feS Indian Insect Pests. [Vol. L 



The writer learns from Mr. R. Chapman that in England the sale of 

 Indian cheroots (especially Trichinopoly cheroots) is seriously interfered 

 with on account of a boring insect, which is probably this species. 



Specimens have been forwarded by Mr. H. S. Beadon, C.S., from 

 Curculiouid pests in Mr. Beck, of two species of Curculionid beetles 

 Darbhunga. which have proved injurious in the Raj gardens, 



Darbhunga. Of one of these insects Mr. Beck writes that it appeared 

 in May, when it was found eating away the stems of this season's 

 growth, thereby causing the young shoots to wither and die, and in 

 some cases killing the plant outright. He notices that since the rains 

 the plants have been more vigorous in growth, and have resisted the 

 attack of the insect better than they did in the early part of the season. 

 This insect has been determined as Besmidophorus hehes of Fabricius ; 

 it appears to be fairly common in India, but has not been previously 

 reported as a pest. 



Mr, Beck writes that the other pest attacked the leaves of the 

 *' Some" plant in the same gardens. This insect is probably Astt/cus 

 lateralis ^ of Fabricius, and has previously been sent to the Museum as 

 destructive to the leaves of mulberry in Rangoon. 



No particulars as to their life histories have yet been obtained for 

 either of the species. 



Specimens have been received from the Director of Land Records 

 jEpilachna viginliocfo- and Agriculture, Bengal, of an insect said to be 

 punctata. injurious to brinjal plants. Baboo Kailash Chan- 



dra Rai, of Dehurda (Balasore), reports — 



" It has no special name. It appears generally in the rainy season and damages 

 young plants, and disappears when cold weather sets in. Incense is burnt in the 

 brinjal fields with a belief that its smoke prevents the pest, but it cannot be said 

 that it is a sure and certain remedy of the same ! " 



The specimens received appear to belong to the species Fjoilachna 

 vigintioctopunctata of Fabricius, which has been recorded ^ as occurring 

 in India, Java, China, Sumatra, New Guinea, Japan and Australia, 

 This is a beetle belonging to the group Coccinellidse, almost all the 



' There is some doubt about the precise determination of this species. 

 2 Vide Geaimicgerand Harold's "Catalogus Coleopterorum," Vol. XII, p. 3815, where 

 the following synonymy and references are given, — 



viffiniioctopunctata, Fabr., Syst. Ent. 1775, p. 84. 



Herbst. Kaf . V, p. 264, t. 55, f. 3. 

 Muls. spec, p. 834. 



Montrouz. Ann. Soc. Agr. Lyon. VII, 1855, p. 75. 

 Var. egens, Muls. spec, p. 836, implicata, Muls., 1. c, p. 837 : lacertosa, Muls., 1. c, p. 

 838; multipunctata, Muls., 1. c, p. 836; recta, Muls., 1. c, p. 836; sparsa, Herbst. PuessI 

 Arch. VII, 1786, p. 160, t. 43, fig. 11 ; puhescens, Hope, Gray, Zool. Misc 1831, p. 31; 

 24-maeulata, Fabr. Ent, Syst. I, 1, p. 281 ; 28-maculata, Motsch. Etud. Ent. 1857, p. 40. 



