Island, the easuariiia. and another of general use along roads in 

 Porto Rico, the flamboyant, are both very badly attacked by adults 

 of this species. Banana and coconut trees often show acute injury 

 from their feeding. (See Plate I. figs. 1 and 2.) 



It has not yet been determined at what hour of the night their 

 feeding terminates, but it must be well toward morning, as they have 

 been collected feeding as late as 2 a. m. Xor is it known Avhether. 

 at Termination of feeding, they fly or drop to the ground. When 

 disturbed in feeding they drop, using the wings usually to carry 

 them a short distance ; and this is probably the method employed at 

 the end of the feeding. 



So uniformly abundant is Phyllophaga vandinei over tlie in- 

 fested area that unusual and sporadic appearance of adults in such 

 numliers as to cause bad defoliation in restricted areas is rare. The 

 infestation is general, and usually heavy. Cane foliage may always 

 be found somewhat damaged in the Guaniea district and thp San 

 German valley. 



Following is a list of some of the conunoner plants and trees 

 occurring in or near cane fields in the infested area, grouped accord- 

 ing to their attractiveness to the beetles. 



(1) Those greatly relished by the adults — 



Flamboyant {Poinciana regia) ; Australian pine (Casuariiia equisetifoUa) ; 

 almendro (Terrmnalia catappo) ; salcilla {Schronlia portoricensis) ; quenepa 

 (Melicocca bijuga) ; giiasinia (Guazuma giiazuma) ; China-berry {Melia azecki- 

 rarli) \ tamarind (Tamariiirhif! iridicns) ; jobo (Spoiuliaf: Intea) ; banana (Mn,sa 

 sp.) : coconut (Cocos nucifew) ; cecropia {Cecropia palmatn) ; pig-weed, or bledo 

 (Auwranthns spp.) ; mallow {Malachra rottindifolia) ; and Petiveria alliaceu. 



(2) Those eaten to some extent, but not apparently as much rel- 

 ished as trees and plants in the preceding list — 



Sugar cane (Saecharum offici)iariim) ; guava (Psidium guajova); almacigo 

 {Bursera simaruba) ; jaguey (Ficus lentiginosa; bucago {Eriithrina glauca) ; 

 royal palm {Jtoysionea borinqitena) ; eucalj'ptus (Eucalyptus spp.) (very rarely) ; 

 Jamaican sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa) ; native cotton (Gossypium sp.) ; Guinea 

 grass (Panicum moximum) ; malojillo, or Para grass (PaHiciim barhinode) ; 

 Cosfciria sylvestris; and Cordia corymbosa. 



(3) Those which appear to be entirely exempt from attack by 

 th(^ adults — 



Hawaiian algarroba (Prosopis jidifloni) ; papaya (Carica papaya) ; gallito 

 (f<csbania grandifora) ; gandul (Cojanii'': indicus) ; pepper tree (Schi)ius mollc) ; 

 black sage (Cordia cylindrostuclut) ; roble (Tabebuia rigida); calabash (Cres- 

 cotiia cujute) ; berengena cimarrona (Solamim torvum) ; silk cotton weed (Calo- 

 tropis procero) ; acalypha (Acalypha irilkesiana) ; Citnis spp.; and Clidemia >pp. 



79 



