No. 3.] Original Communications. yg 



Colonel Pingham) live entirely underground, and I can assert from repeated 

 personal observation, that they are most confirmed vegetarians. I found it 

 quite impossible to grow potatoes in Pundalnoya, solely on account of this insect, 

 and they were most aggravating in their systematic attacks upon the tubers of 



dahlias, and the roots of the common sunflower (Helianthus, sp.). In the case of 

 tubers they form galleries through and through the substance, and in the case of 

 roots they eat off the tender bark below the collar. I have made very careful 

 observations on the point and have completely satisfied myself that the Dorylus 

 was really feeding upon the vegetable tissues, and was not merely hunting for 

 another insect." 



Remedies. — As the ants' nest will probably be in the ground, our 

 attention must be turned here in the application of remedies. Wood 

 ashes and slaked lime are commonly used in America either pure or 

 in mixtures against root-feeding insects. They should be buried in 

 the earth among the roots by hoeing or ploughing. The applications 

 should be weak or they will injure the roots. Lime in any reason- 

 able quantity could hardly cause injury. The application of either 

 of these is generally beneficial and tends to destroy and repel insects 

 from the base and roots of trees. The ashes act in addition bene- 

 ficially as a fertilizer. 



We will now consider the second group, consisting of these 

 insects which defoliate the sugarcane : - 



II. — Insects attacking and defoliating the leaves of the cane. 



Our present knowledge comprises eleven insects only coming 

 under this head. These include two chrysomelid beetles, Haplo- 

 somyx elongatus and Leptispa pygmsea^ the larva of one butterfly 

 Mancipium nepalensis, and two moths, Ophiusa melicerte and 

 Dragana pansah's; four Hemipterous insects, Blissus gibbus and 

 Dictyophara pallida and the scale insects Aleurodes eugeniae and 

 Ripersia sacchari and two locusts, sEdalus tnarmoratus and 

 Poecilocera hieroglyphic a. 



The most injurious and dangerous of the above insects as far as 

 it is at present known is : — 



1. Leptispa pygmcea. Baly. 



References.— Cat. Ceylon Hispid. Baly 1858 ; I. M. N. Ill 5,44, IV 3,122,123. 



Classification.— Order Coleoptera. Family Chrysomelidce. Sub-Family His- 

 pinece. 



A small slenderly -built beetle which feeds on the developing 

 buds of the sugarcane. 



Very little is at present known about its habits, G 2 



