141 



"mealy bugs," which quite frequently seek shelter amongst 

 the coffee berries. In addition thereto, that very useful para- 

 site, Chalcis ohscuratu, Walk., was found literally swarming 

 about the trees, and though it was not observed in the act of 

 oviposition, there is no doubt but that it was there in quest of 

 this caterpillar as host. There was absolutely no other in- 

 sect upon the coffee trees to account for this abundance of a 

 parasite about them. It was at the door of the twig caterpillar 

 that Mr. Gaspar laid the cause for the dropping oft' of a large 

 portion of the newly set berries. After ascertaining the na- 

 ture of the caterpillar I am inclined to believe that the heavy 

 loss of berries was due primarily to the lack of cultivation of 

 the coft'ee fields so affected. A not unimportant cause was 

 also the unprecedented drought of the year preceding. 



NAPOOPOO, HAWAII. 



]\Iost of the day following was spent with Mr. John Gasper 

 of Napoopoo. A survey of his coft'ee fields disclosed the fact 

 that almost all of his coffee trees take care of themselves as 

 best they can. The only attention they receive is that what- 

 ever berries they produce are picked oft\ ]\Iyriads of Siphanta 

 swarmed everywhere. It is scarcely credible that they are 

 not injurious, considering their numbers. The widespread 

 havoc in cofl'ee fields played by the fungus disease, for which 

 Siphanta is held indirectly responsible, justifies strenuous ef- 

 forts at checking the pest. 



A mango tree was here found thickly inhabited by the black, 

 beetle-like cockroach {Elcuthcroda dytiscoldes, Serv.). It has 

 previously been known as destructive to Cypress and Citrus 

 trees. Mv. Gasper, the owner of this mango, had his chickens 

 trained to follow him whenever he approached the tree and 

 devour the roaches as fast as they were shaken to the ground. 

 This method seemed so efficient that it Avas later suggested to 

 others complaining of depredations of this ])est. 



Cl,ose by the residence of Mr. Gasper is Mr. Bruner's pine- 

 apple field and cannery. The mealy bug, so common on this 

 fruit wherever it is grown, was here found in abundance, but 

 not enough to do material harm. The decayed spots on the 

 fruit were found inhabited by the beetles (Stahpylinid and 



