125 



the latter is the castor-oil plant, Ricinus communis, while Hibiscus 

 esculentus is a host-plant of the first four species. The Rhynchota 

 injurious to cotton included the cotton stainers, Dysdercus swper- 

 stitiosus (also prevalent on the open bolls of silk cotton, Eriodendron 

 anfractuosum), D.fasciatus, and Oxycarenus albidipennis, the Coccid, 

 Pseitdococcus {Dactylopius) obtusus, Newst. (also found on citrus 

 trees) and a species of Aphis. The Noctuids, Cirphis loreyi, 

 Dup., and Sesamia calamistis, Hmp., attacked maize, which is ex- 

 tensively grown throughout the two islands, and were also abundant 

 in the millet areas. A Pyralid, Chilo sp., is the commonest borer of 

 maize, and in some fields ruined half the crop. Another Noctuid, 

 Brithys pancrati, Cyr., is a voracious feeder on lilies, and a Pyralid, 

 Glyphodes sericea, Drury, was taken on gardenias. A Fulgorid insect 

 was very prevalent on maize imported from British East Africa, swarm- 

 ing at the base of the leaves. Lime and ashes sprinkled on the infested 

 leaves were a satisfactory control. Both larvae and pupae of the 

 Noctuid, Busseola fusca, Hmp., were found in the main stalk of millet. 

 Crocidolomia binotalis, Zell., ruined several crops of cabbages. This 

 moth also feeds on turnip, watercress and nasturtium. Egg-plants 

 (Solanum melongena) were badly infested by a bug, Acanthocoris 

 fasciculatus, F. Dacus vertebratus, Bezzi, attacked native gourds. 

 Pseudococcus obtusus, Newst., is found in abundance on the pigeon-pea 

 {Cajanus indicus), which is also attacked by a longicorn beetle, 

 Tragocephalavariegaia, Bert. To control the latter, all affected lateral 

 branches must be lopped off and burnt, as once the larva has reached 

 the main stem, nothing can be done. Cylasformicarius, F., (sweet potato 

 weevil), is abundant and the natives were advised not to replant this 

 crop on infested ground. Papilio demodocus, Esp., is a very common 

 pest on young citrus trees ; hand-picking the larvae is efficacious against 

 it. Lepidosaphes (Mytilaspis) beckii, Newm., is the worst scale enemy 

 of citrus. Resin wash, whale oil soap, and petroleum emulsion have 

 proved unsatisfactory, though fumigation with hydrocyanic acid gas, 

 as carried out in Egypt, would probably be suitable on the Govern- 

 ment plantations. Saissetia {Lecanium) punctulifera, Green, and 

 Saissetia {Lecanium) nigra, Nietn., occur on the mango, the fruits 

 being also often spoilt by the tunnels of Cryptorrhynchus mangiferae, F., 

 (mango weevil) against which banding has been proposed as a remedy. 

 Bag- worms, Psychidae, are very prevalent on the African almond, 

 Terminalia catappa, a shade tree found throughout the two islands. 

 Many female cases of these pests were found to be parasitised by a 

 Tachinid and a Dermestid larva. 



Johnston (T. H.) & Tryon (H.). Queensland c Report of the Prickly- 

 pear Travelling Commission, 1st November 1912-30th April 1914. 



Brisbane : Govt. Printer, 1914, 131 pp., 66 figs., fcap. Price -js. 6d. 

 [Received 3rd February 1915]. 



The authors were appointed by the Queensland Government to 

 visit countries in which prickly-pear is indigenous, or has become 

 naturalised, for the purpo.se. inter alia, of looking for natural enemies 

 which might be utilised for the destruction of this plant in Queensland. 

 The report details the eleven species of prickly-pear at present 

 naturahsed in Queensland. 



