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GowDEY (C. C). The Banana Borer [Cosmopolites sordidus, Germar). 

 — Jamaica Dcpt. Agric, Kingston, Ent. Circ. 8, 1922, 8 pp., 

 2 plates. 



Cosmopolites sordidus, Germ, (banana borer) has probably been 

 present in Jamaica for some \'-ears, but has lately attained the status 

 of a major pest on account of the greatly increased cultivation of the 

 banana, and because many neglected banana plots occur as the result 

 of successive hurricanes or the abandonment of this crop for sugar- 

 cane. A general account of the pest is given, and the methods of 

 prevention and control advocated against it are outlined. 



SniMOXDS (H. W.). Entomological Notes from Fiji, Fortuna, Wallis, 

 Vanualevu and Taveuni Islands. — Agric. Circ. Fiji Dcpt. Agric, 

 Suva, iii, no. 2, April-June 1922, pp. 19-25. 



Promecotheca reichei, Baly (leaf-mining beetle of coconuts) is well 

 distributed in Fortuna and Wallis Islands, but is not a severe pest, 

 though in parts of Fiji it sometimes does considerable damage. The 

 eggs are laid on the lower surface of the leaf, and the larva mines 

 between the two surfaces. The numbers are largely checked by 

 parasites, a species of Elasmus attacking the larvae and a Chalcid, 

 Chaetostricha sp., destroying the eggs. A species of Agonoxena, 

 probably A. argaula, Meyr., was found eating the leaves in company 

 with P. reichei, and was parasitised by an unidentified Chalcid. 

 Aspidiotus destructor. Sign, (coconut scale) was present in several 

 of the smaller islands. 



Cosmopolites sordidus, Germ, (banana borer) was present in Wallis, 

 but not in Fortuna. It is suggested that if a nursery were established 

 in one of the uninfested localities in Fiji, clean suckers originating 

 from it could be planted in land on which no bananas have been gro^^•n 

 for twelve months, and on such an estate it should be possible to 

 reduce damage to a minimum. 



Tobacco in Fortuna was found to be infested by a Tineid moth, 

 the larvae of which bore into the stem and cause abnormal swellings. 

 The natives open these to remove the larvae, after which the plant 

 starts into renewed growth. The insect answers to the description 

 of Phthorimaea [Gnorimo schema) heliopa. Low., which is an important 

 pest of tobacco in India, and fumigation against it is advocated in order 

 to save the tobacco crop of Fiji. 



In Waiwai, the Phasmid, Lopaphus cocophagus, Newp., was doing 

 much damage, and Daciis passiflorae, Coq. (fruit fly) was noticed ; both 

 there and in Taveuni, the moth, Othreis fuUonica, L., destroyed a 

 large part of the orange crop. In Soqulu two apparent cases of 

 bud-rot were examined ; in one case a bad infestation of the moth, 

 Trachycentra chlorogramma, MejT., was found, and in the other (not a 

 typical case) were many Nematodes. The Curcubitaceous plant 

 known as the New Guinea bean was defoliated by the larvae of the 

 Pyralid, Margaronia indica, Saund., and by the beetle, Aulacophora 

 fabricii. 



At Ura it was noticed that the big spathe coconut moth, Acritocera 

 negligens, Butl., and the smaller young nut moth, Tirathaha tricho- 

 grarnma, Meyr., were attracted to lights in houses. This may prove 

 an important discovery as a remedial measure. 

 V Cacao in Fiji is much damaged by the Japanese rose beetle, Adoretus 

 tenuimaculatus, Waterh., which also attacks Acalypha sp. ; if the 

 latter tree is preferred, it may be used as a trap. 



