496 Cane Fly of Grenada, 



Art. VIII. Information on the Cane Fly qf Grenada (Delphax 

 saccharivora) additional to that given in VI. 407 — 4-13. By 

 J. O. Westwood, Esq. F.L.S., &c. 



The ravages of this minute but destructive species of insect, 

 detailed in VI. 407 — 413., are continued with undiminished 

 severity in the Island of Grenada. At the July meeting of 

 the Entomological Society, the subject was brought before the 

 notice of the meeting by J. C, Johnstone, Esq., of that island, 

 who entered into various statements relative to the nature of 

 its attacks; from whose remarks it is evident, as I had indeed 

 presumed (VI. 410.), that the great mischief done to plants 

 originates in the constant suction of the plants by myriads of 

 these insects in all their stages. It has been stated [in VI. 

 407, 408.) that the eggs are deposited in the midrib of the 

 leaves, on the under side, in those plants which had gained con- 

 siderable height, the spots in which they are introduced being 

 covered with a fine downy white matter. This account, with 

 the drawing given in VI. 413. fig. 54. b, of the position of 

 these eggs in the leaf, is calculated to give an erroneous 

 idea ; since, from a microscopic examination of some infested 

 leaves preserved in spirits, brought over by Mr. Johnstone, I 

 have ascertained that the eggs are long and kidney-shaped, 

 and are introduced lengthwise into the substance of the mid- 

 rib of the leaf to a considerable depth. It is, however, upon 

 the young and very tender plants that the greatest injury is 

 inflicted; since, evidently from their affording a more de- 

 licious repast to the fly, they are so completely overpowered 

 with its numbers as to be unable to overcome the injury : they 

 bleed to death, and wither into a blackened mass. It is notice- 

 able that the north-east side of the island, which is the most 

 fruitful, and which has acquired the name of the garden of 

 the island, is more especially subject to the fly ; which, in 

 some instances, has destroyed two fifths, and even, in some 

 plantations, two thirds, of the entire produce. 



It is only within the last few years that this pest has been 

 observed in Grenada; and, indeed, it has not yet made its 

 appearance in some of the adjacent islands. It has been 

 noticed that the first observance of it in the former island was 

 preceded by a very violent hurricane. 



A committee has been appointed by the Entomological 

 Society to take the subject into consideration, with a view to 

 the proposal of the most efficient remedies ; and a report, 

 containing a great variety of suggestions, has been prepared 

 and sent over to the Agricultural Society of Grenada. 



l^he Grove, Hammersmith, July 30. 1834. 



