20 



tion on the subject, addressed him by the entomologist, states 

 that he has no record of such insect attack as that described. 



Mr. Wilham Harris, Superintendent of Public Gardens, also 

 stated on inquiry by the entomologist, that he had never had 

 complaint of such insect attack nor personally seen it. 



The weevil has been forwarded to specialists for scientific 

 determination. Further investigations are proceeding and future 

 reports on this new insect foe of pineapples are awaited with 

 interest. (The Journal of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, 

 Vol XX. No. 8, August, 1916, pages 316, 317, 318.) 



During the past month, the entomologist has been in coopera- 

 tion with Messrs. Hanson, Schleifer and Somerville, (agricultural 

 instructors) on important work, and has made reports to the 

 Director of Agriculture. From reports to us and the instructors, 

 we cull the following details : 



Pineapple Weevil In Above Rocks. — A second visit was paid 

 to the district where pineapples have been badly attacked by a 

 new black weevil. The following points are noteworthy : (a) In 

 the previous report it was stated that some of the cultivators w^ere 

 of the opinion that plant or first year pines were not attacked 

 but the entomologist now says this idea has no foundation in 

 fact, as they too are attacked just as severely in cases, (b) The 

 entomologist is of opinion that the belief of cultivators that 

 certain varieties are immune to attack is not likely to prove true 

 when all varieties are equally planted and the weevil has equal 

 opportunity of all. (c) After stating that at the present time 

 (August) the adult weevils are very few in number Indeed, the 

 first recommendations made is as follows : "There should be 

 an extensive grubbing out of the afifected pines. These should 

 be split open with the cutlass so that the grubs will be exposed 

 to weather and natural enemies — there are usually fowls, turkeys, 

 hogs, lizards, frogs, etc., everywhere about the cultivations. The 

 plants so treated will readily dry out and complete development 

 of the immature stages will thereby be rendered impossible. The 

 grubs are capable only of limited locomotion and are quite unable 

 to search out another standing pine. In an attacked pine, there 

 will be from two or three to five weevil grubs. If grubbed out 

 now the development of as many weevils will have been pre- 

 vented — these weevils be It noted would later take wing to clean 

 or unattacked cultivations and produce the eggs for a succeeding 

 generation which Is capable of doing great injury to next crop. 

 The number of weevils (adults) on the plants at the present time 

 is pretty well negligible. With general cooperation In this work, 

 much could be effected for the saving of next crop. Clean up. 



The entomologist also advises an experimental pinery at Hope 

 for a full study of the weevil so that other control measures may 

 be devised. Mr. H. Q. Levy has informed Mr. Ritchie that In 

 his long experience with pineapples In Jamaica he has had no 

 experience with such weevil: Mealy bug was his only insect 



