154 



the Siphanta is a close relative to our notorious sugar cane 

 leaf-hopper, is itself a leaf-hopper in structure and habits. But 

 be this question of directness as it may, Mr. Koebele and others 

 are of the opinion that it is responsible to a large extent for 

 the distribution of the brown eye-spot of coffee {Cercospora 

 coffeicola, B. & C), so common and injurious upon these Islands.. 

 This distribution Siphanta probably accomplishes in the fol- 

 lowing manner: The mouth parts of the Siphanta like those 

 of all true bugs, are fitted for taking up food in a liquid form 

 only — by sucking. To accomplish this the insect inserts its. 

 proboscis or beak into the plant tissues until the sap-carrying 

 cells are reached and then the pumping process begins. If 

 this insertion was made at the point where spores or the fruit- 

 ing stage of the disease were lying about, these may be car- 

 ried down into the punctures where they germinate and grow,, 

 or they adhere to the proboscis when it is withdrawn and 

 are carried to the next puncture. Moreover, when the pro- 

 boscis is withdrawn the sap begins to ooze out of the wound 

 and the liquid drops thus exposed make a favorable place for 

 the adhesion of the fungus spores that may be blown about 

 by the wind or carried by insects upon their feet. The preva- 

 lence of both the disease and Siphanta in coffee fields is strong 

 evidence of the probable truth of Mr. Koebele 's theory. 



FLEAS AND DISEASE.* 



That some insects are intimately connected with some of 

 the most malignant diseases afflicting mankind is now an in- 

 controvertible fact. Even the layman is at present aware that 

 ^tcgomyia fasciata is the only vehicle by means of which yel- 

 low fever is transmitted, and that Anopheles is the inter- 

 mediary and conveyer of malaria. In a recent investigation 

 Dr. L. 0. Howard, Chief U. S. Entomologist, has proven that 

 flies which breed in excrement convey infection by typhoid 

 fever. These facts have led scientists to a more thorough 

 investigation of all human insect parasites and their relation 

 to the diseases of man. 



In an article published by C. F. Baker, of the Cuban Agri- 



* Reprint from "Forester and Agriculturist, October 1905, p. 297. 



