456 



Psychid caterpillars are common pests of tea. They include 

 Clania crameri (faggot-worm), C. variegata (bag-worm), Amatissa 

 contorta (basket-worm) and a large species, probably belonging to the 

 genus AcantJiopsyche. The latter resembles in shape A. snelleni, 

 common on tea in Java, but is much bigger. A. suhteralhaia is of very 

 little importance ; it has been noticed on Albizzia moluccana and on 

 the tea beneath. A caterpillar found on Lantana is very similar to 

 Clania holmesi (spiral faggot- worm). On one occasion a number of 

 caterpillars resembling those of Pagodia hehneyeri were found on tea 

 near Buitenzorg. Dr. van Leeuwen has recorded this moth from cacao. 



Beenard (C). Termieten-Bestrijding. [Measures against Ter- 

 mites.] — Meded. Proefstation voor Thee, Buitenzorg, no. 68, 1919, 

 pp. 28-30. [Received 24th August 1920.] 



The following method of checking termites is not new, but the success 

 achieved justifies its mention. A tea estate in Java has been freed 

 from these pests by scraping all stems that show signs of infestation. 

 They are then painted with an emulsion of petroleum residue. As a 

 matter of fact the scraping appears to be the effective part of the 

 process, but the coolies are convinced of the virtue of the emulsion, and 

 to enable it to act to the best advantage they scrape the stems with 

 scrupulous care, this being the secret of success. It goes without 

 saying that, when pruning, all infested twigs are removed or treated 

 with tar. 



Telephone posts are protected from rotting and from insect attack 

 by winding " indjoek " string round the lower portions. Dr. Mauren- 

 brecher has adapted this to the protection of young tea (1-4 years old) 

 against termites, " indjoek " rag being used. The upper roots are 

 laid bare and the rag is laid over them and spread out ; it is then 

 wrapped round the stem and tied in two places — at the root-collar 

 and about 8 inches higher up. The cost of the material is about 

 10/- per acre, while labour costs about 15/-. This works out at about 

 1 farthing for 5 plants. Infestation was reduced from 25 per cent, to 

 less than 2 per cent. It only occurred very sporadically when the 

 outside of the covering was painted with an emulsion of petroleum- 

 residue. 



Bernard (C). Z^?e6orNS-Aantasting. [Xyleborus Attack.] — 

 Meded. Proefstation voor Thee, Buitenzorg, no. 68, 1919, pp. 31-33. 

 [Received 24th August 1920.] 



A case of infestation by boring beetles is recorded from a tea estate 

 in nurseries that had not been properly cleared and prepared owing 

 to lack of time. The plants lost their leaves, their stems remained 

 slender, and the roots became abnormally enlarged. 



The cause of the injury was a beetle of the genus Xyleborus, which 

 does not appear to be either X. fornicaius or the small twig borer, 

 known in Java as " tocco," " koppo " or " boeboek " which — 

 according to Green — is not identical with X. fornicatus. 



The mines of this very small brown Xyleborus are a little more than 

 I millimetre in diameter and contain white eggs, larvae and females. 

 The latter are somewhat longer than 1 millimetre, the males being 

 rather less. On the interior walls there is a white fungus which the 

 beetles cultivate for food. 



