511 



SwEZEY (0. H.). Cause of Scarcity of Seeds of the Koa Tree. — 



Haivaiian Planters' Record, Honolulu, xxi, no. 2, August 1919, 

 pp. 102-105, 6 figs. 



Acacia koa, one of the most important of the Hawaiian forest trees, 

 has become greatly reduced in numbers, and, while easy to propagate, 

 cannot rapidly be reproduced owing to the difficulty of obtaining seeds. 

 The trees blossom profusely, but the growing pods are attacked by 

 the larvae of four species of Tortricids, namely, Adenoneura rufipennis, 

 Enarmonia walsinghami, Cryptophlebia vulpes and G. illepida, which 

 travel from seed to seed devouring them as they go. Observations 

 on pods from various locahties show a very low percentage (0 to 13 

 per cent.) of sound seeds. Several Hymenopterous parasites are 

 known to attack the larvae, but at the present time are not sufficiently 

 numerous to be effective. 



TiMBEKLAKE (P. H.). PopUia japouictt, a serious Pest recently 

 introduced into New Jersey from Japan. — Hawaiian Planters' 

 Record, Honolulu, xxi, no. 2, August 1919, pp. 106-109, 5 figs. 



PopiUia japonica, Newm., recently introduced from Japan, is at 

 present confined to a relatively small area in New Jersey [see this 

 Revieiv, Ser. A, vii, p. 394, where it is recorded in error as Adoretus'], 

 but it has shown adaptabiUty to its environment and a tendency 

 to spread with considerable rapidity, and unless promptly exterminated 

 it will unquestionably spread over a great part of the United States. 

 The life-history and habits of this Scarabaeid beetle have been 

 previously discussed [see this Revieiv, Ser. A, vi, p. 440]. A great 

 many plants are attacked, including apple, peach, grape, raspberry, 

 watermelon, asparagus, sweet potato, lima beans and the ears of 

 maize, and ornamental trees and shrubs such as rose, Spiraea, holly- 

 hock, ferns, iris, elm, willow and birch. Many weeds are also attacked 

 including elderberry, morning-glory, dock, etc. 



For preventing the spread of infestation the following measures 

 are proposed by the Federal and State authorities for 1919. The 

 establishment and maintenance of a band ^ mile wide around the 

 infested area throughout which all non-economic plants attacked by 

 the beetle should be kept covered with a film of poison during the 

 period of ffight. The destruction of all non-economic food-plants 

 along roadsides in the infested area and the provision of a poisonous 

 coating on all economic food-plants ; the removal of farm products 

 from the infested area to be permitted only during the warm parts 

 of the day, and the restriction as far as possible of persons going 

 among infested plants during the evening or early morning. All 

 green sweet maize within the infested district to be removed only 

 under quarantine regulations. 



For the destruction of the beetle within the infested district it is 

 proposed to estabhsh and maintain a poisonous coating on all economic 

 food- plants, except in certain areas where they are to serve as traps 

 and in which the beetles will be collected by hand. In the spring 

 the soil will be treated with sodium cyanide in solution, and the ground 

 kept well cultivated so that the ovipositing beetles will not be 

 encomaged. All waste land about cultivated places will be eliminated 

 as far as possible, thus reducing the area on which attractive food- 

 plants may grow and in the soil of which the beetles may oviposit. 



