538 



About one-third of the coffee estates on the east coast of Sumatra 

 is infested by the coffee-berry borer, Stephanoderes hanipei. Up to 

 the present this beetle confines its feeding to the flesh of withered 

 berries [R.A.E., A, viii, 447]. Araecerus fasciculatus, de G., also 

 infested withered berries. Other injury to the berries has been noticed, 

 and is beheved to be due to a bug, a fly, or a weevil such as Balaniniis ^ 

 Other pests included Limacodid caterpillars. Coccus (Lecanium) 

 viridis, Green, Zeuzera coffeae, Nietn., and Lawana sp. 



On coconuts, Brachartona catoxantha, Hmps., again appeared on the 

 same estate as in the previous year, but was effectually checked by 

 natural enemies. Hidari irava, Moore, proved injurious in a few 

 localities. Neither Limacodids nor Amathusia phidippus, L., caused 

 much damage, Melissohlaptes rvfovenalis, Snell., is perhaps the 

 cause of bad bearing. No serious attempt to check it has been made 

 hitherto. The coconut beetles include Oryctes, Xylotrupes, Rhyncho- 

 phorus, Sphenophorus, Diocalandra, Aegns, and Plesispa. Details 

 regarding the last-named and H. irava have been pubhshed bv Leef- 

 mans [R.A.E., A, vii, 389, 390]. 



Oil-palm pests include Psychid, Limacodid and Satyrid caterpillars 

 and those of Hypolimnas misippus, L. An oil-palm nut was received 

 bearing marks of feeding similar to those of Pachymerus found in 

 a parcel of imported oil-palm seed [R.A.E., A, vii, 488], and the need for 

 great care in connection with plant imports is emphasised. 



Among miscellaneous pests, a Psychid caterpillar. Pagoda hehneyeri, 

 Heyl., feeds on the leaves of cacao. Xylothrips flavipes, 111., was 

 noticed boring in the beams of a house. This beetle was successfully 

 combated by injecting a solution containing 25 per cent, of thymol in 

 alcohol. Adoretus sp. and Apogonia destructor were found on kedele 

 [Glycine soja]. Triholivm navcde, ¥., was found in pressed cake of 

 Vigna catjang. The infested cake should be dug into the fields, thus 

 killing the beetles and restoring the nitrogen to the soil. Among the 

 caterpillars found on maize were Marasmia trapezalis, Gn., Cirphis 

 \mipuncta, Haw. (?), and Chilo simplex, Butl. ; against these collection 

 is advised. Trap-lamps may be tried against the last named. 



Palm (B. T.). Verslag van het Deli Proefstation over 1 Juli 1919-30 



Juni 1920. [Report of the Deh Experiment Station from 1st 

 July 1919 to 30th June 1920.]— Me(/er/. Deli Proefstation, Medan, 

 2nd Series, no. 12, 1920, jjp. 1-21. 



Light-traps proved useless against tobacco moths, but a number of 

 minor tobacco pests, Gryllotcdpa, Opatrum, Anomala, Nezara, grass- 

 hoppers, etc., were taken. They should be very useful in the case of 

 local outbreaks of these pests. Trials with Andres-Maire traps gave 

 absolutely negative results. The most important result of experi- 

 ments with a number of insectides was a new method of spraying 

 against insects infesting tobacco seed-beds. The 'atter are sprayed 

 every 4-5 days with a solution containing 2 per cent, of lead arsenate 

 with the addition of 3 per thousand of soap, previously dissolved in 

 water. This renders superfluous both the collection of the pests and 

 the covering of the beds. 



