>97 



exhausted banana plantations, which form excellent breeding-grounds 

 for the borer, are obliged to destroy them. Scale-insects have un- 

 doubtedly diminished in numbers since the regulations requiring 

 growers to spray for them were brought into force, but to what extent 

 this may be also due to natural causes is not known. 



Knowles (C. H.). Division of Entomology. — Fiji Dept. Agric, Ann. 

 Repf. for 1918, Suva, Council Paper no. 32,* 14th May 1919, pp. 

 12^15. [Eeceived 14th May 1920.] 



Levuana iridescens (coconut leaf moth) contmues to infest the leaves 

 of coconut palms [R.A.E., A, vii, p. 311]. The bug, Canihecona 

 cyanocantha , which has been found to be predaceous upon the 

 caterpillars, cannot be regarded as an efl&cient check, but it is thought 

 that their numbers are considerably reduced by the wasp, Polistes 

 hebraeus, which is extremely common in the infested locahties. An 

 unrecognised bird also destroys them and may be a considerable check. 

 Scales {Aspidiotus sp.) have been prevalent in some localities, especially 

 on unhealthy palms ; in one district coconut leaves and fruits were 

 covered with these scales. As the spraying of tall coconut palms is 

 almost impossible, badly attacked trees should have the infested leaves 

 removed or the plants should be cut down and burnt. Promecotheca 

 reichii (Hispid leaf -miner) continues to be a coconut pest, but is held 

 in check by a Chalcid parasite. An unidentified spathe borer is a 

 minor pest and mealy-bugs are occasionally injurious. 



Cacao leaves are attacked by Adoretus tenuimacidatus (Japanese 

 rose beetle), which sometimes causes the death of young plants. It is 

 hoped that the Scohid wasp introduced against this pest will materially 

 reduce its'numbers. There are signs that the fungus Metarrhiziuin,. 

 introduced some years previously, is acting as a check on the beetle. 

 Mealy-bugs (Pseudococcus). when troublesome, can be controlled by 

 spraying Avith Hme-sulphur or kerosene emulsion, and as the bugs 

 appear to be carried about by the red, long-legged ant, the nests of the 

 latter at the roots of the trees should be dealt with. 



Bananas have been seriously injured during the year by Cosmopolites 

 sordidus, Germ, (banana borer), and it is thought that unhealthy 

 conditions in many trees attributed to fungus diseases are primarily due 

 to the attacks of the borer. This weevil is distributed throughout the 

 Colony and is abundant in all districts. Traps consisting of pieces of 

 banana bulbs laid on the ground among the plants have proved effective 

 in attracting the beetles, but unless removed and destroyed at least 

 once in every 21 days they become breeding-places and increase instead 

 of diminishing the numbers. While thorough cultivation does not 

 render the plants free from the pest, it is a great help in maintaining 

 a healthy condition, and it is essential that neglected plants should 

 not be allowed and old worn-out plantations should be ploughed over, 

 as they form breeding-places for the beetles. The Histerid beetle, 

 Plaesius javonus, has been introduced from Java, where it is a good 

 check on the borer, and distributed among the infested plantations. 



The branches of Citrus plants are sometimes killed by scale-insects, 

 chiefly Chionaspis citri ; spraying should be practised every few 

 days. The stems of Piper methysticum are frequently badly attacked 



