No. 1.] Miscellaneous Notes. 21 



as regards the amount of light which is necessary for its normal development, very 

 seriously injured by the larvae of this moth. Nearly all the young shoots were 

 attacked, including the leader, and nearly all the shoots which were not 

 attacked by the moth were infested with the fungus above mentioned. The 

 larva also attacks very readily small saplings of spruce in the advance growth 

 and also saplings and poles which are suffering for want of light, and by so doing 

 materially shortens their lives, 



" The moth confines its attentions, so far as was observed, to the spruce only, 

 and does not attack the Deodar or Silver fir (_Abies -webbiana) which are usually 

 associated with it. 



" In a pure spruce forest, more particularly a young one, this moth would 

 undoubtedly develop into a very serious pest, and might endanger the very 

 existence of the wood. 



" It is at present very common in Jaunsar, and besides affecting the rate of 

 growth and production of wood of the larger trees, does undoubtedly help to 

 shorten the lives of saplings and poles, which are already dominated and sup- 

 pressed. The direct effect of the larva of the moth on the growth of the tree and 

 its increase in volume of course depends entirely upon the number of buds 

 attacked ; where only a few shoots are attacked, the effect is very small and prob- 

 ably inappreciable,lbut where the majority of the buds of a tree are attacked, 

 the effect on the increase in volume of the tree and its general health and vigour 

 cannot but be a serious matter." 



Specimens of a caterpillar, which proved to be the larva of 



Parasalepida.Qt^m. ^^® Limacodid moth, Parasa lepida, Cv^m., 

 were received in the Indian Museum through 

 Munshi Kasimuddin as very destructive to Ashphal tree {Nephelium 

 longana, Camb.) in Calcutta. 



According to the information furnished, the caterpillars were 

 first observed about the middle of July, on the under-side of the 

 leaves of the tree, but no notice was taken of them, as they were not 

 numerous. In the latter part of the month, however, the tree became 

 simply loaded with the insects, and steps were therefore taken to 

 get rid of them. The method adopted, though somewhat tedious, 

 proved effectual, namely, removing the caterpillars with tongs and 

 burning them. 



Out of the caterpillars received on the 30th July 1894, one speci- 

 men was preserved in alcohol, while the others were allowed to 

 pupate, which they did on the 7th August 1894. The moth emerged 

 on the 24th idem. 



This species is the one referred to and figured in " Indian 

 Museum Notes," Vol. Ill, No. 4, pp. 12 and 13, as destructive to tea 

 and other plants. 



