78 Indian Museum Notes, [Vol. VI. 



IV.— Insects Affecting Cereals and Crops. 



, . Insect infesting Kutki {Pant cum mi I are), 

 1. Cantharis rouxi, Cast. 



Order, Coleoptera. Family, Cantharidce, 

 (Plate IV, figs. 5, 5a). 



Vernacular name ' Ghauri ' in Central Provinces. 



A slender soft beetle. Head is bright sienna brown in colour, the 

 eyes being black. Legs more or iess ochreous. Wings of a uni- 

 form ochre colour. Length f ths inch. See Plate IV, figs. 5, 50. 



This beetle has been reported as attacking and eating the green 

 ears of the kutki crop in the Seoni district in the Central Provinces. 

 The insect is said to thrive during a break in the rains, but is killed 

 off by heavy rain. As the crop ripens the beetle appears to be unable 

 to attack the hardening grain. The same insect was reported about 

 the same time — beginning of September 1902 — from Saugor in the 

 Central Provinces, by Major W. D. Sutherland, M.B., I. M.S. He 

 stated it had appeared first on 24th August, and on the 3rd Septem- 

 ber was still present in the place. It had caused a considerable 

 amount of discomfort both to Europeans and Natives in the town 

 owing to its blistering proclivities. 



Remedial measures. — In the fields spraying with a poison, such 

 as Paris green, should prove an effective remedy when it is possible 

 to apply it. 



When pests of this nature appear plentifully in a town, gangs 

 should be organised and employed to collect or sweep them up. 

 Creosote oil (the ' l'huille lourde ' of the trade) may be used to 

 sprinkle over the heaps, thus preventing the disgusting effluvia which 

 will be given off from the rotting heaps of dead bodies. 



Points in the life-history requiring further observation, 



1. When and where the eggs are laid and where the larvae feed, 



2. Length of time spent in these stages of its life, 



3. The number of generations in the year. 



Insects infesting Minor Millets. 

 2. Cantharis tenuicollis, Pallas. 



Order, Coleoptera, Family, Cantharidce. 

 (Plate IV. figs. 6, 6a.) 

 This insect is not unlike the above described beetle. It is slender 

 in build. Head and wings bright metallic green; thorax and eyes 



