71 



formerly called black blight, planters and others not 

 distinguishing between the insects and the fungus. 



The cane fly has not occurred as a serious pest in the 

 West Indies for a nuinber of years. It is probably of 

 general distribution and has been known for a long time. 

 It is mentioned in Schoraburgk's History of Barbados as 

 occurring in great numbers in Grenada after the hurricane 

 of 1831. At that time it is said to have caused the loss of 

 half the entire crop of sugar, in certain sections. 



Fig. 76. Lady-bird beetle. 

 (a) larva ; (b) empty pupal skin ; (a) adult, with enlarged antenna 

 above. All enlarged. (From U.S. Dept. Agric.) 



Natural Enemies. Under ordinary conditions the cane 

 fly is well held in check by its natural enemies, of which 

 the lady-birds and the green lace-wing fly are the most 



Fig. 77. Lacewing fly, with eggs at right. 

 {Imperial Dept. Agric.) 



important, so far as is known at present. It is probably 

 on account of the action of these insects that the cane fly 

 is not often a pest. 



THE pink MEALY-BUG (Pseudococcus calceolariae, 



Mask.). Hemiptera. 



The pink mealy-bug (Fig. 78) doss not oft 311 oocur in 

 the West Indies in sufficiently large numbers to cause it to 



