9 



found breeding in wounds in trunks and limbs of cotton-wood (Populus 

 fremon(ii) ; Eupodes vohicris, 0. S. ; Syrphus americanus, Wied. ; 

 Lasioplitliicm {Catahomba) pyrastri, L. ; AUograpta obliqua, Say ; and 

 A.fracta,t\ie last-named being the most abundant species from February 

 to July. Owing to the mild winter adults were observed as early as the 

 3rd January. During June they were very abundant in barley and 

 maize fields and were apparently responsible for the almost total 

 destruction of the Aphids present. 



The larvae of A.fmcta exercise an undoubted check on Aphis nvddis, 

 Fitch. About 25% of the infested heads of grain showed the presence 

 of larvae destroying the Aphids. As experiments indicate that a 

 larva can destroy all the Aphids on from 3 to 4 heads in an average 

 infestation, it may be concluded that 75% to 100% of the Aphids 

 infesting a field \vill be Idlled in due course, provided that A.fmcta is 

 found over a quarter of the area. This Syrphid has only been bred from 

 Aphis maidis, and one larva was found attacking Aphis jyseudo- 

 brassicae, Davis. Examination of colonies of Aphis bmssicae, L., 

 Myzus persicae, Sulz., and Acyrthosiphon (Macrosiphum) jjisi, Kalt., 

 yielded negative results. 



The various stages of this Syrphid are described in detail. Eggs 

 deposited on the 22nd March hatched in from 2 to 3 days. After about 

 11 days the larvae pupate and the adults emerge in from 5 to 12 days. 

 The average daily temperature during these observations ranged from 

 a minimum of 58^ F. to a maximum of 86° F. 



From puparia collected in the field imagines of a Pteromalid, 

 Pa^hyneuron sp., and some Ichneumonids, of which the majority were 

 Diplazon laetatorius, F., were bred. 



Patterson (W. H.). Report of the Entomologist. — Gold Coast Rept. 

 Agric. Dept. WIS ; Accra, 1919, pp. 20-21. 



No important change in the general position of cacao pests during 

 1918 is recorded, though in certain locahties, SaJilbergella singular is, 

 Hagl., and S. theobromae, Dist., were controlled by handpicking. The 

 cacao mosquito, Helopeltis bergrothi. Rent., was very abundant on 

 nursery plants. Glenea sp. was less common than usual. Another 

 cacao pest, Homoeocerus sp. [R. A. E., A. vi, 133] also caused serious 

 damage to avocado pears and was noticed breeding upon shoots and 

 fruits of Jatropha ynuUifida. 



A Hispid beetle [Coelaenomenodera eJaeidis, Maulik] caused serious 

 .damage to oil palms. Remedial measures against this pest are 

 extremely difficult to carry out as the larvae infest the leaflets, 

 of which they destroy the tissue between the upper and lower surface. 

 Owing to the marked increase of Arclwn centauras, Burm. (rhinoceros 

 beetle) in certain coconut plantations the advisability of legislative 

 measures against it is suggested. 



Other pests include : Rhynchophorus phoenicis (African palm weevil) ; 

 the moths, Othreis fullonica and Achaea obvia, on citrus fruit ; and 

 Sesamia sp. on maize, which may be controlled by the early removal of 

 all small infested plants. Stored maize for seed may be preserved from 

 weevils by mixing it wath dry wood ashes. A bug, Riptortus sp., infests 

 peas, beans and other Leguminous crops, including Tephrosia vogeli. 



