pupa. Newly emerged adults, when exposed to light, acquired the 

 characteristic testaceous red colour in two days. Trials have been 

 made to determine whether living plant material, such as roots, is 

 necessary as food for the insect, and it appeared that decaying cane 

 trash was preferred to the roots. Field observations confirm this, 

 as grubs have been found in greater numbers where there was abund- 

 ance of decaying matter than where there were plenty of living roots 

 without decaying organic matter. 



The only remedial measure that promises any success in reducing 

 the numbers of the cane grubs in Antigua is the growing of a trap 

 crop of maize, and collecting the grubs from the soil when the maize 

 is pulled up. On one 10-acre estate 57,535 grubs were destroyed in 

 this way before the ^^oung canes were planted. 



The Scoliid parasite, Tiphia parallela, is present in Antigua, but 

 its assistance in control seems to be practically negligible. It is 

 suggested that the introduction of Cordia internipta, a plant that has 

 proved attractive to T. parallela in Barbados and Mauritius, might 

 be advantageous. 



Report on the Prevalence of some Pests and Diseases in the West Indies 



during 1919. (Compiled from the Reports of the Principal Local 



Agricultural Officers.) — West Indian Bull., Barbados, xix, no. 1, 



1921, pp. 18-37. [Received 2nd November 1921.] 



This is a resume of various local reports, most of the information 



from which has already been noticed. 



AsHBY (S. F.). The Red-headed Scale Fungus. — .4 o^/zV. Neivs, 



Barbados, xx, no. 507, 1st October 1921, p. 319. 

 The red-headed scale fungus, which is frequently seen projecting 

 from the margins of Lepidosaphes beckii (citrus mussel scale), and 

 is one of its most important enemies in the West Indies, has been known 

 for many years as Sphaerostilbe coccophila. This name, however, is 

 now considered untenable, as it covers two distinct species. There 

 are three species of the genus parasitic on the Coccids of the genera 

 Lepidosaphes, Aspidiotus, Parlatoria, Diaspis, Chionaspis and related 

 genera. These are S. flanimea, widely distributed in the eastern and 

 southern United States and Cuba ; S. aurantiicola, probably the com- 

 mon form in the West Indies and also in Florida, Georgia and the 

 Orient ; and 5. coccidophfhora, known only from the Orient. The 

 name Microcera coccophila, first applied to the conidial stage of 

 5. flanimea, and used for many years, is retained for that stage. All 

 three species of Sphaerostilbe have stilboid Microcera stages difficult 

 to distinguish from each other. As both S. flammea and S. aurantiicola 

 occur in the Southern States, it is probable that both are present in 

 some parts of the West Indies. S. aurantiicola is apparently the usual 

 species parasitising L. beckii throughout the tropics and subtropics. 



Walton (W. R.). European Corn Borer in American Com.— U.S. 



Dept. Agric, Washington, D.C., Yearbook 1920, 1921, pp. 85-104, 

 7 figs. [Received 2nd November 1921.] 

 This paper contains an account of the European corn-stalk borer 

 [Pvrausta nubilalis], and of its introduction into America, with 

 particulars of its distribution, life-history, food-plants, and the damage 

 caused by it. Remedial measures, including those undertaken by 

 the Government, are also dealt with. 



