24 



where it had molested Hving fronds. Piilviiiaria psidii, a cottony 

 scale insect, is found in some localities quite heavily infesting- Cibo- 

 tiums, and its presence was conspicuous by the black fungus which 

 covers the fronds. None of these endemic insects are known to 

 materially injure the ferns in question. 



December 26. The day w^as spent inspecting greenhouses and 

 yards in Puueo and the ferns along the streams to Wainaku. Con- 

 ditions here were much the same as in the other localities visited. 



j^ecer--'" "/. Examined the ferns in Kaumana to an elevation 

 of 1500 feet. Conditions here were exactly as in Piihonua. 



December 28. Examined the ferns in yards, greenhouses, and 

 along the X'olcano Road through the Waiakea Plantation, finding 

 all remarkably free from insect injury. Two greenhouses were 

 quite badly infested with mealy bug {Pscudococcus longispiniis), 

 which attacks Maidenhair. 



December 29. The ferns in the forest at Kaiwiki were exam- 

 ined up to an elevation of 2000 feet. The ferns in this district 

 are in perfect condition, there being no evidence of injury by in- 

 sect or fungus disease. 



December 30. Alade a trip to the forest on the low. fiat plain 

 in the direction of Leleiwi Point, a distance of about four miles 

 from Hilo. The Sodlcrias comprise the larger part of the fern 

 forest and these were free from insect injury, an occasional patch 

 of ferns being slightly damaged by fungus. 



During my stay in Hilo I visited seven localities, besides in- 

 specting the ferns and plants in 36 greenhouses and yards about 

 Hilo, and am pleased to report that I found no evidence of the 

 existence of the fern weevil (Syagrius fiilvitarsits) in any of the 

 places visited. 



Indications point to the fact that Brother Matthias Xewcll. who 

 discovered the infestation, acted wisely in submerging the in- 

 fested plants in water, destroying the beetles as they came to the 

 surface, thus preventing the weevils from obtaining a foothold. 



The cultivated ferns were remarkably free from insect injury 

 and disease. Only a few instances of injury to ^Maidenhair fern 

 by mealy bug (P. loiii^ispiiius) were noted. 



In the wild ferns the only noticeable injury is caused by a 

 fungus which attacks the young fronds of Sadlcria, and when so 

 diseased they become infested with the larvae of the Tiiicid moth, 

 Ercunitns. Pscudolus is frequently foiuid in the dead and decay- 

 ing fronds of Cihofinin and Sadlcrla. All of ilie smaller ferns are 

 absolutely free from injury ni any kind. 



Respectfully submitted. 



D. P>. KUHNS. 



Assistant Inspector. 



