259 



they are active and freely ovipositing all through the winter. All 

 the varieties of cowpeas grown are liable to attack. No Chalcid 

 parasites have been reared from examples bred at the Cape, but 

 the mite, Pediculo ides ventricos)(sJNew\i., attacks the larvae and pupae, 

 as well as those of B. jtisorum, B. obtectus, and to a small extent of 

 B. rufimamis. The adults may be controlled by the use of lime [see 

 this Review, Ser. A, v, p. 208]. 



B. quadrimaculatus, F., has been received from Mozambique, 

 Rhodesia, Johannesburg and Durban, but does not appear to occur 

 at the Cape, being apparently not so common or so hardy as B. chinen- 

 sis. It seems to be able to breed only in seed that is comparatively 

 fresh and that contains a certain amount of moisture. Three different 

 species of Chalcid parasites have been reared from infested cowpeas 

 from Mozambique. 



The bulletin concludes with detailed instructions for carbon 

 bisulphide fumigation. 



GowDEY (C. C). Annual Report of the Government Entomologist. — 



Uganda Dejpl. Agric. Ann. Rept. for the Year ending 31st March 

 1918, Kampala, 1918, pp. 42-51. [Received 19th April 1919.] 



A list of scale-insects attacking coffee is given, together with their 

 other food-plants, Ceroplastes destructor, Newst., being the only one 

 to be added to those mentioned in the previous report [see this Review, 

 Ser. A, vi, p. 51]. Among Aphids on coffee only Toxoptera coffeae, 

 Nietn., was reported ; it also occurred on the shade tree Gliricidia 

 maculata. The coffee plant bugs include Lycidocoris mimeticus, R. 

 & P., reported from two estates only, and Piezodorus pallescens, Germ., 

 which cause? injuries similar to those of Antestia lineaticollis, Stal 

 {orbitalis, Westw., var. faccta, Germ.). The latter bug did not 

 make its presence felt in Uganda until 1915 since when serious 

 outbreaks have been reported, chiefly on Coffea arabica. Eggs are 

 laid on any part of the plant or on fallen leaves, prunings and fruit. 

 Soon after their appearance the nymphs disperse in search of food ; 

 they are very rapid in their movements and at the slightest disturbance 

 hide in the axils of the leaves or branches or inside the clusters of 

 berries and curled leaves. As soon as the flowers or fruit are available, 

 the nymphs cluster on them, but they also readily attack the new 

 leaves as they appear, the adults exhibiting the same preference. 

 The eggs are laid in clusters of 7 to 30 ; these take about 8-12 days 

 to hatch ; the first moult takes place in from ten to fourteen days, 

 and there are 5 moults altogether. The complete cycle from egg to 

 death of adidt takes 100 days on an average. A table is given showing 

 the duration of the various stages. This bug kills the tender leaves 

 of the tips of the terminal shoots and sucks the newly set as well as 

 the well developed berries, causing them to fall. Other food-plants 

 are Gliricidia maculata and the fruit of custard apple and sugar apple. 

 Experiments have been made with various sprays, the formulae for 

 which are given, with the results obtained. Resin wash proved 

 the most effective and was prepared as follows : — 6 lb. of resin and 

 4 lb. caustic soda 92 per cent, are powdered and boiled in 2 gals. 

 w\ater until dissolved, and while still boiling, the mixture is made 

 up slowly to 5 gals, with water ; 10 lb. of whale oil soap is dissolved 



