410 



the mite may have other food-plants. An apparently identical species 

 has been found on Cyamopsis psoralioides (guvar), and cross inoculations 

 have proved that potato plants infected with the mite taken from this 

 plant readily took the disease. Chillies and tomatos have proved 

 immune, but more observations and experiments are required on this 

 point. 



Froggatt (W. W.). Three Native Beetles attacking Orchard Trees. — 

 Agric. Gaz. iV.^.lf., ^SytZwe^, xxxi, no. 6, June 1920, pp. 421-426, 

 5 figs. 



The Lamellicorn, Anoplognafhis cJiloropyrvs, Drapiez, often appears 

 in the early summer in immense numbers on native vegetation, 

 frequently denuding the tops of young gum and other trees and defoliat- 

 ing shrubs. They recently swarmed into an orchard and defoliated 

 many plum trees. Both adults and larvae are destructive. The 

 larva of an allied species, A. analis, has also been recorded as eating 

 off the roots of strawberry plants. 



Perperus insularis, Boh. (white-striped weevil) is a well-known 

 orchard pest. The adults emerge in early summer from the groimd 

 where they have pupated and, crawling up the tree-trunks just as the 

 leaf-buds are bursting, eat the centre out of each bud. Recently, 

 the yoimg branches of small Citrus trees have been stripped of their 

 leaves and bark. Hand-picking and shakiag into canvas sheets at 

 night would have greatly reduced this pest if practised as soon as 

 it was noticed. An inverted funnel-shaped bandage of stiff oiled 

 paper, fixed tightly round the tree stem just clear of the ground, would 

 also trap large numbers. Spraying with lead arsenate has been 

 recommended, but though the beetles eventually die of the poison they 

 are generally able to do considerable damage first. A second species, 

 P. innocuus, also caused serious injuries to fruit trees, and attacked 

 and punctured many grapes just as they were ripening, as well as 

 damaging the leaf-buds. 



Geloptera porosa, Lea (pitted apple beetle) is a Chrysomelid usually 

 associated with foliage injury, but has lately appeared in apple orchards, 

 gnawing off patches of the skin of young fruit. The liie-history is 

 unknown, but pupation probably occurs ia the soil. The damage to 

 apples is very similar to that caused ia Victoria and Tasmania by the 

 Lamellicorn, Diphucephala colaspidoides, which feeds normally on black 

 wattle and migrates into adjoining orchards. Lead arsenate sprays 

 would kill the adults of G. porosa, or they may be jarred on to sheets 

 placed under the trees early m the morning when they are in a semi- 

 torpid condition. 



Report on the Prevalence of some Pests and Diseases in the West 

 Indies during 1918. [Compiled from the Eeports of the principal 

 local Agricultural Officers. 1 — West Indian Bull, Barbados, xviii, 

 no. 1-2, 1920, pp. 34-60. [Received 22nd July 1920.] 



This is a resume of various local reports, much of the information 

 from which has already been noticed [R.A.E., A, vi, 514 ; vii, 204, 261, 

 366, 481, 512]. 



