469 



Pleistodontes froggatti, Mayr, was the only fig wasp bred in Sydney 

 from the Moreton Bay fig {Ficus macrophylla) . P. imperialis, Saund., 

 has been recorded, but is rare. 



The presence of the fig wasp is necessary for the natural develop- 

 ment of the Moreton Bay fig and for the development of the seeds, 

 as the sequence of the development of the male and female flowers in 

 the fig prevents self-pollination, and unless the female flowers are 

 pollinated when the figs are young, the figs fall off, so that the male 

 flowers do not come to maturity. 



It has been proved that the nearer the temperature is to 50°-51°F., 

 the longer the insect's life is prolonged ; this may be useful knowledge 

 for future shipments of different species of fig wasps. During the 

 egg-laying the fig grows rapidly. The larvae remain in the gall 

 flowers, feeding on the surrounding tissues, and there they pupate. 

 The males emerge first ; they outlive the females, but are less numerous. 

 They immediately seek the females, fertilise them, then move to another 

 flower. These females then emerge from the fig, seeking other young 

 figs. The time required for the total development of the wasp entirely 

 depends on the temperature and growth of the fig. 



Several species of Hymenoptera other than P. froggatti were bred 

 from fruits of the Moreton Bay fig, but none were true pollinators. 

 Their larvae can serve only as parasites of the true fig wasp or of one 

 another. 



The work of other authors on the subject of fig wasps is briefly quoted. 



The Moreton Bay fig is grown in regions where the wasp is not present, 

 such as Melbourne and Auckland, but no fertile seed is ever formed. 



There are many imported figs growing in Sydney, but none have 

 their particular fig wasp introduced with them, with the exception 

 of the Lord Howe Island fig, Ficus columnaris, which is botanically 

 close to F. macrophylla and is fertilised by P. froggatti. 



In January 1921, some Moreton Bay figs were shipped from Sydney 

 to Honolulu, with living pupae of Pleistodontes. Half the shipment 

 were kept in cases on the upper deck of the steamship, and all the wasps 

 were dead when they reached Honolulu. The other half arrived 

 alive, these having been kept in bags at a constant temperature of 

 45°F. Of these, 2,000 females were liberated in the two fig trees then 

 in Honolulu, and they were observed entering young figs. 



Various opinions as to the value and forest qualities of this fig tree 

 are given. 



FuLLAWAY (D. T.). The Fern Weevil {Syagrius fulvitarsis, Pasc). — 

 Haivaiian Forester and Agriculturist, Honolulu, xviii, no. 5, 

 May 1921, pp. 101-114, 1 plate, 5 tables. 



The fern weevil {Syagrius fulvitarsis), which has hitherto been con- 

 sidered a greenhouse pest, appears to be threatening the forests of 

 Hawaii [R.A.E., A, viii, 191]. It has now spread over the entire 

 country to the mountains. It is beUeved to have been introduced 

 from AustraHa, where it feeds on the fleshy leaf-stalks of Calipterus 

 prolifera. In Hawaii it attacks Adiantum, Nephrolepis exaltata, 

 Polypodium phymatodes, Asplenium and other ferns, particularly 

 Sadleria cyantheoides. 



The female eats a cavity in the fern stem where she deposits eggs 

 singly. The incubation period is about nine days. The larval stage 

 occupies 1-4 months, and the pupal stage 9-10 days. The adults 



