No. 2.] Notes on insect pests from the Entomological Section. 43 



the family Lygaeidse. Mr. W. L. Distant sent the following 

 interesting note about them : — 



" The immature forms of the Hemiptera reported as attacking sugarcane 

 in Cawnpore, North-West Provinces, are undoubtedly those of a species of 

 Blissus, and most probably, so far as can be ascertained from non-mature speci- 

 mens, Blissus gibbus, Fabr., a well-known Indian species. This genus is a formid- 

 able one to agriculturists, Blissus leucopterus, Say., is the well-known " Chinch 

 bug " of North America, one of the most noxious and injurious insects to agri- 

 culture. According to Riley the injury is caused by the insect sucking, by aid 

 of its rostrum, the grasses and cereals ' thereby causing them to shrink, wilt, and 

 wither, not by biting their substance as many suppose.' The multiplication of 

 the insect in North America appears to have been conterminous with the increase 

 of grain cultivation in that country and the injury it occasioned to the ' small 

 grain ' in the North -Western States in 187 1, amounted to upwards of thirty mil- 

 lion dollars, whilst in 1874 the damage was computed at twice that sum. It has 

 been found by Riley to be two-brooded in some of the States, and its eggs are 

 deposited ' occasionally ' above ground in the blades of grain, but far more 

 often and normally underground upon the roots of the plants infested. The 

 same author remarks that, though abundantly able to flv, the chinch bug does not 

 take to wing readily, and in their immature stages, before their wings are deve- 

 loped, they migrate from field to field for food ' often in solid columns inches deep." 

 It multiplies most in hot and dry seasons, moisture proving unfavourable to its 

 existence." 



These details relating to a very nearly allied species are, of great 

 interest in the present case. 



In July 18Q9 the Director, Department of Land Records and 

 Agriculture, Assam, forwarded some caterpillars which. were reported 

 to be injuring the sugarcane crop in the Barpeta Sub-Division. 



These on examination proved to be the larvae of Chilo simplex, 

 Butler. 



Dictyophara pallida^ Donv. In January 1900 this insect which 

 belongs to 'the Hemipterous family of Fulgoridse or Lantern flies, 

 was reported to be damaging the sugarcane crop in the North 

 Arcot district, South India. The Agricultural Inspector writes : — 



"These insects are seen to perch on the underside of the cane leaf avoiding 

 sun and on shaded leaves. They are good springers. The bug is soft-bodied and 

 is very easily killed by slight handling. These are known to the ryots only since 

 ten years. The cane crop when infested gets stunted and damaged. These appear 

 when cane is six to nine months old. No remedy is known to the ryots. They 

 collectively go by the name of Cheeda puvugu. In Coimbatore the bug is known 

 as Thathoopoochi, and the winged insect as Thaloocupoochi." 



The insect is figured on plate V. (figs. 1 — 6). 



Scirpophaga auriflua, Zell. In February 1900, some pieces of 

 sugarcane from Kushtea were forwarded to the Museum by the 

 Director of Land Records and Agriculture, Bengal. The sugarcane 



