INSECT HABITATS 



131 



placed either in the trees themselves or at the bases and are more 

 formidable structures than the galleries. Termites also are found 

 on Barbados although they are not so common as at Antigua. 



The Scotland district towards the northeastern extremity of Bar- 

 bados is extremely rough and in many places the vegetation is very 

 dense. On making the ascent from Bathsheba to Hackleton's Cliff 

 which is about two miles from the rough coast line, one passes 

 through a typical tropical jungle with little huts scattered here and 

 there and a few small plots cultivated by the blacks. In these plots 

 banana trees are not uncommon. On June 7 while examining the 

 large reddish brown leaves at the base of one of the bunches of ba- 

 nanas a large yellow and black Calandrid (Metamasiiis hemipteriis 

 Linn.) was found in some numbers. As the bunches of fruit develop 

 and become larger the leaves which formerly covered the blossom 

 roll back thus exposing the fruit more or less. It is at the bases of 

 these leaf rolls that the insects are usually found — one beetle to a 

 roll but sometimes several individuals to a single bunch of bananas. 

 If the tree be jarred or shaken the beetles drop to the ground and 

 lie perfectly quiet for some little time. The general color of the 

 insect is very like that of the partly dead leaves within whose coil it 

 finds food and shelter. This beetle was not found in other situations. 



One of the most interesting and, to the writer, unusual situations 

 in which to find insects and other terrestrial arthropods was in the 



Fig. 20. Epiphytes 

 Indies. 



growing- on manchineel trees, Antigua, Britisli West 



