No. 2.] Notes on insect pests from the Entomological Section, 63 



The specimens proved to be a Noctues moth, belonging to the cos- 

 mopolitan species, Agrotis suffusa, of Fabr., which has previously 

 been reported in the pages of these Notes, as very destructive to 

 almost all kinds of Agricultural plants in India, 



It is interesting to find that, in favourable circumstances, insecti- 

 vorous birds are capable of exterminating this pest for a season, and 

 it is hoped that the record of this natural remedy may lead those 

 interested in insect pests to encourage insectivorous birds, by pro- 

 tecting them and their young from their natural enemies. 



3. Synclera multilinealiSf Guen. 



COTTON PEST IN BARODA. 



Plate V,fig. 4, Moth. 



In April 1895, some specimens of a Pyralid moth, said to be in* 

 juring cotton in Baroda, were forwarded to the Indian Museum by 

 Mr. T. H. Middleton, of Baroda College. 



According to the statement furnished, the larvae of the moth in- 

 jure cotton plants by twisting up the leaves when about to pupate, 

 glabrous forms of cotton being often entirely defoliated in this way. 

 Mr. Middleton reported that the moths were reared from a batch of 

 larvae that pupated between the 23rd and 27th September 1894, the 

 imagos appearing on the 3rd October. 



The moths were identified with Synclera multilinealis of Guen, a 

 species hitherto unknown as a pest to Agriculture. Mr. Moore 

 describes the species thus : — 



Botys multilinealis, Guen., Delt. et Pyral., p. 337, 



No. 380, pi. 8, fig. II (1854). 

 „ „ Walker, Cat. Lep. Het. B. M., xviii, p. 661, 



(1859). 

 „ „ Leder., Wien. Ent. Monat, vii, p. 375, 



pi. II, fig. 3 (1863). 

 „ „ Moore, Proc. ZooL Soc, Lond., 1867, p. 96; 



and 1877, p. 619. 

 Zebronia salomeatiSy Walk., loc» cif., xvii, p, 476 (1859) ; and 



xxxiv, p. 1348, (1865). 

 „ „ Swinhoe, Proc. Zool. Soc. ^ i^d)^^,^^, ^'jo, 



Botys annuligeraliSf Walker, loc. cif,, xxxiv, p. 1424 (1865). 



