23 



Ruby (J.). La Lutte contre les Sauterelles dans les Bouches-du- 

 Rhone. — Progres Agric. & Vitic, MoiitpeUicv, Ixxvi, no. 45, 

 6th November 1921, pp. 441-446. 



The extensive use of poison-baits against locusts [Dociostanrus 

 maroccanits] which was planned for 1921 in the south of France [R. A.E., 

 A, ix, 233] has been very successful. The organisation of the Defence 

 Syndicate of Bouches-du-Rhone and the manner of using the bait 

 are described. The area treated consisted of more than 86,450 acres, 

 of which some 28,405 are under cultivation and about 54,340 form 

 valuable pastures. The net annual revenue from this land is estimated 

 at £640,000 (at par), whereas the anti-locust campaign cost little 

 over ;£ 12,000. By the end of June the situation was saved and the 

 crops that had already suffered were recovering, while very few locusts 

 were left to carry the infestation over to another year. 



These results show that within a definitely circumscribed area 

 prompt and co-ordinated action can deal successfully with invasions 

 of gregarious locusts. 



Anderson (T. J.). Annual Report on the Division of Entomology 

 for the Year ending 31st March 1918.— 5/-//. E. Africa Dept. 

 Agric. Ann. Rcpt. 1917-191S, Nairobi, 1921, pp. 37-98. [Received 

 10th November 1921.] 



The most important pest of coffee in British East Africa is the 

 Pentatomid, Antestia lineaticollis, Stal (coffee bug), of which a detailed 

 account is given, with particulars of its parasites [R.A.E., A, vii, 

 405 ; ix, 563]. 



A minor pest is Anthores leuconotits, Pasc. (white coffee borer), 

 the eggs of which are laid on the bark, near the ground-level. The 

 young larvae burrow under the bark and form tunnels, which some- 

 times extend to the branches, almost completely excavating the 

 stem and leaving excrement and dust protruding from the holes. 

 The larval stage probably lasts two years at least. The stem may 

 be partly or completely ring-barked, and may become so hollow 

 that it is easily broken by wind or other causes ; the tap-roots may 

 also be tunnelled and weakened. The larvae, when located, should 

 be cut out with a sharp knife, as the stem is hard and thick, or a few 

 drops of carbon bisulphide injected into the holes will kill them, the 

 holes afterwards being plugged with clay. 



The Bostrychid, Apate monacha, F. (black coffee borer) seems to 

 be increasing in numbers in several plantations. As soon as the 

 characteristic dust is noticed on the ground at the base of the stem, 

 the bushes in the vicinity should be examined, and prompt remedial 

 measures imdertaken. The carbon-bisulphide remedy described 

 above has given success. The food-plants of this beetle in East 

 Africa are coffee, Citrus and Grevillea, the stems and branches of 

 coffee often being so weakened that they break in the wind. Cutworms, 

 caterpillars of Parasa sp., and thrips were all troublesome. 



Among pests of Citrus, Chrysomphalus aitrantii, Mask, (red scale), 

 is by far the worst ; the process of fumigation for this scale is described ; 

 others are Icerya purchasi. Mask., the citrus Psyllid [Trioza], 

 caterpillars of Papilio demodocus, Esp., and P. mackinnoni, E. Jl. 

 Sharpe, Ceratitis capitata, Wied., Dacus sp., Aphis tavaresi, Del G., 

 and Toxoptera aurantii, Boyer. 



