574 



roi;ularly cxiiininod for larvae. Many larvae may be killed by liberally 

 sprinkling' ((koiuiI husks jiilcd about the bases of palms with 2 lb. 

 Paris green to 100 U.S. gals, water. 



Ki'os (P. (i.). Cultivo del Banano en Puerto Rico. -Porlo Rico Insular 

 I-xpf. Sla., Rio Picdnis, I Will. 25, Scpt(Mni)i'r 1920, 30 pp., 10 hgs. 

 [Received 1st October 1921.1 



The cuHivalion of the banana, which is an important article of diet 

 among the poor in Porto Rico, as well as the basis of a Nourishing 

 industry, is not seriously affected by insect pests. The ])rinciixd 

 damage is done by white grubs, Laclinosterna {P/iyllop/uii^a) sj)])., 

 from May to September. The adults are nocturnal in habit and 

 devour the foliage. Kggs are laid on the trunk of the plant, and the 

 larvae attack the roots. Birds and other predators devour the giubs ; 

 for the adults, hand collection or light-traps are the best remedies. 

 Diafircpcs sp. has been ob.served eating the young leaves at the crown 

 of tlie jjlant ; the damage, however, is slight. Aphids are sometimes 

 troui)lesome on banana ])lants, attacking ])]antains for preference. 



BuKGEss (.'\. v.). The Satin Moth: an introduced Enemy of Poplars 



and Willows. U.S. I),p'. Ap-ic, Washiiii^ton, D.C., Dcpt. 

 (ire. 1H7. May 1921, 1(^ p])., G ligs. (Received 3rd October 1921.] 



Stiipnotia salicis, L. (satin moth), which is a well-known pest in 

 Europe, was first discovered on })oplar trees in the United States about 

 July 1920 [R.A E., A, viii, 464]. As the insect is closely related to 

 the gipsy moth [Portlictria dispar] and the brown-tail moth [Nygmia 

 phacorrhoca], considerable an.xiety was felt as to th(^ damage it might 

 cause, and studies were made of its habits. Oviposition occurs about 

 the middle of July, the eggs being laid in masses, generally on the 

 lower surfaces of the leaves and on the branches and trunks of the 

 trees, and sometimes also on grass, weeds or stones, or even on the 

 ground. Oviposition continues for about a month, each female 

 producing some 550 eggs. Larvae appear within 15 days, and after 

 two moults construct a silken web in some crevice or irregularity 

 of the bark, in which one, and sometimes two or three larvae hibernate. 

 The hibernation chambers are covered over and are verj' difficult 

 to detect ; they have been found high in the trees on small twigs 

 and attached to the scars where leaves have fallen. The newly 

 hatched larvae feed on the epidermis on both sides of the leaf ; in 

 cases of severe infestation most of the foliage may be devoured, so that 

 only the ribs and framework remain. Various s])ecies of poplar were 

 ])referred by the young larvae, though willow was also attacked in 

 laboratory experiments. Alder, apple, grey birch, elm, red oak and 

 white oak were not attacked, but a few larvae .survived on black 

 oak foliage ; this may prove an important food-plant, as it is rather 

 common in some jiarts of New luigland. It is probable that the 

 larvae that have hibernated emerge from their webs as .soon as 

 sufficient foliage is available and feed again, and, after passing 

 through several moults, become full-grown about 1st July. When 

 feeding is completed, generally towards July, they spin loose cocoons 

 and pupate, either in leaves of which they have drawn together the 

 edges, in crevices of the bark, in rubbish near the base of the tree 

 or on the sides of buildings. Pupation occupies about nine days, 

 and the hrst moth was observed on 2nd July. 



