62 Indian Museum Notes. [Vol. IV. 



IJ.— INSECTS DESTRUCTIVE TO CEREALS AND CROPS. 

 I. THE Rice hispa. 



Mispa cenescens, Baly. 



Specimens of this common rice beetle (Chrysomelid) were re- 

 ceived in the Indian Museum from the undermentioned officers, as 

 very destructive to paddy crops during the year 1895. 



[a] Through the Superintendent, Government Central Museum, 

 Madras, from the Collector of Malabar, who wrote in September 

 1895 :— 



" The insects are said to have caused damage to the paddy crop in Ponan 

 Taluk. 1,280 acres of land in 10 Amsams are reported to have been affected, and 

 the loss is estimated at 20,000 paras of paddy, worth about Rs. 10,000." 



[6] Through the Director, Land Records and Agriculture, Punjab, 

 from the Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, in May 1S95, who 

 reported : — 



" I am getting complaints of damage to growing rice by a black insect, bigger 

 than a bug. I am sending you some of t hem " 



2. Agrotis suffusa, Fab. 



INFESriNG HOP PLANTS. 



In July 1895, specimens of a moth in all its stages of develop- 

 ment, were forwarded to the Indian Museum by Captain J. L. Kaye, 

 Settlement Officer, Kashmir, through the Officiating Secretary to the 

 Government of India, Department of Revenue and Agriculture, with 

 the information that it had been very destructive to hop plantations 

 in the Kashmir State. Captain Kaye wrote : — 



" The State hop garden, which for the last two years has been in a flourishing 

 condition and giving good returns, has this jear been devoured and destroyed by 

 a green caterpillar, called here the 'mohru,' and although we have tried sprinkling 

 the plants with various solutions of sulphur, tobacco and native drugs, no means 

 of destroying the insect has been discovered, 



" The * mohru ' attacked a corner of the garden last year, and the destruction 

 of wheat and barley, not to mention certain trees, by this insect, is nothing new. 



" If rain falls soon after the caterpillars appear, slight damage only is done. The 

 insect falls from the hop vines, etc. , directly rain commences, and is devoured by 

 crows and other birds. 



"This spring has been an abnormally dry and hot one, and the ' mohru' has con- 

 sequently done an unusual «mount of harm. " 



