No. 3.] Original Communications . S7 



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 (the insects) collectively go by the name of Cheeda purugu. In Coimba- 

 tore the bug is known as Thathoopoochi, and the winged insect as Thaloocu- 

 poochi." 



Remedies.— The same remedies as given under Biissus gibbus 

 should be tried for the extermination of this insect. 



8. Aleurodes barodensis, Maskell. 



References. — Maskell. Trs. N. Z. Ins. 1895 > Indian Museum Notes III. 5. 53. 

 Classification. — Jrder Hemiptera. Sub-Order Homoptera. Family Aleurodidce. 



Life history and description,— The. following is taken from 

 Mr. W. M. Maskell's description of the insect : — ■ 



Egg. — "The eggs of this insect are orange-coloured, rather large, oval, 

 pedunculated ; length about T £ 5 in. The eggs and empty shells are found in large 

 numbers on the leaves of the plant attacked." 



"Larva. — Dark brown, becoming iater almost black; elongated elliptical ; 

 slightly convex; abdominal segments fairly distinct, length about ^\ in. Margin 

 minutely crenulated and bearing a short white waxy fringe, which is frequently 

 very fragmentary or absent. Dorsum bearing, within the margin, a row of about 

 thirty-two small simple circular pores ; within these is a transverse row of four on 

 the anterior thoracic region, another transverse row of four on the anterior ab- 

 dominal region, a longitudinal row of four on each side of the abdomen, and one 

 on each side of the vasiform orifice. Vasiform orifice subconical, the posterior 

 extremity slightly produced; operculum short, rounded, subconical ; lingula cylin- 

 drical at the base, afterwards widened, finally tapering, not quite reaching the edge 

 of the orifice." 



" Pupa — Pupa-case very dark brown or glossy, black, very elongated, ellipti- 

 cal, with sides nearly straight, the width only about one-third of the length. Dor- 

 sum sometimes slightly convex, sometimes flat, sometimes slightly concave ; abdo- 

 minal segments indistinct. Vasiform orifice apparently as in the larva, but difficult 

 to make out on account of the very dark colour of the case. Margin crenulated, 

 and bearing a very elegant, long, snowy white 'fringe of slender waxy cylindrical 

 tubes. There is frequently some white powdery meal on the dorsum, which pro- 

 bably bears pores as in the larva, but it is most difficult to detect them. The 

 ventral surface is flat, brown, the rudimentary organs are not distinct, owing to 

 the dark colour. Adult form unknown." 



The very elongated form is distinctive, besides the colour. 



Distribution.— -The insect has been reported from the Bombay 

 Presidency. 



Report of attacks in the cane fields.— An. September, 1893, speci- 

 mens of a scale insect reported as attacking the sugarcane leaves in ' 

 Baroda were forwarded to the Indian Museum, Calcutta, by Mr. T. H. 

 Middleton. l'he insect which is locally known as masi was sent to 



