215 



SiMMONDs (H. \V.). Coconuts and Bananas on certain Islands around 

 the Coast of Vitilevu. — Agric. Circ. Fiji Dept. Agric, Suva, 

 n, no. 5, October-December 1921, pp. 102-104. 



A severe attack of Agonoxena argaula (small leaf moth) occurred 

 around Lautoka on coconuts, but did not apparently affect the yield. 

 The P3^ralid, Harpagoncura complena, was present on Naviti. Levuana 

 iridescens occurred in large numbers on Malolo island, as well as the 

 scales, Aspidiotus auraniii, Lepidosaphes [Mytilaspis) sp., which 

 caused practically no damage owing to the activity of parasites, and 

 Icerya purchasi (cottony cushion scale). The parasites introduced 

 against Aspidiotus destructor have apparently become established on 

 the islands of Ovalau and Moturiki, but at Viwa and Naigani onl}^ 

 the Chalcid, Aphelinus chrysomphali, appears to be present. 



Bananas appeared to be health}^, in spite of the presence of borers, 

 \\hich are more fatal to the trees in dry districts than in others. The 

 author is now of opinion that the diseased condition of bananas in the 

 Suva district is purely the result of attack by the borer. Cosmopolites 

 sordidus, coupled with lack of proper nutriment in the soil. 



Veitch (R.). a Fungous Parasite of the Hornet. — Agric. Circ. Fiji 

 Dept. Agric, Suva, ii, no. 5, October-December 1921, pp. 114-115. 



The fungus, Isaria crinita, is recorded as an important factor in 

 the control of hornets, Polistes hebraeus, F. It has not yet been 

 observed in the drier districts of Fiji, but a closely allied species attacks 

 the small black bug, Brachyplatys pacijicus, Dall., which lives on 

 Mauritius bean and many leguminous weeds in the Lautoka district. 



SiMMONDS (H. W.). Levuana iridescens. — Agric. Circ. Fiji Dept. 

 Agric, Suva, ii, no. 5, October-December 1921, p. 121. 



A Heteropterous bug is recorded as attacking Levuana iridescens, 

 but these predators are apparently even less important as a check 

 on this moth than the fungous disease that infests it. 



SiMMONDS (H. \V.). A Larva which damages Para Grass. — Agric 

 Circ. Fiji Dept. Agric, Suva, ii, no. 5, October-December 1921, 

 p. 121. 



Heliothis obsoleta (armigera) is recorded from Navua as attacking 

 Para grass [Panicum barbinode]. 



Departmental Activities : Entomology. — J I. Dept. Agric, Union 

 S. Africa, Pretoria, iv, no. 2, February 1922, pp. 114-117. 



Much damage has been caused to maize in the high veld by a Curcu- 

 lionid, probably Strophosomus sp. The inj ury generally occurs in patches 

 of varying extent, the young seedlings being eaten away before they 

 have reached any size. The life-cycle probably occupies about twelve 

 months. Most of the injury is done in November and December, 

 and the weevils disappear by the end of the year. It is assumed that 

 they enter the soil and die after oviposition. The larvae probably 

 emerge a few days later and begin feeding on the roots until the cold 

 weather sets in, when they hibernate as larvae or pupae. During 

 this stage they could probably be destroyed by frost if exposed on the 

 surface by deep ploughing. In Rhodesia the broadcast application 

 of arsenically poisoned green bait a few days before the young plants 



