416 



H. cinchonae, Mann, was found on tea at a height of 5,000 feet, that 

 is, above the limit for H. antonii. It causes injury similar to that of 

 H. antonii and H. theivora and can breed on tea. It greatly prefers 

 tea to cinchona. The egg-stage lasts 18-19 days ; the larval stage, 

 probably 24-30 days. H. cuneatus, Dist., has not been observed to 

 attack tea. 



An insect which may be mistaken for Hehpeltis is the Capsid bug, 

 Pachypeltis vittiscuius, Bergr., the injury of which, as stated above, 

 might be thought to be due to Helopeltis. It apparently occurs 

 throughout Java and has a considerable vertical range — on cinchona 

 up to 5,000 feet and on other food-plants up to 1,000 feet. 



After discussing the natural enemies of Helopeltis [see this Review, 

 Ser. A, V, p. 132] a full description of control measures is given. 

 Immediately after pruning, the shrubs must be sprayed with a 2 per 

 cent, soap solution ; collection may also be carried out. Spraying 

 may be continued for seven months ; after that collection must be 

 resorted to. Weeding must be simultaneous with, or immediately 

 subsequent to pruning. If they have been planted, dangerous plants 

 must be pruned when tea is pruned. Such hedge-plants as Bixa 

 oreUanu and Gardenia grandifolia should not be tolerated. Pruning 

 must never be done against the wind. During the rainy seasons 

 prunings must be destroyed on the same day ; this is not necessary 

 in the normal dry season if they are spread out in thin layers. At 

 an altitude under 4,300 feet all cultural methods causing the pest to 

 migrate from cinchona must be finished before adjacent tea gardens are 

 pruned. The larger the area pruned in the shortest possible time, the 

 longer will the gardens remain uninfested. As a general rule it is well 

 to prune at least 70 acres a month. Adjacent estates should prune at 

 the same time. The collection of egg-bearing twigs is useful if due 

 regard is paid to the developing period of the eggs. Control must not 

 be stopped if only a few Helopeltis are present, and it must be begun as 

 soon as the first Helopeltis are reported. A premium for keeping the 

 gardens free is advisable. Severely attacked gardens should not be 

 pruned if newly-pruned gardens are adjacent. It is better to wait 

 until the number of insects has decreased or the pruned gardens have 

 recovered. In no other case must the pest be left unchecked. 

 Remedial measures must be applied immediately injury is detected, 

 for later on they are of little avail. 



Further work is being done in regard to variations in pruning, the 

 resistance of tea, the influence of fertilisers, etc. 



Bernard (C). Verslag van het Proefstation voor Thee over het Jaar 



1916. [Report of the Tea Experiment Station for the Year 1916.] 

 — Meded. v. h. Proefstation voor Thee, Buitenzorg, liii, 1917> 

 pp. 1-12, 1 plate. 



While tea was generally free from disease and insect infestation 

 during the year, Helopeltis occurred on some estates, its injury being 

 usually followed and increased by red rust. Heer Leefmans' work 

 on Helopeltis has already been dealt with [see this Revietv, Ser. A, v, 

 pp. 131, and above], while in regard to the Trypetid, Adrama deter- 

 minata (tea-seed fly), his experiments confirm the inabihty of the fly 

 to bore into the husk of healthy ungerminated seed [see this Review, 

 Ser. A, iii, p. 434]. A serious attack by Tarsonemus translucens 



