660 



Hepialus lupulinus, L., attacked strawberries, and the vine moth, 

 Batodes angusliorana, Haw., did much damage in a late vinery. Larvae 

 of Dasycera sulpkurella have been found on the bark of apple, ash 

 and elm. During 1913, currant and apple Aphids were very numerous, 

 but were largely destroyed by a fungus, probably a species of Empusa. 

 Insects injuring hops included Acronycta rmnicis and Bihio liortidanus. 

 Observations on the effect of basic slag on Aphids do not confirm the 

 German results. The clover midge, Amhlyspatha ormerodi, Kiefler, 

 was reported from various places ; it appears to attack only red clover. 

 Serious damage to cabbage by larvae of Phytomyza flavicornis, Meig., 

 was reported near London. Experiments with a soap-nicotine spray 

 against leaf-mining Diptera, Acidia heraclei on celery and Phytomyza sp . 

 on marguerites and chrysanthemums, gave good results, but the cost 

 for celery is prohibitive. The following Aphids are recorded as injuring 

 willow: — Aphis salieeti, Kalt., Cavariella (Siphocoryne) capreae, F., 

 Melanoxantherium salicis, L., Pterocomma pilosa, Buck., and Lachnus 

 viminalis, Fonsc, as well as the beetles, Phraforu vitellinae, Kirby, 

 P. vulgatissinia, L., Galerucella lineola F., G. tenella, L.. Crepidodera 

 auraia, Marsh., and Cryptorrhynchus lapathi, L. The beech Aphis, 

 Phyllaphis fagi, L., was specially numerous and in certain localities 

 did much damage. The abundance of material has enabled certain 

 details of hfe-history to be cleared up . Larvae of Aglossa pinguinalis, 

 L., (tabby or grease moth) were reported as destroying stored barley. 



Van Hall (C. J. J.). Cocoa. Macmillan & Co., London, 1914, 

 515 pp. 140 figs., Price 145. net. 



The eighth chapter of this book contains a full account of the insect 

 pests of cacao and the methods of combating them, and in the ninth 

 chapter, " Cocoa-growing Countries," which occupies nearly one-half 

 of the book, the methods of cultivation in each country are described, 

 and the special insect pests concerned are referred to. 



Scapteriscus didactylus only attacks young and succulent plants, on 

 the roots and stems of which it feeds ; it destroys far more than it 

 consumes and a small number of these mole-crickets may kill a large 

 number of plants in one night ; when the young plants have reached 

 a height of from 9 to 12 inches, they are practically safe from attack. 

 In Surinam plantations it is usual to have a nursery, the principal 

 object of which is to fill the gaps caused by this pest. The insect does 

 not become fully developed for one or possibly two years ; as soon 

 as the larvae are strong enough, they tunnel in search of food and are 

 rarely seen above ground, unless driven to the surface by heavy rains. 

 The fully developed adults are more often seen and at times migrate 

 in numbers, for reasons not well understood. Kitchen gardens, tobacco, 

 rice and sugar-cane suffer seriously, but thorough weeding, frequent 

 disturbance of the soil and a trench round the area to be protected, 

 if small, will generally suffice to drive and keep them away. The 

 best method of protecting cacao plantations is to raise the seedUngs 

 in small, well protected nurseries and not plant out until they are 

 hard enough to be distasteful to the pest. 



Stirasloma depressum is the worst pest of cacao in the New 

 World, and attacks also the American cotton tree {Bombax ceiha) 



