185 



s\\\^^i^ 



Johnson (W. H.). Ann. Rept. Agric. Depi. Southern Provinces Nigeria 

 for the Year 1917, Ibadan, 25th July 1918, p.^U. [Received 

 15th February 1919.] \^ JUN^ ~ '919 



The most important damage by insects reported Murjfig the year 

 was that caused by the scale, Aspidiotus destructbr^Tj)^ jp^s^t^ ^^^^^ 

 attacked inchided coconut, oil palm, yams and bananas/^'^'OiJUxeiSLjaL. 

 infested plants were advised to remove and burn all affected foliage, 

 and this procedure, aided by the natural parasites of the scale, 

 appeared to check its spread. Unfortunately the apathy of the 

 natives rendered the universal application of this measure impossible. 



Williams (C. B.). Notes on Some Trinidad Thrips of Economic 

 Importance. — Bull. Dept. Agric. Trinidad & Tobago, Port-of -Spain, 

 xvii, no. 3, 1918, pp. 143-147, 4 plates. [Received 15th February 

 1919.] 



Between 70 and 80 species of thrips have been collected in 

 Trinidad, the majority of which are of very little economic importance. 

 Those dealt with in this paper are all either definitely injurious, 

 definitely beneficial, or are species Ukely to be confused with some 

 species of economic importance. 



Heliothrips {Selenothrips) rubrocincius, Giard (cacao or red-banded 

 thrips) is the only seriously injurious species in the West Indies. It 

 is entirely a leaf- inhabiting insect and is very rarely seen in flowers. 

 It should not be confused with the thrips commonly found in the 

 flowers of bois immortelle (Erythrina) used as shade for cacao, nor 

 with those in the flowers of cacao. No efficient natural enemies have 

 been observed. The fungus, Sporotrichum globulosum, has been 

 recorded as attacking it in St. Vincent and a somewhat similar fungus 

 destroys both young and adults in Panama. In Guadeloupe an ant, 

 Wasman7iia auropundata, Roger, was observed carrying off young 

 cacao thrips, and the larvae are destroyed by the two species of 

 Franklinothrips recorded below and by small Reduviid bugs. 

 H. rubrocincius has been found on leaves of cacao, guava, mango, 

 camphor, Inga sp., live oak {Quercus virginiana) in Florida, croton 

 {Codiaeum variegaium), cashew {Anacardium occidentale), kola, grape- 

 vine {Vitis vinifera), African almond {Terminalia catappa), rose apple 

 {Eugenia jambos), and Sponia micrantha. It occurs in practically all 

 the West Indian Islands as well as other countries. 



Franklinothrips vespiformis, Crfd., is largely, if not entirely, 

 predaceous, and is found on the leaves of various plants, where it 

 feeds on smaller insects and their young, including the young of 

 H. rubrocinctus. It can be distinguished from the latter by its larger 

 size and ant- like appearance. It occurs on leaves of guava {Psidiiim 

 guajava), sweet potato {Ipomoea batatas), cacao {Theobroma cacao), 

 bamboo {Bamhusa vulgaris), Lantana camara and on grass and various 

 low shrubs. Its range includes all the West Indies and Central 

 America. F. tenuicornis, Hood, is very similar in appearance and 

 habits but is rarer, and outside the West Indies is only known from 

 Panama. In Trinidad it occurs on leaves of Inga spp., cacao. 

 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Ipomoea sp. 



Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis, Bch., fi-equently occurs with 

 H. rubrocinctus. It is recorded from every continent, being known 



(C560) VVt.P1921/144, 1.500. 5.19. B.&F.Ltd. Gp.11/3. A 



