90 

 teaches, which is, that the nest of the " Parasol Ant" should always 



BE DESTROYED PREVIOUS TO THE TIME OF THE ANNUAL FLIGHT, which OCCUrS 



generally in May or June. 



During this annual flight it is certain that marital relations 

 betAveen the sexes are established, and the various Queens which 

 survive are certain to become the founders of new nests in the most 

 suitable situations in which they happen to find themselves. 



If however the parent nests are destroyed regularly during the 



early months of the year, before the winged or perfect forms are 



produced, the attempt to reduce their numbers in the Colony as a 



whole has a better chance of succeeding. 



J. H. Hart. 



6th June, 1895. 



Circular Note No. 24. 



«« , 



'Cockchafer" "May-Bug" or "Beetle," Melolontha sp. 



On a visit to the Montserrat district on June 9th I found an 

 insect in large numbers destroying the foliage of several kinds of trees. 



Among these was noted Sponclias dulcis or Fomme Cythere, Cicca 

 disticha or the Jivibilin, Theohroma Cacao or Cacao, and others. 



The trees attacked were totally stripped of their leaves, and it was 

 evident that serious harm had been suffered. 



The insect is evidently a very near relation of the English beetle, 

 Melolantha vulgaris, for it has the same habits, but it requires time 

 to ascertain whether it passes its various stages in the same period of 

 time, and its exact scientific determination. It is however much 

 smaller in size. If, like the English species, it lives but a few days 

 in its mature stage, there is little danger to be apprehended, unless 

 owing to some abnormal increase of its numbers caused by the absence 

 of natural enemies. 



At the present time, though present in some thousands and 

 capable of destroying the foliage of trees in a few hours, the presence 

 of the beetle is not so general as to cause the cacao planter serious 

 apprehension. 



Nevertheless a careful watch should be kept to ascertain whether 

 the numbers increase from year to year. 



As the beetles can be collected at little cost by simply shaking 

 them from the trees during the day time, it will be seen to be 

 advisable in any case to destroy as many as possible, so as to prevent 

 their increase in such a degree as would make their presence an annual 

 scourge. 



