No. 3. ] MiiccUancciis Nules frtm the EuiomoJogical Section. 113 



In Maich 1893 caterpillars were forwarded to the Museum by the 



Deputy Comniissionei" c£ Betul, Central Pro- 

 Gram caterpillar. . _, ,11. 



vinces. i ley were reported as liaving" proved des- 

 tructive to gram(^) during the cloudy weather, which had been prevalent 

 in the district. The material proves insufhcient for precise identification, 

 but the insect is one of the Noctues. It may be noticed that the cater- 

 pillars of the spcciorts Heliolhis atnigera, Hiibn., sent to the Museum 

 in 1889 from Pjttna, where they had been attacking- Lathy rns sativus 

 plants, are very similar in general appearance, though somewhat differ- 

 ently marked. They also tunnelled into the pods very much in the 

 same manner. It is probable, therefore, that the two forms are some- 

 what nearly related to each other, though they are hkely to represent 

 distinct species. 



An imago of the insect referred to in volume I, page 198 of these 



Notes, as occasioning a considerable amount of 

 Travancore teak-borer. ., i 1 • • , 1 ^ i • m 



damage by bormg into teak trees m Travancore, 



was forwarded to the Museum in March 1893, by Mr. T. F. Bourdillon, 



who had successfully reared it from the caterpillar. The insect proves 



to be a Bombyces moth related to the family Cossidse, but it is new to 



the Museum collection, so has been forwarded to Mr. F. Moore^ who 



has made a special study of Indian Eacrolepidoptera.^) 



According to an interesting note furnished by Mr. Bourdillon, the 



perfect insect would seem to emerge in the dry weather about March, 



and to lay its eggs shortly afterwards, for the borers are found from 



May onwards. Large caterpillars are also in some cases found at other 



times of the year, so it is likely that more than one season is sometimes 



passed in this stage. It is only softened, unhealthy wood that affords 



lodgement for the borer. Healthy trees appear to be quite free from 



its attack. 



In August 1892 specimens were forwarded by the Officiating Magis- 

 A Hesperid caterpillar trate of Sarau of an insect, knox\n i-s '' Sapta," 

 injuring paddy. said to have been causing much mischief to 



young paddy plants. The imago was reared in the Museum and proved 

 to be a Hesperid butterfly. The specimens have been kindly examined 

 by Mr. L. UeNiceville, author of the Butlerfiies of India ^ who identifies 

 them with some doubt as belonging to the species Farnara colaca, 

 Moore. The excessive multiplication of this species appears to be 

 somewhat unusual, 



(') Probably Cicer arietinuni. 



(^) It lias since been examined by Mr, Moore who identifies it as allied to his casus 

 eadambcB, Mooro. 



