495 



Tea pests did not include Helopeltis ; this is surprising as H. suma- 

 tranus, Rpke., H. antonii, Sign., and H. theivora, Wlk., occur among 

 the wild vegetation. Colobathristes saccharicida, Kirk, was sent 

 in as Helopeltis, which it resembles, but may be distinguished by the 

 presence of a pointed, instead of a rounded spine on the scutellum, 

 A Pentatomid bug, Dalpada sp., requires attention as it appears able 

 to breed on tea. Megachile sp. attacks the older leaves of tea, but 

 the injury is insignificant. Some tea t^\•igs were infested by a Fulgorid. 

 A beetle, provisionally identified as a species of Phjllohius [Corigetus 

 scapularis, Roel.], did some damage to the young shoots. Of various 

 injurious caterpillars, one belonged to the genus Attacus. 



Cofiee pests included Stephanoderes hampei, which has extended its 

 infestation since the previous year, when it was first observed. Up to 

 the present, no real injury has been done, because only the fleshy part 

 of the berry is attacked, and because, by keeping the ground clear of 

 withered berries, an effective check seems to result. The coffee beetle, 

 Araecerus fascicidatus, is of general occurrence. In the plantations 

 it confines its attacks to \\'ithered berries only. Zeuzera cqffeae, 

 Nietn., was received from coffee and tea. Branches killed by this 

 moth must be cut off and burned. A good poison-bait for grasshoppers 

 attacking coffee consisted of 35-40 parts of fresh horse manure, 1 

 part Paris green, and 2 parts salt. A bait suitable for Tettigoniids as 

 well, contained ih lb. sodium arsenite, 18 lb. sugar or molasses, and 

 22| gals, water with enough fresh maize leaves (chopped into pieces 

 about 1 inch long) added to produce a wet bait, which is left standing 

 overnight before it is strewn in the morning. 



Brachartona catoxantha re-appeared on the same coconut estate as 

 in the previous year [loc. cit.], but its natural enemies seemed more 

 abmidant. 



Oil-palm pests included Limacodid and Psychid caterpillars, Rhyn- 

 chophorus ferrugineus, Dipterous maggots and Tenebrionid larvae. 



A P\Tralid caterpillar of the genus Pymusta injured maize. Rice 

 was attacked by the Pp-ahd borer, Sclioenohius hipimctifer, W\k., and 

 by the bugs, Nezara viridula, L. Leptocorisa sp., and Podops vermi- 

 culata, Voll. Much injury to maize and rice may be prevented by 

 cultural methods. Care must be taken to sow a given area within a 

 short period (2-3 weeks.) An interval of about 6 weeks must occur 

 between harvesting a crop, and planting a new one. The sowing 

 time should be uniform with that on other plantations, and with the 

 time of planting practised in the native villages. 



Dry maize and rice were infested by Tribolium fermgineum, F., 

 Carpophilus sp., and Dinoderus miniitus, F., which last also occurs in 

 dry bamboo, and is attacked by a Clerid, Tillus notatiis, Klug. 



Phaseolus lunatus was infested by a small fly, probably Agromyza 

 phaseoli, Coq. The leaves of Dioscorea saliva were eaten by the cater- 

 pillars of Herse {Protoparce) convolvuli, and ornamental palms, Corypha 

 sp., were infested by caterpillars of Amathusia phidippus, a pest of 

 coconut. 



Rhinotermes translucens. Ha v., penetrated a teak chest kept indoors 

 and destroyed papers within it, the teak-wood being left imtouched. 

 A species of Coptotermes, probably C. curvignathm, Holmgr., was 

 observed on hving mango trees and destroyed by fumigation with 

 sulphur-arsenic 



