218 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



July 4, 1914. 



INSECT NOTES. 



INSECT PESTS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 



In the Annual Reports of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture and Science, British Guiana, 191213, the Report of 

 Mr. G. E. Bodkin, B.A., Government Biologist, appears in 

 Appendix III. 



The following is a brief review of this report presenting 

 the principal points of general interest. 



The Government Biologist mentions his visit to the 

 United States and Porto Rico which extended from August 

 1912 to January 1913, a period of nearly six months, under 

 the provisions of a Carnegie Scholarship in Entomology. 

 The report deals with the insect pests under the headings of 

 the principal crops of the colony. 



SUGAR CANE. 



The principal pests of sugarcane are the sraall moth 

 borer (including both Dintraea saccharalis and D- canella), 

 the giant moth borer (Castnia licus), and termites or wood 

 ants. 



The small moth borer is regarded as a most persistent 

 pest, which requires most rigid regularity in carrying out 

 control measures. No noticeable diminution in numbers of 

 this pest was observed on any one estate. 



The practises of cutting out dead hearts and collecting 

 the larvae and pupae found therein, the collection of egg 

 clusters, and the use of trap lights are recommended as useful 

 control measures. 



As a result of the impression obtained of the value of the 

 use of natural enemies, especially parasites, during the visit 

 to the United States alrrady mentioned, the Government 

 Biologist has undertaken to a greater extent than formerly 

 the study of the natural enemies of the small moth borer in 

 British Guiana with a view to ascertaining the number and 

 efficiency of the native forms, and in the hope eventually of 

 being able to introduce from abroad additional species of 

 possibly greater value. 



The native forms at present known are as follows: — 

 Parasites of the egg: 



Trichogramma minutum, Riley. 



Prophanurus alecto, Crawford. 

 Predaceous on the eggs, 



Two species of ant (undetermined). 

 Parasites of the larvae: 



Braconidae, Iphiaulax medianus, Cameron. 

 Cremnops parvifasciatus 

 Mesosteniodeus sp. 



Chalcididae Heptasmicra curvilineata, Cameron. 



A species of Tachinid fly (undetermined). 

 Predaceous on larva and pupa. 



The larva of an Elaterid beetle (undetermined). 



Histeridae, Lioderma 4 — d^utatum. 



The larva of a Stratiomyiid fly (undetermined). 



A number of new pests of sugar-cane have been discovered. 

 These are at present of minor importance but possess 

 possibilities for assuming serious proportions. 

 They are as follows: — 



Calymniodes (Prodenia) latifascia, Walk. 



Lycophota infecta, Ochs. 



Monodes agrotina, Guen. 

 Lepidoptera, Pamphilla sp. 



Philisora catallus, Fabr. 



Lerema accius, Abb. 

 All these lepidopterou.s insects feed as caterpillars on the 

 cane leaves.) 



Coleoptera Myochrous armatus, Bailey. 

 Coccidae Pulvinaria sp., on the foliage. 



Orthezia insignis, Douglas. 



Pseudococcus citri, Risso, at the roots. 

 Hemeoptera Tomaspis fiavilatera, Urich, at the roots. 



A leaf hopper (undetermined). 

 Neuroptera A new species of Termites, completely 



destroys the stools. 

 Orthoptera Conocephaloides raaxillosus, Fabr. 



Schistocerca pallens, Thunb. Both these 

 grasshoppers feed on the foliage. 



RICE 



Rice was severely attacked by the larvae of the corn 

 ear worn (Laphygraa frv.giperda) and the grass moth 

 (Remigia repanda). The attacks were most serious in the 

 nursery l>eds where the corn ear worm was the most abundant. 



A short list of these insects recorded as having attacked 

 rice at different times in British Guiana is given, but the 

 outbreak already referred to was the only serious occurrence 

 of the kind during the year under review. 



RUBBER. 



Para and other rubber trees suffered from a serious 

 attack of the cassava hawk moth (Dilapihonuta ello) early 

 in the year. The pest was controlled by hand picking on 

 small trees and on small areas Spraying with arsenate of 

 lead at the rate of 4 5). to .50 gallons of water was found to 

 be effective treatment on a large scale. 



An egg parasite (Telenomus dilophonotae, Cameron) was 

 instrumental in reducing the caterpillars and moths to normal 

 numbers. 



Para rubber on a whole is very free from insect attacks 

 in British Guiana. The report gives a .short list of insects 

 which have been recorded as occurring on this crop 



The list of insects known to attack Para rubber in 

 British Guiana are, in addition to Dilophonota ello, a locust 

 Tropidacris rristata, and an undescribed grasshopper, which 

 destroys the foliage, a bug, Empicoris I'ariolosus which 

 attacks the young shoots, causing an exudation of latex, and 

 six species of well known scile insects. These are Asterole- 

 caniura pustulans, Vinsonia ftellifera, Lecanium nigrum, 

 Aspidiotus destructor and A spidiotus personatus. 



COCO-NUTS. 



Coco-nut palms in British Guiana are attacked by .several 

 insects. The following list gives their names and habits: — 



Lepidoptera. C'astnia licus and Castnia daedalus the 

 larvae of which are borers in the stem. BrassoHs so2}liorae, 

 Sibine trimacula and a skipper butterfly, the caterpillars of 

 which feed upon the leaves. 



Coleoptera. The palm weevil {Rhynchophorus palma- 

 rum), the weevil borer {Metamasius hemipterm), and Rhina 

 Ixirbirosfris all of which are borers in the stem. Dycinetus 

 hidentatvs and Strategus alveus destroy young plants. 



Homoptera. The two scale insects Aspidiotu destruc- 

 tor and Vinsonia stellifera, the aphid, Cerntaphiss lataniae, 

 and the two species of white fly, Alei/rodicns cocois and 

 Aleyrodes sp., occur on the leave.-*. 



Rraswlis sophorae appears from the report to be the 

 most serious of these pests, and this, it is stated, in spite 

 of the fact that it is an insect comparatively easily controlled. 

 It is the opinion of the Government Economic Biologist that 

 an Ordinance is necessary to compel owners of infected trees 

 to control this pest. The scale in-^ects are said to be con- 

 trolled by the application of kerosene emulsion. Aspidiotus 

 destructor is held in check to some extent by two predaceous 

 lady-birds Cryptognatha nodiceps, Marshall, and Azya trini- 

 tafus, Marshall. 



