. 304 

 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. 



DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



INSECTS AFFECTING RUBBER PLANTS^ 



By Jacob Kotinsky. 



Our knowledge of the subject is far from complete and, aside 

 of the few insects known to attack rubber trees on these islands, 

 must depend upon notes compiled from other sources. The 

 Government Entomologist of Ceylon, Mr. E. E. Green, has pub- 

 lished in the Tropical Agriculturist, among others, a large num- 

 ber of notes on the insects affecting these plants in Ceylon and to 

 these notes we are largely indebted for what we w^ere able to 

 gather. As w^e are still obliged to import numerous seed's and 

 stumps from other countries it was deemed advisable to group 

 the insects according to the country from which they were re- 

 ported. It is gratifying indeed to know that so far we have 

 managed to steer clear of the specific rubber tree insect pests re- 

 ported from other countries. Those w^e have here are common 

 thruout the Territory, affecting a large variety of plants and 

 seldom injurious, because of the parasites and predators intro- 

 duced by Mr. Koebele to keep them in check. 



HAW' All. 



The insects aft'ecting rubber trees on these islands thus far 

 brought to our attention are the following: 



I. The Black Lecanium {Saisscfia nigra) was collected on 

 Ceara {Manihot- glamovii) in Honolulu (Webster) ; also in Na- 

 hiku (Anderson). 



This scale is very common on a large number of plants in the 

 Territory. It has been observed' occasionally in rather large 

 numbers on Hibiscus, but invariably accompanied by its enemies, 

 which are at least three species in number, viz : Tomocera cali- 

 fornica, an egg parasite ; a minute internal parasite, name un- 

 known ; the larvae and adult of the Australian black ladvbird 

 {Rhirjobiiis vciitralis). 



^Read before Rubber Growers' Convention at Nahiku, ]\Iaui, 

 Oct. 12, 1907. 



