84 Indian Museum Notes. [Vol. V. 



IMAGO. — Hampson gives the following description of the genus 

 and moth in Volume II of his Fauna of British India (moths): — 



" Palpi obliquely upturned, the second joint very broadly fringed with hair, the 

 third minute; thorax and abdomen smoothly scslfid and slender; tibiae without 

 spines and not fringed with long hair. Forewing with the apex quadrate or slightly 

 acute. Antennas of male bipactinated, the branches short. 



Moth ochreous or reddish-brown. Forewing slightly irrorated with black scales ; 

 very indistinct antemedial, two waved medial, and more prominent postmedial 

 line, with the areas beyond it darker and often with obscure fuscous patches 

 beyond it at centre and inner margin ; a marginal series of black specks. Hind- 

 wing with sinuous postmedial line; the area beyond it darker and with traces of a 

 submarginal line. Exp., $ 22, $ 24 millim." 



Distribution. — The insect is to be found throughout India, Ceylon, 

 Burma and the Andamans. 



Report of attacks in the cane fields, — In the collection of the 

 Indian Museum, Calcutta, is a specimen of this moth ticketed as injur- 

 ious to sugarcane. It was identified by Mr. Moore. 



No further information has been obtained about it, and it is there- 

 fore impossible to prescribe remedies. 



6. Blissus gibbus, Fabr. 



References. — Fabr. Ent. System. Indian Museum Notes V. 2, 42. 43. 

 Classification. — Order Hemiptera. Sub-Order Hebiroptira, Family Lygtzidce. 



Life history and description. — The life history of this insect in 

 India has not as yet I believe been worked out. The genus is a 

 formidable one to agriculturists. Blissus leucopterus, Say., is the 

 well known ■ Chinch bug' of North America, one of the most noxious 

 aad injurious insects to agriculture. According to Riley, late United 

 States Entomologist, the injury is caused by the insect sucking by aid 

 of its. rostrum or beak 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 million 

 dollars, whilst in 1S74 the damage was computed at twice that sum. 

 It has been found by Riley to be two-brooded in some of the States, 

 and this will probably be found to be the case in some parts of India 

 with our own species. It multiplies most in hot and dry seasons, 

 moisture proving unfavourable to its existence. The following is the 

 life history of the ' Cinch bug.' It is considered worth while giving it 



