648 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



noticeable in the colony, there being 5 species that are particularly injurious 

 to oi-chard trees. In orchards where fruit moths {Ophiitsa catella) were abun- 

 dant a large percentage of the fruit was destroyed. But few fruit flies (Cerati- 

 tis capitata) were noticed during the season. 



The aphis which attacks peaches, plums, and nectarines is becoming more 

 widespread. The Australian bug {leery a purcliasi) continues to attract a 

 great deal of attention from fruit growers, but only in a few cases has it be- 

 come abundant enough to be considered extremely dangerous. It is said that the 

 fig and willow borer (Phryneta spinator) will continue to prove a pest of trees, 

 troublesome to deal with, so long as people persist in growing figs as shrubs 

 and not as trees. A fig curculio was discovered for the first time, and is prob- 

 ably Metatyges turritus, which has been rei»orted from Natal. 



Cutworms have been the source of greatest injury to field and garden crops. 

 Ground or corn crickets {Brachytrypcs mcmhranaceous and Carconopsis sp.) 

 were the source of injury to crops in those portions of the colony where the 

 soil is very loose and sandy. Heliothis armigcr is found in nearly every part 

 of the Transvaal in greater or less abundance and is destined to become a seri- 

 ous pest. A cotton stainer (Dysdercus sp.) appeared during the year. Eel- 

 worms, or gall worms, continue to be a source of injury in certain portions of 

 the colony. 



The use of a machine for fumigating the nests of white ants is being widely 

 adopted by people in the Transvaal and has proved its superiority above every 

 other method of destruction which can be employed for white ants which form 

 a large nest. Several instances of houses having been attacked by these ants 

 came to the author's notice during the year. 



Report of the acting' governm.ent entomologist, F. E. West (Admin. Rpts. 

 Roy. Bot. Gard. Ceylon, 1908, Ed., ScL, and Art. pt. ',, pp. C 2. C 3).— The pests 

 reported as injuring the tea plant are the shot-hole borer (Xyleborus fornicatus), 

 which appears to have spread considerably during the last 2 years and to have 

 damaged every estate which it has attacked; termites (Calotermes niilitaris). 

 which are responsible for considerable damage; the nettle grub (TJwsea reeta), 

 which was the source of considerable injury in the Uva district, where it has 

 occurred periodically for many years; the red slug (Heterusia eingala). which 

 was injurious in two districts; the yellow mite (Tarsonymus translucens) ; 

 the scarlet mite (Brevipalpus obovatus) ; the green bug (Lecanium viride) ; 

 and the brown bug (L. coffece). 



Ants and termites were responsible for injury to rubber trees. Spraying for 

 canker on the cacao killed off the Heloiieltis. The introduction of Clerus fnrmi- 

 caritis to prey upon the shot-hole borer is under way. It is estimated that 

 two-thirds of the island is undermined by termites. An ant exterminator which 

 was employed is said to have entirely cleared out the nests by killing the ants. 

 An investigation was made of the house-fly nuisance at Colombo. 



Insect pests and their foes, W. W. Fkoggatt {Jour. Dept. Agr. So. Aust., 

 11 {1901), No. 4, pp. 382-386; 11 (1908), No. 6, pp. 583-587; 12 (1908). Nos. 1, 

 pp. 33-^0; 2, pp. 137-141; 5, pp. 467-472; 12 (1909), Nos. 7. pp. 615-621; 9, pp. 

 773, 77-})- — The reports here presented were submitted by the author during a 

 tour of the world, on which he was sent at the joint exj tense of all the states 

 of Australia, except West Australia, in order to investigate insect pests, more 

 particularly in relation to their parasitic and predaceous foes. This report is of 

 particular interest to the entomologist since it contains information on the 

 present status of economic entomology in the lands which the author visited, 

 namely, Hawaii, the United States, Mexico, the West Indies, England, France. 

 Spain, Austria, Hungary, Italy. Turkey. Cyprus. Egypt, India. Ceylon, etc. 



