K'O. 1. ] Notes on insect pests from the Entomological Section. 15 



sexes and hardly longer in the male. Length 6 to 6*8 niillim. : breadth 

 4 to 4*3 millim. 



The following interesting report has been furnished by the Mana- 

 ger of the Duars Tea Estate regarding the pest :— 



Under date 13th April 18Q9. — These beetles appear to have flown on to the 

 garden last night, there were none to be seen yesterday, and to-day they are to 

 be found on nearly all sections of the garden. 



In appearance they are not unlike the orange beetle described in Dr. Watt's 

 book. " The Pests and Blights of the Tea plant ", pages 186 to 190. 



They are, however, I think different, as rrty experience of the orange beetle 

 on other gardens is that it only bites the stems, and this agrees with Dr. Watt's 

 description of depredations. 



This beetle, however, has eaten nearly all the leaves, as you will see. 



They have done a deal of damage in One night. There are patches of 

 about 100 bushes, with nearly all the %reen leave* of this year's growth eaten up 

 as muell as the fresh stalks eaten through. 



There are no beetles on the bushes just now, but on opening up the soil near 

 the bushes which are damaged, I have found the beetles in great swarms. 



I have put all the children on to-day to collect them. If I find that the beetles 

 go up from the ground on to the bushes to-night, as I fear they may, I will put 

 all the women as well as the children on to collect them to-morrow. 



I have been trying different things all day to see what would kill this 

 beetle, with a view to spraying the soil. 



I find them very hard to kill, as they resist phenyle, bluestone solution,, 

 carbolic acid solution, and kefosine oil, unless pure. We cannot kill them by 

 spraying the ground. 



Some of the coolies say this beetle appeared last year, and that it only 

 stayed for a day or two. They say that if we get a day or two hot sun, instead 

 of this cold cloudy weather, it will go away as it did last year. 



Other of the coolies say the beetle which appeared last year was of a different 

 species. Most of the coolies hold this opinion. 



Later under date 13th April i8gg. — I have been to the garden to examine 

 the bushes by lamp light. 



I have found the beetle s flying about. I could not find many in the ground, 

 neither could I find many on the bushes, but they are flying about in great 

 numbers near the bushes which were eaten last night. 



Under date 14th April i8gg. — The beetles have not done any more harm 

 although there are still great numbers in the ground near the bushes, which were 

 eaten. 



I think a great many have cleared out. 



I have had over 300 coolies collecting them to-day, and you would be aston- 

 ished at the great quantity brought in. It will take about the same number of 

 coolies one more day to finish the collecting of them. 



I cannot understand why the beetles did not eat any more leaves last 

 night. 



It was very cold last night for the time of the year, but I do not think 

 the cold could have prevented them from eating the tea, had they wished to 

 do so. 



