149 



of egg-masses and caterpillars. The number of egg-masses collected 

 increased from 180,000 in 1913 to over 500,000 in 1914 and over 

 812,000 in 1915, while the number of caterpillars dropped from 

 25,583,987 in 1913 to 20,882,042 in 1914 and 19,436,345 in 1915. 

 New food-plants of these borers include : — Paspalum, gracile, 

 P. virgatum and other species of this genus which grow in moist 

 situations, a sedge {Cypenis sp.) and another water grass, Panicnm 

 elephant ipes. D. sacchamlis has apparently a preference for more 

 or less aquatic grasses, which points to the fact that wet weather 

 may favour this borer in the cane-fields. It is also noted that the 

 egg-clusters collected in dry weather were small and that these 

 became normal in size as soon as the rains started. It is preyed upon, 

 though not appreciably reduced in numbers, by a Stratiomyid fly, 

 Sargus sp., a Carabid beetle larva and a pseudoscorpion. The 

 reddish-black hard-back {Lygijms ehenus) caused slight injury to 

 cane stools both in 1914 and 1915. It was found only in certain 

 fields adjacent to savannah lands covered with sedge {Cgperus sp.), 

 one of its native food-plants. The frog-hopper {Tomaspis fiavihtern) 

 requires watching to prevent its becoming a serious pest. It is 

 preyed upon by the larva of a Syrphid, Salpingogaster nigra, which 

 also attacks this frog-hopper in Trinidad. Aspidiotus sacchari and 

 Orihezia praelonga occurred in a few places, the former on poor stools, 

 the latter on cane blades. The grass-looper, Pelamia {Mods) repanda, 

 and the rice worm {Laphygma frugiperda) did local damage, but a 

 serious outbreak was prevented by the collecting of egg-clusters and 

 hand-picking of caterpillars. The brown locust {Schistocerca pollens) 

 was abundant on one estate in 1915, but was controlled by collecting. 

 The green grasshopper {Conocephaloides maxillosa) also occurred, but 

 was not important. A small brown Chrysomelid beetle {Myochrons 

 armatus) was fairly plentiful on several estates in 1914, during the 

 rainy season. These beetles hide in the earth, or in the young shoots 

 in which thev eat holes. 



Degrully (L.). Pour d6trulre les Cochenilles de la Vigne. [How to 

 destroy Scale-Insects on Vines.] — Progres Agric. Vitic, Mont- 

 pellier, xxxiv, no. 3, 21st January 1917, pp. 56-57. 



The following formulae are given for treating vine stocks as a 

 protection against scale-insects, after stripping and cleaning the 

 bark : — Water 1 gal., black soap 20 oz. by weight, vegetable seed 

 oil 20 oz. by weight, petroleum 10 oz. by weight. This must be 

 carefully emulsified. Water 20 gals., tar 8 lb., fat lime in lumps 

 16 lb.; or water 20 gals., heavy coal oil 8 lb., fat lime in lumps 

 16 lb. For the preparation of the last two formulae, the lime is 

 slowly slaked with water until a thick milk of lime is obtained, the 

 tar or oil is then added gradually ; when the mixture is homogeneous, 

 sufficient water is added to make up the amount to 20 gals. If 

 sooty fungus is present on the stems, the above treatment may be 

 completed by spraying the vines with a 2 per cent, solution of copper 

 sulphate. 



