412 



spray, consisting of 1 lb. wkale oil soap to 3 gals, water ; the spray 

 should be applied warm. P. filamentosiis, the fluffy mealy-bug, has 

 a tendency to poison the young shoots of hibiscus, citrus, etc. The 

 pineapple mealy-bug [P. bromeliae (1)] infests the pineapple, as 

 well as the roots of many flowering plants and bulbs. The spray 

 given above is also suitable for these two species. Whale-oil soap has 

 also been used in the control of ChrysomjjJmlus aonidum,, the Florida 

 red scale, and Lepidosaphes heckii, the purple scale, both attacking 

 citrus trees and palms. Aphis gossypii, the cotton aphis, was found 

 during 1913 and 1914 attacking water-melon plants ; spraying, while 

 the plants are still young, will generally enable them to withstand 

 the later broods. Myziis citricidus, the orange aphis, is liable to check 

 the growth of young trees ; spraying with soap solution is useful, 

 while this species is also kept in check by predaceous insects. Three 

 species of ants, Pheidole megacephala, Monomorium floricola and M. 

 pharaonis, frequently injure stored food. The latter can be protected 

 by the use of dishes containing water into which the legs of tables, etc., 

 are placed, or by tying bands soaked with ant poison around the legs 

 of tables. A more satisfactory method is to endeavour to kill the 

 colony, after finding the nest by trapping with sweetened water. Nests 

 outside buildings can be killed with gasolene or carbon bisulphide. 

 Termites have proved very destructive on the island. 



In the report of the work of the insectary, a brief account is given 

 of the success of Prof. Silvestri in obtaining larval and pupal parasites 

 of the fruit fly from West Africa. These parasites were liberated in 

 various localities. The following parasites of the dung fly have been 

 liberated : — The Chalcid, Muscidifurax vorax, Pteromalus sp. and 

 Spalangia sp. A second expedition to West Africa was dispatched 

 in 1914 ; as a result the following species were obtained : — Tetras- 

 tichus giffardi, Diachasma fuUmvayi, Opius sp. and Spalangia sp. 

 Of these, the first two were successfully bred and liberated. D. tryoni 

 has also been hberated. A great reduction of flies by the parasites 

 has already been observed. 



Back (E. A.) & Pemberton (C. E.). Parasitism among the Larvae of 

 the Mediterranean Fruit-Fly {C. capitata) in Hawaii during 1914. 



— Hawaii Bd. Agric. & Forestry, Div. Entom., Honolulu, 1915, 

 pp. 153-161, 5 tables. 



Active interest in the rearing of parasites of the fniit fly began 

 during July 1914, when the authors discovered a parasitism ranging 

 from 29-53 "8 per cent, among some pupae derived from Psidium 

 cattleyanum, the strawberry guava. It has been found that the 

 South African parasite, Opius humilis, is possibly entirely responsible 

 for the noticeable decrease in fruit fly in certain localities. The data 

 on this species will play an important part in determining the mcrease 

 in its efficiency during coming years. 0. humilis and Diachasma 

 tryoni parasitise only the well grown larvae of the fruit fly. This 

 fact was not at first fully appreciated by the authors, hence the tables 

 given do not do complete justice to the parasites. Parasites have been 

 bred from the larvae developing in Callophyllmn inophyllum, Citrus 

 japonica, Coffea arabica, etc., the percentage of parasites being given 

 in each case. 



