311 



The Coccid, Coccus (Lecanium) viridis, Green, was the principal pest 

 of coffee and cacao, and was attended by various species of ants. A 

 few cases of attack by termites were recorded. An account is also 

 given of the locust invasion [see Review, Ser. A, vi, p. 335]. 



The new and other Coccidae of British Guiana mentioned in this 

 report have been previously dealt with [see this Review, Ser, A, 

 V, p. 503]. 



Knowles (C. H.). Division of Entomology. — Fiji Dept. Agric, Ann. 



Rej)t. for Year 1917, Svva, Council Paper no. 60, 16th August / 

 1918, pp. 8-12. [Received 27th May, 1919.] / 



Cosmopolites sordidus (banana borer) was prevalent in all banana 

 districts during the year, doing considerable damage in many localities. 

 More than half the damage done by the larvae is situated in the outer 

 edge of the bulb, and since this is the zone within which many of the 

 fibro-vascular bundles that convey nourishment to the growing parts 

 of the plant are localised, it is clear that the damage done is more tHan 

 the mere removal of a certain amount of the plant-tissue, while the 

 injuries also encourage the growth of fungous and bacterial diseases. 

 Trapping with pieces of split banana stems or bulbs is advised as a 

 means of reducing the number of weevils, but proper cultivation as 

 a means of preventing breeding of the insects is still more important. 

 A weevil similar to C. sordidus but smaller has again been found 

 attacking bananas, chiefly the outer leaf-stalks. The amount of 

 damage is not yet precisely known. Coccidae have been found in all 

 banana districts, the most common being Aspidiotus destructor {trans- 

 jjarens). Spraying with lime-sulphur or kerosene emulsion is carried 

 out on well-kept estates, and an addition has recently been made to 

 the Regulations under the Diseases of Plants Ordinance requiring 

 cultivators of plants attacked by or liable to be attacked by the declared 

 diseases to keep their plantations in a suitable state of cultivation, 

 and this greatly increases the effectiveness of the spraying. Mites 

 have caused some damage to banana leaves when present in great 

 numbers. The caterpillars of the banana scab moth [Nacoleia octosema] 

 which attack the very young fruit are still plentiful, their attacks being 

 kept down by dusting the young bun';hes with pyrethrum powder or 

 the ground leaves of a native plant at as early a stage as possible. 



On coconuts, Levuana iridescens (coconut leaf moth) was present, 

 and generally occurs in more than one stage throughout the year. 

 This pest appears to be spreading westward along the north coast of the 

 island. A bug, Canthecona cyanocantJia, preys upon these caterpillars, 

 The infestation varies considerably in different blocks. In some trees 

 of considerable age the tops gradually grow smaller and at last die 

 and fall off, no insect other than L. iridescens being found on the trees. 



Trachycentra calamias, Meyr. (leaf -stalk borer) was found only 

 in one locality boring into the bases of coconut leaf stalks. A stick 

 insect, LopapJms cocophagus, New., defoliated some of the trees in one 

 plantation. These insects are controlled to a certain extent by birds. ^ 

 The best method of dealing with them is to make smudge fires, which 

 stupify them and cause them to fall from the trees, when they can be 

 collected and destroyed. The Hispid beetle, Promecotheca reichii 



