175 



Menzel (R.). Over Parasieten van schadelijke Insekten. [On 



Parasites of Injurious Insects.] — De Thee, Buitenzorg, ii, no. 4, 

 December 1921, pp. 108-112, 1 plate. 



In a case of severe infestation of tea by the Limacodid, Seioya nitens, 

 it became evident that a Tachinid parasite was one of the factors 

 responsible for the sudden termination of the outbreak. Most of the 

 eggs of 5. nitens are laid on the tea leaves, and are covered with a 

 waxy substance. After about seven days the caterpillars hatch and 

 at once begin feeding. After some moults they pupate, the pupal 

 stage lasting 18-20 days. The entire life-cycle requires about 

 l|-2 months, so that several generations are possible in a year. As 

 the Tachinid concerned appears to be valuable, collected host-cocoons 

 should be kept so as to permit its emergence. 



A bunch-caterpillar [Andraca) is also parasitised by a Tachinid, 

 the larva of which abandons its host in order to pupate elsewhere, 

 probably in the ground. 



The author thinks that the Nematode parasite found in Helopeltis 

 [R.A.E., A, ix, 493] leaves its host in order to mature and oviposit 

 in damp ground, from which the larvae return in wet weather to the 

 tea plants. As they need damp ground before finding their insect 

 host, it is probable that infested Helopeltis will be most abundant 

 in the rainy season. This is confirmed by the fact that the highest 

 percentage of infestation in HclopcUis occurs from February to April. 



CoRPORAAL (J. B ). Schadelijke Inseeten in de Thee op Sumatra's 

 Oostkust 1920-1921. [Pests of Tea on the East Coast of 

 Sumatra in 1920-21.]— Dc Thee, Buitenzorg, ii, no. 4, December 

 1921, pp. 113-114. 



The information given in this paper is substantially that contained 

 in a section of an annual report already noticed [R.A.E., A, ix, 604]. 

 A Pentatomid bug, recorded in a former annual report as Dalpada sp. 

 IR.A.E., A, viii, 495], has been identified as Cantheconidea robusta, 

 bist. (cognata, Dist.). It may be beneficial, if indications as to its 

 preying on caterpillars prove to be correct. 



Bernard (C). De "Bunch-Caterpillar " op Java en Sumatra. [The 

 Bunch-caterpillar in Java and Sumatra.]— De Thee, Buitenzorg, 

 ii, no. 4, December 1921, pp. 115-116. 



Mr. J. B. Corporaal has stated that the " bunch-caterpillar " of 

 Sumatra is a Notodontid, Bombisatnr corporaali, van Eecke, not to 

 be confused with the " bunch-caterpillar" of British India, Andraca 

 hipunctata, Wlk. [R.A.E., A, ix, 604]. Since then, van Eecke has 

 revised his opinion and considers the moth to belong to the genus 

 Andraca. The matter is complicated by the fact that there occurs 

 in Java a species entirely similar to the bunch-caterpillar of British 

 India ; the Sumatran species probably belongs to the genus Andraca, 

 but is not A. hipunctata [Specimens received from Dr. Roepke 

 show that Bombisatnr corporaali is merely a synonym of Andraca 

 npodecta, Swinhoe. — Ed.] 



