76 Indian Insect Pests. [VoL I. 



" 2. These are all the important insects which are injurious to crops, and their action 

 is substantially the same. They eat up the green of the plants, leaving the stem to 

 wither. They are generally met with when the weather is cloudy and there is no 

 rain, and they disappear with a heavy shower. It would be conferring a great blessing 

 on the agricultural population and men in general if, from studies of insect life, 

 measures can be adopted to prevent their inroads." 



The following is taken from a letter, dated 26th September 1888, 

 addressed to the Collector of the 24-Pergunnahs 



Report by Raja Dnrga b R - a Ourga Charan Law, CLE. : specimens 

 Charan Law, CLE. J J . *» ' ' r 



illustrative ot Nos. 1 and 2 were forwarded to the 



Museum, but arrived in too bad condition to make anything of :— 



"1. In Midnapore a pest known as ' Jot kati' eats up the leaves of plants. 



" 2. In Nudea Dihi a pest known as ' ancha ' destroys the leaves and stalks of jute 

 crops. 



" 3. In Khoolna a pest known as ' Pamufi ' infests the growing stalks of (rice ?) ; 

 its increase is favoured by cloudy weather. 



" 4. A pest known as ' Katra,' which has some resemblance to a small crab ; infests 

 paddy seedlings, sucking up the juice of the leaves. 



" 5. A pest known as ' Lada,' a grub which cuts the paddy stalks when the grain 

 is ripe. 



" 6. A pest which bores into growing paddy stalks, and is very destructive." 



In a letter dated 2nd September 1888, forwarded by the Officiat- 

 Report on a paddy ing Collector, 24-Pergunnahs, Baboo Koonja Lai 

 insect - Mookerjee, the manager to the estate of the late 



Raja Degumber Mitter, C.S.I., notes as destructive to paddy in Backer- 

 o-uno-e, an insect known as ' Mazra' He writes that the insects are 

 " very small in size, not easily perceived by the naked eye ; they grow in 

 the joints of the paddy plants and destroy them very soon." He also 

 notices an insect known as c Nedu/ which is found in the ripe paddy 

 in October and November, and cuts off the ears of the paddy. The pest 

 appears chiefly in cloudy weather when the rainfall is insufficient. 



In a letter dated 25th August 1888, from the Magistrate o£ 

 Report on a makai Durbhunga, a pest is noticed as injurious to the 

 P est< makai crop ; it is said to be a sort of cricket, locally 



known as Bherud. 



In a report dated 8th October 1888, forwarded by the Director of 

 Land Records and Agriculture, Burma, is noticed 

 a hairy caterpillar which attacks rice and maize in 

 July and August, sometimes destroying as much as half the crop. 



GoTernmcnt of India Central Printing Office.— No. 632 B. & A.— 13-6-S9.— 1,000. 



