240 



Paper Quills for Cutworms.^ — Queensland Agric. Jl.,Brishane, vii, no. 2, 

 February 1917, p. 72. [Received 11th April 1917.] 



A simple remedy, which has been found efficacious against cut- 

 worms destroying plants in gardens, is to wrap some thick paper 

 round the stems of the plants just above the roots prior to putting 

 the plant in the ground. The root is then planted with the paper 

 about half-way in the ground. This prevents the worms from attacking 

 the plant, as they camiot pierce the paper and cannot climb up it. By 

 the time the plants are strong enough to resist attack, the paper will 

 have rotted away. 



Jarvis (E.). The Cane Beetle. — Queenslmid Agric. Jl, Brisbane, vii, 

 no. 2, February 1917, pp. 83-84. [Received 11th April 1917.] 



This paper contains notes on the egg-stage of the grey-back beetle, 

 Lepidiota albohirta, Waterh. The depth at which the eggs are deposited 

 in the soil varies according to the amount of moisture present ; under 

 normal weather conditions, this is usually about 6 inches. The eggs 

 are deposited in a flattened mass on the floor of an irregular-shaped 

 chamber, the sides of which are firmly compacted by the adult. One 

 female may lay as many as 36 eggs, the average being about 20. If 

 a spell of dry weather follows the deposition of a large batch of eggs, 

 oviposition may cease, while under showery conditions the process 

 may be more prolonged. Beetles which were heavily parasitised were 

 found capable of living many days and in some cases were even able 

 to oviposit. 



DupoNT (P. R.). Insect Notes. — Ann. Kept, on Agrir. & Crown Lands 

 for the Year 1915, Victoria. Seychelles, February 1916, pp. 20-22, 

 [Received 11th April 191 7. J 



Coccus {Lecanium) viridis (green scale) continues to damage coffee 

 bushes in the low country of the Island, but on the hills is kept in 

 check by the fungus, CepJialosporiiwi lecanii, which has also attacked 

 Eucalymnatiis {L.) tessellatus on cinnamon and coconuts. Chrysom- 

 phalus aonidum {Aspidiotus ficus) severely damages young coconut 

 plants. A few minute parasites have been reared from this insect 

 and are being identified. 



The following boring and grain beetles are recorded : Scolytids : 

 Xyleborus perforans, Woll., caused serious damage to coconuts, very 

 few of the trees attacked yielding any nuts. X. semigranosus, Blandf . , 

 is a secondary pest of cinnamon, Albizzia lebbek and Eugenia jambos. 

 Cinnamon bushes peeled for their bark are attacked a few days after 

 they are cut down, even at a distance of several miles from infested 

 localities. X. abrupt us, Samps. , is known only from Seychelles, where 

 it is very common on cashew {Anacardia), Albizzia lebbek and E. jambos. 

 Crossoiarsus externedentatus, Fairm., attacks Pterocarpus indicus when 

 the branches have been cut down, as well as newly cut stems, twigs 

 and boughs of Ficus nautarum. The adult insect works its way inward 

 from the underside of the bough lying on the ground in a damp place, 

 the eggs being laid in clusters and many larvae being found close to 

 the pith of the wood. Branches left on a boulder and exposed to the 

 sun are not attacked. 



