The Tea insects of India. 



19 



fortnight. The number of generations in the year and the time spent 

 in each of them has not yet been ascertained. 



\x\ 



-^' 



Tiie figure above shows— (1) the male moth; (2) the female moth ^ 

 (3) the cocoon partially . enveloped in a tea leaf ; (4) the chrysalis as it 

 appears when extracted from the cocoon ; (5) the caterpillar ;— all natural 

 size. 



The most remarkable feature noticed about the insect was the extent 

 to which it suffered from parasites. The number of live caterpillars and 

 cocoons forwarded to the Museum was considerable, but so great was 

 the mortality among them from this cause that very few moths could 

 be reared. On the other hand, large numbers of Tachinid flies emerged 

 in the breeding-cage, also two species of Chaleidse. The Tachinid flies 

 have been referred to the two species Trycolyga homhycis, Becher, and 

 Masicera dasycTiiras^ Wulp. The Chalcidse have been identified as 

 Chalcis euploeay Westw., and Peril ampus sp. 



Both the Tachinid flies and also Chalcis euplcea are practically certain 

 to attack the caterpillar. In the case of the Perilampus there is some 

 doubt; indeed, from observations made by Howard in America upon other 

 species of the same genus, it is probable that the insect is parasitic, not 

 upon the caterpillar, but upon the Tachinse. The question of the habits 



' Of the four adult specimens preserved in the Indian Museum, tlnee appear to 

 belong to the species Trycolyga homlycis, Becher, and one to the species Masicera d:zsy' 

 chira, Wulp. 



c2 



