e8 Indian Museum Notes. [Vol. V« 



II.— INSECTS DESTRUCTIVE TO CEREALS AND CROPS. 



Hispa aenescens, Baly. 

 The Rice Hispa. 



Reports and specimens of this very destructive and common rice 

 beetle, locally known as 'Pamari' or ' Maria poka,' were received in 

 the Indian Museum from the Director, Land Records and Agriculture, 

 Bengal, as attacking paddy crops in the Backergunge district during 

 the year 1898. 



The following is an extract taken from a report furnished by the 

 Manager, Court of Wards, Backergunge, dated 15th August 1898 : — 



" These insects generally make their appearance in June and July ; but where 

 they come from, nobody can say with certainty. Some say they come flying' 

 from the distant jungles, and others hold that they are originated in the de- 

 composed earth of the paddy fields. But the former seems to be more probable. 



" The attack commences when the ears begin to shoot out. The insects first 

 fall upon the upper part of the leaves and after sucking the juice in them and 

 causing them to wither away, they go down and cut the ears. 



" Whenever the attack is made, the havoc is more or less complete. On the 

 whole two annas of the aus crops is supposed to have been damaged by these 

 insects. The insects have also attacked some of the aman paddy plants. 



" The tenants did not adopt any means to drive away the insects. The travel- 

 ling overseer of the Department of Land Records and Agriculture, who was lately 

 here, suggested sprinkling of sulphate of copper lotion (one tola sulphate of copper 

 with 2| seers of water). We tried this in presence of the said overseer, but with- 

 out any effect." 



Specimens of grasshoppers attacking the young wheat crops in 

 the Kopargaon Taluka of the Ahmednagar 



Epacromia dorsalis, Collectorate were forwarded to the Museum 

 Ihunb. 



in December 1898, through the Survey 



Commissioner and Director, Land Records and Agriculture, Bombay, 

 from the Collector of Ahmednagar. 



The Mamlatdar of Kopargaon wrote : — > 



" I have visited the villages of Derde Khd., Derde Bk., Modhi Khd., and 

 Modhi Bk., in this Taluka and noticed that the young wheat crops in about 20 

 number have been almost destroyed by small insects. I personally went through 

 some of the fields and found the insects too numerous to be easily destroyed." 



