1923.\ NOTES ON PROCLAIMED DISEASES AND PESTS. 181 



A parasitic plant which closely resembles the common love vine in 

 habit, though belonging to a totally different Natural Order, is Cassytha 

 amerlcana (Lauracece). This is usually found on uncultivated plants 

 and is not regarded as a pest. It is distinguishable from love vine by 

 its more wiry stems and duller greenish yellow colour. 



THE COCONUT BUTTERFLY. 



The caterpillars of the coconut butterfly Brassolis so2)horae become 

 serious pests only occasionally when their natural enemies decrease in 

 numbers. The egg parasites are the most in:iportant, the Tachina flies 

 which issue from the pupee being next in usefulness. 



In Circular No. 5 coloured figures of all stages of the butterfly will 

 be found. The butterflies are rarely seen as they usually only come 

 out at dusk and fly high and fast. The characteristic damage done to 

 the coconut leaves by the caterpillars is the best indication of an attack. 

 In feeding the caterpillars eat off all the green part and leave the entire 

 mid-rib. The bare mid-ribs are generally conspicuous. The caterpillars 

 are gregarious and during the day are to be found in a ' nest ' formed 

 either by spinning several leaves together or made in the crown of the 

 tree among the bases of the fronds and spikes. The caterpillars only 

 feed at night. 



Control. —The most important measure is to be always on the 

 look-out for the chai'acteristic damage to the leaves ; when this is recent 

 the nest will not be very far off and it can then be cut off and destroyed. 

 Only in cases of severe infestation will it be possible to collect 

 egg masses, pupse or emerging adults. 



For further information see Circular No. 5 Board of Agriculture 

 " Preliminary Notes on some insects Affecting the Coconut Palm." — 

 {Prioe 3d.) 



PARASOL ANTS. 



Under this heading two species of leaf-cutting ants are dealt with 

 Atta cephalotes or the ' Bachack' and Atta octospinosa or the ' Parasol 

 Ant ' of Trinidad and the ' Pot Ant' of Tobago. 



Bachacks {A. ceplialotes) are the most injurious species and are 

 generally found on cacao estates and uncultivated land bordering them, 

 they live in large communities in the ground and a so-called nest 

 consists of a collection of small chambers connected by tunnels. If left 

 undisturbed a nest will persist for many years and will gradually expand, 

 until it may cover quite a large area. Nests from six to twenty feet across 

 are of common occurrence. All nests however begin with one chamber 

 and one exit hole. Large nests have from fifty to sixty exits, but as a 

 rule not all are used by the ants. 



The ants are reddish brown and ' soldiers .' are always present. The 

 queens are darker than the workers and measure about one inch in 

 length ; workers or foragers vary in size from one-eighth to three-fourths 

 of an inch. Stiff clay soils are preferredjby the ants. 



