402 



perhaps a species of Oligonychiis, appears in large numbers in the dry 

 months of July-September and webs over the bunches, causing much 

 dust to settle on the webs. The mites, working under the webs, 

 lacerate the surface of the fruit when about half-ripe and suck the 

 sap. Dusting with flowers of sulphur as soon as the first symptoms 

 appear is recommended. A Fulgorid bug sucks the sap from the 

 leaves, the first generation hatching in April and May and the second 

 in September. Hibernation occurs in the egg stage. Spraying with a 

 contact insecticide, such as kerosene emulsion or tobacco decoction, 

 is recommended and should be very thoroughly done, as the insects 

 are very active. All unnecessary side-shoots should be cut away and 

 destroyed, as they harbour many eggs. 



Coccid pests include Parlatoria blanchardi, Targ., found on the 

 leaflets of young palms and offshoots. It is widely distributed in 

 Mesopotamia, but does not become very serious, probably owing to 

 climatic conditions and to the ^dSdiSxie.'^phelinus mytilaspidis, Bar. 

 PhoenicococcHS marlatti, Ckll., is found closely packed in masses between 

 the leaf bases and the stem, but does not cause great damage. Another 

 Coccid pest is Asterolecaniiim phoenicis, Green. 



Losses to the date crop may also be caused by the locust, Schisto- 

 cerca peregrina, 01., by termites, and, in windfall or stored dates, by 

 Ephestia cautella, Wlk. The latter are also attacked by the beetles, 

 Silvanus snrinamensis, L., and Laemophloeiis sp. ; mvich of this loss 

 may be prevented by exposing the packages of dates periodically to 

 direct sunlight. 



DuTT (A.). Supplementary Note on the Pests of the Date Palm in 



'Iraq. — Mesopotamia Dept. Agric, Basrah, Memoir 6, 1922, 

 pp. 13-21. [Received 7th June 1922.] 



The damage due to " hashaf " condition was estimated in 1918 to 

 be 70 per cent, of the crop. Investigation has shown the formation 

 of a definite callus at the base of the calyx of all wind-fallen dates, 

 and where there is no insect stimulation to cause this formation, it 

 seems very probable that the insects have nothing to do with the 

 falling of the fruit. It is quite possible that they attack only weak 

 fruit that would in any case fall off, and this would explain the 

 precaution of attaching the dates before they attack them to the stalk 

 of other sound fruit by a silken thread. It was noticed that trees on 

 canals and those that had a good water supply bore better crops and 

 showed but little sign of attack. In spite of the heavy losses in 1918, 

 conditions were normal in the following year. The cause of premature 

 shedding of dates requires further study, and upon this depends the 

 question of remedial measures ; the author suggests that cultural 

 methods, such as effective fertilisation and increased water and food 

 supply, would do much towards producing a better crop. Only one 

 generation of Batrachedra amydraida, Meyr., was observed, but there 

 may have been a slight infestation b\^ a previous generation that 

 passed unnoticed. 



As a remedy for Pscudophilus testaceiis, Gah., it is suggested that 

 carbon bisulphide should be injected into the holes made by the borer, 

 which should then be plugged with mud. The author questions the 

 possibihty of Oryctes elegans, Prell, breeding in the top of living palms. 



The author considers that the worst disease of dates is that caused 

 by the mite, Oligonyckns sp. It only thrives in dry weather, and 

 therefore is found chiefly on high lands and near the desert. The 



