455 



On estates where infestation has often occurred its recurrence in 

 future years is very probable. In such cases preventive treatment is 

 advisable. One method that has proved satisfactory with cinchona 

 is dusting the seed-beds with sulphur about 3 months after the seed 

 has been planted. As cinchona does not germinate in the dark, as 

 much light as possible should fall on the beds, and dusting with sulphur 

 permits this, while providing the protection that is totally lacking 

 in such open beds. 



Bernard (C). Verschillende Rupsen-Plagen in Theetuinen. [Various 

 Caterpillar Pests in Tea Estates.] — Meded. Proef station voor Thee, 

 Buitenzorq, no. 68, 1919, pp. 11-27, 10 plates. [Received 24th 

 August 1920.] 



Lepidopterous caterpillars do not as a rule seriously injure tea 

 bushes, leaf-rollers doing the most harm. Such cases of severe in- 

 festation as do occur are quite temporary m character, as the pests 

 tend to disappear owing 1o a number of natural causes. In tea the 

 injury means a more or less temporary reduction of the yield. 



One curious instance is recorded in which tea severely infested by 

 Helopeltis was completely defoliated by Staurojnis alternus, the new 

 leaves not bemg re-infested by the Capsid. 



Andraca bipunctata, Wlk. (bunch caterpillar) attacks tea in Java 

 and Sumatra, especially in the latter island. It occurs in seed-gardens 

 and nurseries of older plants, in which the damage warrants remedial 

 measures such as collection by special gangs and spraying or burning 

 oft" with blow-lamps. Energetic action is advisable in order to forestall 

 severe outbreaks such as have occurred in British India. The eggs 

 are deposited on the under-side of the leaves, and the egg-stage 

 lasts about a week, the caterpillars becoming full grown in a 

 month. 



An instance of severe infestation by the Limacodid, TJiosea cervina, 

 is described. About 120 acres were involved, some portions being 

 entirely defoliated. The prunmgs should have been burned on this 

 occasion, for it is important that the pest should be destroyed before 

 or during pruning ; after this the plants need all their strength, and the 

 infestation of young plants may have serious consequences, which may 

 be further aggravated by Curculionid attack. On this estate a weevil, 

 MtfUocenis sp., injured both Erythrina [dadap] and the tea shaded by 

 it. The outbreak was worst during the dry season and diminished at 

 the beginning of the rains. Collection was actively prosecuted, and on 

 one day 220,000 individuals of T. cervina were taken. The cocoons 

 also were gathered. They are the chief factor in spreading infestation 

 for they roll about on the ground and are carried to a distance by water. 

 In all 7,500.000 caterpillars and cocoons were destroyed. A fungus 

 or bacterial disease destroys many caterpillars. An attempt was made 

 to spread the disease by crushing infected caterpillars and distributing 

 the material in the estate, but neither this measure nor insecticides and 

 trap-lamps proved of practical value. The outbreak lasted 8 months, 

 at the end of which period masses of shrivelled caterpillars were found, 

 a fact for which no satisfactory explanation was forthcoming. The 

 same remedies as for T. cervina are advised against another Limacodid, 

 Setora nitens. 



