agriculture, Central Provinces, with the information that it is an injurious 

 insect known in the Sambalpur district as the bhalu pok. This is a well- 

 known insect, though little has been recorded of its life history ; it is 

 one of that large group of Bombycid moths whose larvae feed on the 

 leaves of plants. It is hoped to publish fuller particulars of it hereafter. 



Caterpillars of two species of Bombycid moths which cannot be 

 Upland rice caterpil- precisely determined iu the absence of the perfect 

 lars. insect, have been forwarded by the Director, Land 



Records and Agriculture, Bengal, from the Agricultural Officer of Ranehi, 

 who notices that they attack gora dhan (upland rice), one of them 

 being also found on Marud {Elusine carocana). He writes 1 : — 



" I have examined many fields of Gord and Marud, not one of which was exempt 

 from the ravages of these pests. ,„,., I cannot form an estimate of the damage caused 

 by these caterpillars ; but the fact that they are seen on every fourth or fifth blade of 

 Gord and Marud (which, by the way, are the two principal upland crops of this pro- 

 vince) shows that the damage caused by them must be more than appreciable." 



Specimens of a caterpillar that injures brinjal by boring into the 

 stems, and which is either identical with, or 

 nearly allied to, the Sugarcane borer, Diatraasaccha- 



1 In a report to the Director, Land Records and Agriculture, Bengal, dated 5th Septem- 

 ber 1888. 



