176 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



of springing up suddenly in an unexpected quarter and flying off again. Many 

 miles were traversed in pursuit of these elusive insects. Another common 

 Acridiid is Orphulella bailout, which also frequents grass lands. Conocephalids 

 and Gryllids are not abundant. 



The Hemiptera is the best represented of any of the orders, both in actual 

 abundance and in number of species. Of the aquatic forms the water strider 

 Gerris marginata is by far the most abundant, and is found in all the permanent 

 fresh-water streams and ponds of any size. Of the other Heteroptera the family 

 Pentatomidae is well represented, about twelve species having been coljjected. 

 The two most common species are the green bug {Nezara viridula) and the brown 

 bug, known locally as the "pea chink" {Edessa meditabunda) . This latter form 

 is one of the most abundant plant feeding Heteroptera on the island. Two 

 other Pentatomids, Piezodorus gnildinii and Arvelius albopitnctatiis are also 

 worthy of mention, the former being much the comrrioner of the two. The 

 cotton stainers {Dysdercus spp.) have not yet made their appearance on Barbados 

 although they are present in all the other islands of the West Indian group. 

 Of the Homoptera there are several kinds of scale insects; Cicadellids and 

 Membracids are common on vegetation in moist or partly-shaded places; a 

 few Fulgorids are found in the wooded Scotland district. 



Beetles are well represented on Barbados, and a number of them are of 

 considerable economic importance. Perhaps the most conspicuous species in 

 this connection is the Scarabaeid beetle, localiy called the "brown hardback" 

 {Phytaliis smithi), the larvae of which injure the roots of sugar cane, citrus trees, 

 palms and bananas. Effort is being made by the Colpnial Department of 

 Agriculture to control the pest by offering prizes to schools and schoolmasters 

 for the greatest number of the insects brought in to the entomologist's office. 

 In addition, a '''bounty" of 2d. per four hundred is paid. The writer saw in a 

 glass laboratory jar in Mr. Bovell's office 27,200 live specimens of this beetle 

 which had been collected for the bounty offered. In 1916 the collection of 

 adults on one estate amounted to 589,680. A small Hymenopteron, Tiphia 

 parallela, is parasitic on the beetle, but the parasite is not sufficiently abundant 

 to hold the pest in check. 



A single tiger-beetle (Cicindela suturalis var. hebnea) is found upon the 

 island, and at only one place, Calais beach, southeast of Bridgetown. A long 

 stretch of sand affords a typical habitat for this beautiful white form. 



Of the aquatic beetles the Dytiscidae are most abundant, though in the 

 larger pooljs and streams the large bljack Hydrophilid, H. ater, is not uncom- 

 mon. Among the Coccinellids, in addition to the common spotted ladybird 

 {M. macKlata) the red ladybird iCoccinella sanouinea) is also found, and is even 

 more common than the former. Strangely enough carrion beetles are not 

 found upon Barbados, and but one species of short-winged scavenger beetle 

 was collected. Once, upon coming across the decaying remains of a mongoose 

 the carcass was examined carefully for insects, but the net result was a single 

 fly puparium. Two other beetles should receive special mention on account 

 of their abundance. The fine black Tenebrionid Hopafrimis gemellatus is found 

 everywhere under small stones along the bases of the terraces, and the Chryso- 

 melid Homophccta aequinoctinaUs is abundant on the common weeds and grasses. 

 Of the weevils the beautiful gray and black striped Curculionid Diaprepes 



