184 Indian Museum Notes. [Vol. V. 



into the flower buds in the second generation. Further reference 

 to this insect will be found on page 131, under Hibiscus esculentus, 

 Linn., the Bhindi or Lady's Fingers 



IX.— INSECT PESTS OF OPIUM. 



On Papaver somniferum, Linn., Natural order Papa veracece, 



the opium or white poppy. 



1. Agrotis ypsilon, Rott. Family Noctuidse. Sub-order Phalsenas. 

 Order Lepidoptera. Plate xii, Fig, 3, imago natural size. 



In February, 1901, Mr. John Christian, Sub-Deputy Opium Agent, 

 Shahabad, sent to the Indian Museum some nearly full-grown cater- 

 pillars of a moth said to be " Doing great damage to the poppy crop 

 in particular localities in the Shahabad district." He noted that 

 "these insects appear chiefly at night, and eat up the plant from 

 the stem. But the peculiarity in this instance is that a field of fine 

 poppy has been completely destroyed, while an adjacent field, lying 

 next to it, has been almost untouched. This would seem to point 

 to some peculiarity in the latter field which rendered it immune from 

 the attacks of these pests. I need hardly say if you could kindly 

 suggest some means of destroying these pests or preventing their 

 destruction of the plants, even to a certain extent, you would be 

 conferring an inestimable boon to the poor opium cultivators, and 

 doing a real service to the Opium Department." 



As regards " the peculiarity " mentioned above, it seems pro- 

 bable that the pest is a new one in the district, and that one or more 

 female moths have laid their eggs in one field and not in another. 

 If the pest becomes common, it is almost certain that every field in 

 the district will become affected. An effort should be made to 

 exterminate the insect on its first appearance. Hand-picking, 

 especially at night when the larvae are feeding, is the most obvious 

 and certain remedy, and if the pest is purely local, could easily be 

 done. The larvae, like that of all "cut-worms", feeds mostly at 

 night ; by day it hides away amongst the roots of the plants on 

 which it feeds, and even just below the surface of the ground. 

 Thoroughly ploughing and breaking up the ground after the crop is 

 gathered, would destroy any pupae that may be in the ground, as all 



