713 



Keuchenius (P. E.). Entomologische Aanteekeningen. [Entomological 

 Notes.] — llepriiit from Teijsmunnia. Balavia, no. 3, 1915, 

 pp. 166-169. 



A disease of the leaves of Hevea has been observed in the eastern 

 •end of Java which is apparently due to Tetmnychus bioculalus. Bernard 

 in 1907 drew attention to the possibiUty of this mite becoming a more 

 or less serious pest of Hevea. Spraying with California mixture or 

 .soft soap and tobacco extract is suggested as a remedy. Young 

 Hevea slips, soon after planting out, have been found to be bored by 

 a bee at the top of the cut surface ; this has been identified by 

 Dr. Koningsberger as Ceratina viridissima, Dalla Torre. It has long 

 been known that the end of a Hevea cutting rots and dies and it is 

 in this dead material that the insect lives ; it has not as yet been 

 found boring into the pith. It frequents dadap, lamtoro and Jatropha 

 eurcas (physic nut). Pisang (a kind of banana), in and about 

 Besoeki, is constantly attacked by Bactrocera ferrnginea, and the 

 author has obtained 11 flies from one fruit of " pisang soesoe " which 

 is apparently the preferred variety ; this fly also infests mango, 

 capsicum, coffee, sapodilla and Eugenia sp. 



Keuchenius (P. E,). Korte aanteekeningen over ziekten en plagen. 



[Short Notes on Diseases and Pests].' — McdeiJ. BesoeJcisch Proef sta- 

 tion, Djember, no. 15, 1915, pp. 13-21. 



The termite, Cojitotermes gestroi, Wasm., locally known as Hevea- 

 Tajap, is by no means uncommon in Java and may possibly become 

 a serious pest. Though it generally occurs in dead wood, living wood 

 is also attacked. In the Federated Malay States the Universal Ant 

 Destroyer has been used with great success against it. The Java 

 planters at first were disinclined to use this apparatus, as the termites 

 are not directly killed by it, but the policy of lending the apparatus 

 carried out by the Station has to some extent removed their objections. 



A reliable adhesive material for catching insects is needed in the 

 tropics, the objection to the preparations in use in Europe being that 

 they contain much linseed oil and consequently dry very rapidly in 

 the sun and heat. The following mixtures have been found more or 

 less free from this objection, the figures indicating parts by weight : — • 

 («) 110 resin, 20 lard, 20 castor oil and 10 turpentine ; (b) 4 j^ellow 

 wax, 60 resin, 4 linseed oil and 25 castor oil. 



On a large coconut plantation on which rewards are given for the 

 collection of beetles, those brought in consisted chiefly of Oryctes 

 oiasicornis ; not a single specimen of Rhynchophorus fernigineus, 01. 

 (signaiicolUs, Chevr.), occurred, and it was suspected that the coolies 

 had not taken the trouble to look for them. In the hope of getting a 

 considerable number, the author offered increased pay, with the result 

 that nothing but Lucanids were brought in, including Eurytmchelus 

 litanm, Boisd., and Aegus {Odontolabis) acuminatus, F. As these large 

 beetles feed on plant-juices, the possible damage in a coconut plantation 

 is considerable, for they have been observed to gnaw into the leaf-stalks. 

 The careful removal of all decajang wood in or near the plantations is 

 suggested as a first step for the control of this pest. Considerable 



