The Tea insects of India. 



27 



the caterpillar stage was said to have occupied from fifteen to twenty 

 days, while about ten days were spent in the pupal stage. 



*^-S .mwi ^Ja 



The figure shows the moth and caterpillar, both natural size. 



MiCROLEPIDOPTBRA. 



Gracilaria theivora, Wlsm. This species was originally de- 

 scribed by Lord Walsiugliam in the pages of Indian Museum Notes 

 from specimens furnished to the Indian Museum by Mr. E. E. Green, 

 who reared them from caterpillars which he found mining the leaves 

 of the tea plant in Ceylon. 



The figure, which is after Walsingham, shows the moth much 

 enlarged. The natural size is indicated by hair lines. The insect is 

 not known to do any appreciable damage in Ceylon, and has not yet 

 been recorded from India. 



The following summary of its habits, as observed by Mr. Green, 

 is reproduced from Indian Museum Notes, Vol. II, page 50 :— 



" The egg is laid on the underside of a young leaf, generally on a young bush. On 

 the hatching of the eg^, the young caterpillar mines the leaf, the mine being visible on 

 the underside only and terminating in a small pocket formed by the folding over of the 

 edge of the leaf. Here the caterpillar sheds its skin, and, this done, it proceeds to roll 



