The grain weevils of the genus Calandra, F., are more strongly represented in the Oriental Region than in any other part of the world. In addition to the eight Indian species dealt with in the following key, four others have been recorded from further east, and some ten additional undescribed species are known to me, mostly from the Malayan Subregion.

In 1927, 1931, 1935 and 1937 the writer published four papers on the food-plants of Nigerian insects in this Bulletin (18, pt. 1; 22, pt. 2; 26, pt. 2; and 28, pt. 1). The present paper contains additional data obtained between April 1936 and October 1939.

The Institute of Plant Diseases at Buitenzorg has been engaged in the study of the well-known coconut pest, Artona catoxantha, Hamps., and has sent to the Imperial Institute of Entomology a large and very interesting collection of its parasites and hyperparasites. We understand that Dr. J. v. d. Vecht is preparing a paper on the ecology of this Zygaenid. To complete his studies on the life-histories of all these parasites we have been asked to make a special study of the Chalcids.

The information contained in this paper was prepared by me originally for inclusion in my forthcoming monograph on the palaearctic species of A panteles, but, in view of the economic importance of the hosts of this particular species, it was deemed advisable to publish it immediately.

During his researches on the insect pests of coffee and their parasites in Kenya Colony, Mr. R. H. LePelley has bred two interesting Chalcidoidea from the eggs of the coffee-bug, Antestia lineaticollis, Stål.

Studies of the food-plant associations of Heliothis armigera have elicited the information that, for all practical purposes, egg-laying may be considered as confined to the period of florescence. Evidence of coincidence of the oviposition and flowering curves is submitted for 21 species of short-flowering crops and 8 species of long-flowering crops. All told, records taken in nearly 1,000 crops have been consulted for the conclusions drawn.

As regards short-flowering species, the peaks, as well as the confines, of the oviposition and flowering curves are related closely. But oviposition on long-flowering species may decline while flowering is still in progress, or two or more waves of oviposition may be evident according to the number of moth flights spanned by the flowering period. The courses of oviposition on long-flowering species of crop in the given instances are interpreted through knowledge of the train of moth flights: although egg-laying in quantity occurs within the flowering period, peak layings frequently are not aligned with maximum flower production because the calendar times of moth flights are displaced in relation thereto.

Pyrilla perpusilla, Wlk., is one of the most destructive sugar-cane pests in the Punjab. It is widely distributed and, in addition to sugar-cane, it also feeds on wheat, barley, oats, maize, “chari” and a number of grasses.

Descriptions of the egg, nymphal and adult stages are given.

A female can lay 773 eggs in its life-time. The eggs are laid in clusters on the food-plants and are covered with whitish fluffy material. The egg stage occupies 7–12 days during April–October and 20–41 days during November–March. There are five nymphal instars. The nymphal stage occupies 24–65 days during April–September and 78–208 days during October–March.

Both adults and nymphs do damage. They prefer to feed on those varieties of sugar-cane which have broad, fleshy and succulent leaves and thick, soft stems. As a result of their feeding sucrose is reduced by as much as 34·2 per cent., while the glucose ratio may be trebled.

The pest is parasitised by the following insects:—Ooencyrtus papilionis, Ashm., Tetrastichus pyrillae, Craw., and Lestrodryinus pyrillae, Kieff. (Hymenoptera); and Pyrilloxenos compactus, Pierce (Stylopidae). The following are predacious upon it: Brumus suturalis, F., Chilomenes sexmaculatus, F., Coccinella septempunctata, L., and C. undecimpunctata, L. (Col.), and Epipyrops sp. (Lep.). The incidence and duration of the life-cycles of these parasites and predators are given.

To control the pest the following measures are suggested:—(1) Destruction of the adults by hand nets during April; (2) destruction of the eggs by crushing during April; (3) destruction of the nymphs by a new hopperdozer during November–March; (4) dusting with nicotine dust or spraying with nicotine sulphate-fish oil soap mixture.

This species is found on most of the islands of the Seychelles archipelago including the sand cays of the Amirantes group. It is said to have been introduced about sixty years ago to prey on the Coccid pest Icerya seychellarum, which is reported to have been the most serious pest of coconuts in the Colony at that time. The Icerya is the only prey of R. chermesina, and the latter has evidently kept the former in check on coconut but is unable to prevent occasional damage being done to fruit and other trees. The plants most frequently damaged by Icerya are:—Jak fruit, bread fruit, banana, avocado, citrus and forest tree seedlings, notably Eucalyptus, Albizzia and Casuarina. On certain islands where Rodolia is not present Icerya still occasionally damages coconut. Vedalia cardinalis, the famous predator of Icerya purchasi, also feeds on Icerya seychellarum in captivity, but, to date, liberations have failed to establish this species in Seychelles. Hence R. chermesina remains the most effective known predator of I. seychellarum under Seychelles conditions. No parasites are known from R. chermesina in Seychelles, but the black ant, Technomyrmex albipes, which constantly attends Icerya in large numbers, drives away the Coccinellid.

(1) An extensive survey covering a period of 18 months was carried out in Zanzibar, Algeria, Morocco and some parts of France with a view to obtaining parasites of white grubs for furthering the control of Phytalus smithi, Arrow, in Mauritius.

(2) In Zanzibar the results of the survey showed that white grubs are of no great economic importance in clove plantations in this Island. Larvae of several species of white grubs were obtained, viz.: Entyposis impressa, Kolbe, Schizonycha spp., Anomala delagoa, Pèr., etc. ; these larvae are parasitised by the Dexiid fly, Microphthalma disjunctum, Wied. The percentage of parasitism at the time of the survey was from 0·10 to 0·53 per cent. Scoliids were not in great number ; the parasitism amounted to 0·6 per cent. Parasites of adult beetles were obtained on the following insects: Entyposis impressa, Kolbe, Schizonycha spp. and Anomala plebejus, Ol., the parasites being Pexopsis pyrrhaspis, Villen., and an Adapsilia, not yet determined. The parasitism on the above mentioned beetles varied from 1 to 9·7 per cent.