60 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



author's arrival in Porto Rico, September 22, 1910, to April 1, 1911 ; and deals 

 with the insects affecting sugar cane in Porto Rico. 



" There have been observed 4 species of insects which must be rated as doing 

 serious injury to the cane. The one most general in its distribution, and lilse- 

 wise most serious in total amount of injuiy considering all of the estates of the 

 island, is the moth stalls borer, Diatrcea, saccharaUs. A second insect, whose 

 distribution is also general, is the sugar-cane mealy-bug, Pseudococcus sacGhari. 

 Practically all fields may be considered as infested by these 2 species. The per- 

 centage of infestation varies in different localities, according to the conditions 

 that prevail as regards varieties, methods of cultivation, climatic conditions, 

 and the age of the cane. 



"The third and most acute insect problem is the white grub injury at the 

 roots of the cane. Several beetles of the family Scarabseidfe have been collected 

 in the cane fields, and the injurious white grub is a species belonging to this 

 family and is a member of the genus Lachnosterna. While the white grub is 

 restricted somewhat in its distribution, the injury is serious in those fields 

 affected by the ravages of the insect, and the evidence that the extent of its 

 injury is increasing gives reason for concern. 



" The fourth species referred to, namely, the mole cricket or la changa, 

 Scapteriscus didactyVus, is found over the entire island, but is restricted in its 

 distribution in the cane fields both by its breeding and its feeding habits. 

 Favorable breeding places for this insect are loose or sandy soils and the species 

 feeds to an injurious extent only upon germinating seed and the young cane. 

 The changa does not abound in stiff or clay soils and does not injure cane that 

 has attained some height and the root system and stalks of which have become 

 somewhat hardened. 



" Other insects which have been observed attacking sugar cane in Porto Rico 

 are a weevil stalk borer, Metamasius hemipterus; a shot-hole stalk-borer, 

 Xijlchorus sp. ; a weevil root borer (undetermined); a scale insect, Targionia 

 sacchari; grass worms (Lepidoptera — undetermined) ; and a plant louse. Aphis 

 sp. In all, notes have been obtained on some 10 species of insects injurious to 

 sugar cane in Porto Rico, the most acute being the injury by the white grub 

 at the roots and the most general that of the moth stalk-borer." 



Summarized accounts are given of these pests and means for their control. 



Pests and diseases of the coconut palm, W. W. Feoggatt (Dept. Agr. N. S. 

 Wales, 8ci. Bui. 2, 1911, pp. //7, figs. 3Jf). — A general account is given of the 

 insect and other pests and diseases of the coconut palm together with a bibli- 

 ography of 34 titles. 



Insect enemies of cork, J. Feytaud (Rev. Vit., 33 {1910), Nos. 8^(2, pp. 113- 

 119; S.'/.5, pp. 197-202; 8J,9, pp. 320-322; 850, pp. 3J,6-3.50, figs. 10).— A general 

 account of the insects attacking the cork tree, cork stoppers, etc. 



Thrips galls and gall thrips, H. Kabny (CentU. Bakt. [etc.], 2. AM., 30 

 (1911), No. 21-2Ji, pp. 556-572, figs. 30).— The author reviews the literature 

 relating to the subject at length. Two genera and 1 species, namely, Onycho- 

 thrips and Oncotlirips tepperi, are described as new. 



Life history of Schlechtendalia chinensis (a gall-producing insect), 

 KoEHLEB (In Festschrift zum 60. geburtstag Richard Hertwigs. Jena, 1910, vol. 

 2, pp. 239-252; abs. in ZentU. Allg. u. Expt. Biol., 2 (1911), No. 1-2, p. 3J,).— 

 The life cycle of this aphid, which forms galls on Rhus semialata in Japan and 

 central and southern China, has been followed by the author from May to 

 November. 



On the destruction of the grapevine cochylis, A. de Vaeenne (Compt. Rend. 

 Acad. 8ci. [Paris], 153 (1911), No. 3. pp. 195, 196). — The author reports having 

 obtained good results in destroying the grapevine cochylis through the use of a 



