87 



These branches attract the egg-laying females, and are 

 afterward collected and burned. It must always be 

 remembered, however, that when traps of this sort are 

 provided for insects, it is necessary that they should 

 be disposed of before the insects have an opportunity 

 to become mature, and escape. All wounds made in 

 pruning are carefully tarred or painted, so that they shall 

 offer no attraction as places for egg-laying. 



CACAO THRIPS (Heliothrips rubrocincta, Giard.). 



Thysanoptera. 



Thrips are small insects which attack the leaves and 

 pods of cacao, and sometimes occur in considerable num- 

 bers. The egg is deposited in the tissue of the plant by 

 means of the saw -like ovipositer with which the female is 

 provided. The adult insect is ^-inch, or less in length, 

 and has wings fringed with long delicate hairs. (Fig. 96). 



Fig-. 96. Cacao Thrips. 

 Adult insect. Enlarged. (Imperial Dept. Agric.) 



The young (Fig. 97) is distinguished by a bright-red band 

 across the abdomen. Cacao is injured by the feeding of 

 the thiips, which have mouth parts adapted for piercing 

 or cutting the surface and sucking the juice from the 

 tender tissue beneath. Wherever these feeding wounds 

 occur, a scar is produced. This is especially noticeable on 

 the pods, a badly attacked pod being discoloured by this 



