membracim. 
731 
year and no definite seasons are known ; there is some reason to believe 
that continuous multiplication is not possible since a supply of plant 
sap is not always available ; i.e., that these insects breed at seasons when 
the supply of plant sap is large, there being a relation between the plant 
and the insect in this respect. Food-plants have been little observed 
and the common species are probably considerably polyphagous. They 
are found on trees as well as shrubs and the more bushy herbaceous 
plants. None can be reckoned as pests to agriculture, as no case has yet 
been seen of their occurrence insufficient number to materially injure a 
plant, though they are common in the plains. Little is known of their 
enemies ; Hymenopterous parasites were obtained from the eggs of 
Leptocentrus taurus but no other enemy is recorded. 
The Indian species have been recently monographed by Distant in 
the Fauna of India : 117 species are described, from India, Burmah and 
Ceylon, of which about 10 are known to occur in India exclusive of the hills. 
The records of occurrence of species in the plains are however very meagre, 
as, exclusive of Calcutta and Bombay, nearly all the species collected 
have been from hill localities. There is a large field for collection in the 
plains and many species to be found. Distant recognises two sub-families, 
the M embracing in which the scutellum is obsolete or concealed, and 
the fore tibiae dilated, the Centrotince in which the scutellum is distinct, the 
apical angles acute. Of the former, the student will find only Oxyrhachis 
in our fauna, represented by 0. tarandus , Fabr., a brown insect with 
the posterior pronotal process curved up from the apex of the wings, 
the anterior lateral processes in the form of short tricarinate thorns. 
Fig. 505— Leptocentrus Fi ^’ 50 ^~Sf T ^^ OTYPUS 
TATTKTTS ILkXUOSUb. 
This species is common in many localities, breeding upon pigeon pea 
(Cajanus indicus), babul (Acacia arahica ), laburnum (Cassia fistula) 
We figure the stages ; the eggs can be readily found, the female usually 
remaining over or near them until they hatch. Of the Centrotinse we 
figure Leptocentrus taurus , Fabr., which, with L. substitutes, Wlk., is found 
