356 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Since the Boer war the Argentine ant t IrUlomynncx humilis) has gradually 

 spread outward from Caiie Town into tlie subnrlis and is also known to occur 

 in the Tieighlwring mainland towns of Stellenbosch. Taarl. and Wellington, and 

 also at East London, King William's Town, Queenstown, and a few smaller 

 places in the east of the colony. Although it is tlie i)oi)nlar impression that it 

 waf! inti'oduced in the enormous supi)lies of forage, etc.. imi)orted from Argen- 

 tina during the war. a communication from a coi-respondent states that the 

 pest has been well known for at least 15 to 20 years. 



The black peach aphis (i)resumably Mj/zus ccrasi) appeared in districts 

 thought to be free from it. The melon aphis (Aphis gossypii) was again trouble- 

 some to calabash in one district. The mammoth scale {Lophococcus maxim us) , 

 the largest species of scale known, seriously injured the M'sasa tree {Brarliy- 

 xtcflia rait(lii) in the vicinity of Salisbury. Rhodesia. 



Experiments with citrus stock and fungus diseases are briefly reported upon. 



Treatment and observation of crop pests on the Pusa farm, H. M. Lefroy 

 and C. S. Miska (Ayr. Rcavai'ch hint. Puna [indiii] Bui. 10, pp. J/i, fig. /). — 

 Brief accounts are given of the Insects which became of economic importance 

 during the past 2 years and of the remedial and preventive measures practiced. 

 Details of the occurrence of the various insect pests by months, from May, 

 190r», to April, 1907, appear in tabular form in an appendix (pp. 18-42). 



Insect pests [in Fiji in 1908], C. H. Knowles (Rpt. Agr. Fiji. WOS, pp. 

 20, 23-26). — The banana weevil (SpficnoiiJidrux sanJidus) was a source of some 

 injury during the year. Carbon disulphid was found to be most effective in 

 killing the insect, while not injuring the suckers or stools. Leaf miners wei'e 

 found in maize and Para rubber, the injuries to the former being small, due 

 to parasites. Small borers (Xylopertha sp. ) were found in the branches of 

 cacao. 



In an ajipended report on insect pests of coconut palms, mention is made of 

 the small leaf moth (Lciruana iridesecns), leaf miner (ProinecotJicca reichii), 

 leaf-stalk weevil (Calandra sp.). young coconut moth (Harpagoneura corn- 

 plena), large moth borer, and leaf-eating phasmids, and the injury which they 

 cause. 



Report of the government entomolog-ist for the year 1908, H. C. Pratt 

 (Agr. Bui. titraits and Fed. Malay States, 8 (1D09), Xo. 9, pp. ^22--i26 ) .—-Insect 

 liests of rubber, coconut, tapioca, paddy, and coffee are briefly noted. 



Studies in the life histories of Australian Odonata, R. J. Till yard (Proc. 

 Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 34 (1909), pt. 2. pp. 256-267; 370-383, pis. 2).— Studies 

 on the life history of Petalura gigaufea and Drphlehia lestoides. 



The brown locust campaign, 1908-9, F. Thomsen (Transvaal Agr. Jour., 

 7 (1909), No. 27, pp. 521-526, pis. 3). — Arsenite of soda spray sweetened with 

 brown sugar and molasses was again used and found to be vei*y effective 

 against this locust. 



A new spraying compound called locusticide was thoroughly tested and found 

 to be very economical and effective. This compound readily mixes with cold 

 water, no residue is left in the buckets after the operations are finished, and 

 the locusts seem to be attracted by it and will not leave the sprayed areas. 



Experiments were also made with a new by-jiroduct of sugar refineries called 

 molascuit. This compound is made from the pith of sugar cane as it comes from 

 the mill, being mixed again, after leaving the mill, with molasses. It was 

 found that in localities far removed from water and stock good results could be 

 obtained by mixing with ar.senite of soda. White flags on which were printed 

 general warnings were used to let the farmers know that poisonous sprays 

 had been used for the locusts. 



The various species of locust birds were of great assistance in the work. 



