64 Indian Insect Pests, [Vol. L 



The *^ midge '' proves to be itself a dipterous insect ; it could not how- 

 ever be identified precisely in the Museum, and will therefore be sent to 

 Europe for comparison. 



A good deal of information has been collected about the silkworm 

 fly which it is hoped will form the subject of a future paper. 



Specimens of a pest known locally as Lahikeeda or Bhuakeeda have 

 Lahikeeda or Bhua been received through the Director of Land Records 

 ^^^^^* and Agriculture, Bengal, from the Deputy Com- 



missioner of Hazaribagh, with the information that it attacks icridy 

 barae and sinOy when they are almost ready for being harvested, and 

 destroys them completely. 



Amongst the leaves and stems forwarded in alcohol, were found a few 

 pupse of a dipterous insect. This material, however, is quite insufficient 

 to determine the species, or even to ascertain whether this dipterous 

 insect is the real cause of the mischief. Live specimens of this pest 

 should be sent, so that they can be reared in the Museum. 



Miscellaneous pests. 

 The following is from a Report dated September 1888 from the 

 Collector of Ganjam, which was forwarded to the 

 Gaujam insect pests. ^^^^^^^ ^y the Revenue and Agricultural De- 



partment of India, together with specimens Nos. 1 to 7 : — ' 



" ]. Pesalu purugu. — Reported to infest green gram [Pesalu). This 

 is a beetle belonging to the genus Bruchus, It is hoped to determine 

 it more precisely when the specimens are returned that have been sent to 

 Europe for comparison. 



" 2. Kunhudlya purugu. — Reported to destroy cotton, red gram, and 

 cucumber; comprises two species of insects, namely, a chrysomelid 

 beetle, Aulacophora abdominaCis of Hope, which is probably the insect 

 which does the damage ; also a coccinellid beetle, Palceopeda sexmaculata, 

 which is probably predacious in its habits, and therefore little likely to 

 occasion damage to plants. Specimens of Aulacophora abdominalis were 

 also received on 23rd June from the Department of Land Records and 

 Agriculture, North- Western Provinces, where they were said to attack 

 water caltrop [Trapa bispinosa = soonghara). 



" 3. MonjiMla purugu. — Reported to destroy paddy, sugarcane and 

 brinjal plants by eating away the pith of the stalk. This appears to be 

 the same as the sugarcane borer moth Diatrcsa saccharaiis of Eabricius^ 

 see paper on this pest, p. 22. 



*'4. Nooludaram purtigu. — Reported to attack sugarcane, paddy and 

 brinjals. This is the caterpillar of a Noctuid moth, Achaea melicerte.^ 



* Specimens of the moths are required for the precise determination of Nos. 5, 6, 

 7, 8, 9 and 10. 



^ See also p. 52. 



