144 



attacked by Hehpeltis. P. crotonis, owing to tlie encouragement 

 it gives to the black cacao ant, is of economic importance and the 

 following biological notes are given : — The entire development takes 

 about 40 days and there are two moults. The males are very scarce 

 and always develop on the under-side of the leaves. In all its stages 

 this scale is attacked by the orange-red larvae of a Cecidomyid 

 (Diplosis sp. ?) which in its pupal stage is itself parasitised by a small 

 black Proctrotrupid, as yet unidentified. No success attended 

 attempts to pair H. theivora and H. antonii in captivity, though 

 Dr. Koepke has noticed such pairing in the open. A solution 

 containing 0"1 per cent, sodium arsenite and 2| per cent, molasses 

 was sprayed on small cacao plants. When applied in the morning, 

 from 70 to 90 per cent, of the Hehpeltis died, but as this spray 

 seriously damaged the foliage, it cannot be employed in practice. 

 The beetle, jiraecerus fasciculatus, appears to prefer the pods of 

 Tephrosia Candida and to be able to develop in them. Eggs also 

 may be laid in the pods of T. vogelei, but they do not appear to 

 develop. Besides Crotalaria striata, Phaseolus radiatus seems to be 

 attacked, but only a small proportion of the eggs yield adults. In 

 nature Soja hispida seems immune, nor does the beetle develop in 

 other than growing Leguminous seeds. Ripe Tephrosia seeds, damp 

 cofiee beans, cacao beans, etc., are not attacked. The parasites 

 obtained from infested Tephrosia pods included 2 Chalcids and 2 

 Braconids, which oviposit in the nearly mature beetle larvae. These 

 parasites are sometimes present to the extent of 18-30 per cent. 

 Direct control wath Paris green only gave partial results. Attempts 

 to populate the Tephrosia plants with black ants in order to drive 

 away the beetle did not seem to be successful, and had the dis- 

 advantage of disturbing the parasites. The economic importance 

 of this beetle, especially where Tejohrosia seed is required, may be 

 gauged by the fact that on one estate only 4-10 per cent, of sound 

 seeds were found in the pods. 



LEGISLATION. 



Freeman (W. G.). Plant Protection Ordinance.— Dej^^ Agric. Trini- 

 dad and Tobago, Rept. for the nine Months ended December 31, 1915, 

 Port of Spain, 1916, p. 14. 



The pests proclaimed during the year were : — locusts, rhinoceros 

 beetle {Sfrategus aloeus, L.) and gru-gru beetle {Rhynchophorus 

 palmarum, L.). Seventeen notices relating to parasol ants {Atta cepha- 

 lotes)vfeTe served during the year and 393 large nests destroyed on Crown 

 lands. Several of the very badly infested areas have received careful 

 attention. In some places collections of very large nests were found 

 within a small area, indicating that for some years no efficient steps 

 had been taken to destroy them. 



