53 



telarius, L. {sexmaculatus, Kiley) is apparently the commonest in Cuba. 

 The principal damage is to the leaves, but the fruit also is occasionally 

 attacked ; the discoloration however is not serious. Schizotetram/chus 

 (T.) mytilaspidis, Riley, damages both leaves and fruit, producing 

 light, discoloured patches, but the climate of Cuba does not seem to 

 encourage heavy infestations of this mite. Tenuipaljms calif orniciis, 

 Banks, is a less abundant species and the injury caused by it i& 

 unimportant. Tarsonemiis latus, Banks, has as yet been found only 

 on lemons and citrons ; should it become very abundant, it would be 

 a very serious pest. These species can be controlled by the same 

 remedies as other mites. The oil emulsions employed against Coccids 

 are also effective against them. 



Barreto (B. T.). La Bibijagua y Modes de Combatirla. [Atta 

 insularis, Guer., and its Control.] — Eslacion Exp. Agron., Santiago 

 de las Vegas, Cuba, Bol. 42, August 1919, 23 pp., 8 figs. [Received 

 3rd December 1919.] 



The leaf -cutting ant, Atta insularis, Guer., is one of the most 

 destructive pests in Cuba, other species being A. octospinosa and 

 A. borinquenensis. These ants eat holes in the edges of leaves of 

 oranges and other plants and also cultivate a fungus on which they 

 feed. Small colonies can be destroyed by carbon bisulphide, but 

 for large ones injections of arsenious acid and sulphur anhydride, 

 produced by burning 85 parts of white arsenic with 15 parts sulphur, 

 are necessary. These fumes kill the larvae and adults but not the 

 eggs, and therefore a second treatment should be given a fortnight 

 later. The only known enemy of A. insularis is another ant, Pheidole 

 inegacephala. It is hoped to make further investigations regarding 

 the economic value of this species. 



Calvino (M.). La Cotorrita de Australia. [Crgptolaemus mon- 

 trouzieri.] — Rept. 1917-1918, EstacionExpt. Agron., Safifiago de las 

 Vegas, Cuba, 1919, pp. 50-51, 1 fig. [Received 3rd December 

 1919.] 



The Coccinellid, Cryptolaemus ynonirouzieri, has recently been 

 introduced into Cuba and has become established as a check on the 

 numbers of mealy bugs [Pseudococcus^ that attack cane, plantain, 

 pines and many cultivated plants. 



Calvino (M.). El Tetuan del Boniato. [Cylas formicarius]. — RepL 

 1917-1918, Estacion Expt. Agron., Santiago de las Vegas, Cubuy 

 1919, pp. 137-140. [Received 3rd December 1919.] 



Much of the information here given concerning Cylas formicarius 

 (sweet potato weevil) in sw^eet potatoes has been noticed elsewhere. 

 The rotation of crops recommended for Cuba is maize (May-August), 

 sweet potato (September-February) and French beans (February- 

 May). Infestation can also be avoided by planting seedlings. The 

 simplest insecticide solution for seedlings consists of lib. yellow soap 

 dissolved in 1 gal. water ; they should be steeped in this for half an 

 hour before sowing. 



