204 Indian Economic Entomology. [Vol. I. 



Specimens were received in the end of September from Mr. Donaldson 

 Caterpillars that at- °f Dhubri, with the information that the insects 

 tack tea in Assam. had attacked the tea plants and were to be found 



over half the garden. The specimens proved to be caterpillars of one of 

 the Psychidse Moths (probably Eumeta cramerii), together with empty 

 chrysalid cases of one of the Limacodidse moths, the materials in each 

 case being insufficient for precise determination. 



In a letter, dated 13th July, Mr. E. Green of Ceylon wrote :— 



" The larva mines below the cuticle of the upper surface of tea leaves. I do not 

 know that the pest is of any real importance, as it only 

 attacks leaves too old for plucking. The habits of the larva 

 are interesting, however. From its being laterally compressed.it accordingly rests upon 

 its side beneath the cuticle of the leaf. It feeds very rapidly, clearing a space more 

 than twice its own size in half an hour's time, — the head and anterior segments moving 

 in regular sweeping curves like a mower with a scythe. Before pupating, the larva 

 assumes the usual horizontal position, so that the preparium rests upon its abdominal 

 surface." 



The specimen was submitted to M. Bigot, who determined it as a 

 Dipterous insect (Fam. Muscidse), belonging to a hitherto undescribed 

 species of the genus Oscinis. 



Specimens of the Hesperid butterfly, Gangara,thyrsis, Fabr., have been 



Butterfly destructive received through the Director of the Forest School, 



to Cocoanut Palms. Dehra, from the District Forest Officer, North 



Malabar, who reports that the caterpillar is very destructive to young 



cocoanut palms. The following is extracted from his report : — 



" The egg, which is spherical in shape, is laid on the upper surface of the frond. 

 The larvae appear in from 8 to 10 days, and immediately draw a section of the leaf 

 together, first cutting it laterally to enable it to be drawn into a cylinder by means of 

 fine silken thread. In this cylinder the larvae live, travelling out at night to feed. 



" In appearance the larvae somewhat resemble that of Attacus atlas, but are, 

 of course, very much smaller. They are covered with white filaments which appear as 

 if powdered with flour. There are two patches of scarlet on the segments near the head, 

 placed laterally." 



From the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Multan, have been received 



Insect attacking the specimens of the eases (" webs") made by a Homop- 



"Farash" tree. terous insect probably belonging to the genus Mac- 



Jieerota and allied to the species described by Westwood from Ceylon 



(Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1886, p. 329). 



The following is an extract from the report : — 



" When fresh these webs are elastic and can be pulled out to ten or" twelve times 

 their own lengths without breaking. It is rather rare on the Farash (Tamarix- 

 articulata), and I have not observed it on any other tree, nor could I find any insect* 

 The damage done so far is small ; the twigs attacked by the insect dry up." 



