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Leucoptera coffeella, Staint. (coffee leaf -miner), is tlie most generally 

 distributed pest of coffee, wliich is its only host-plant, and was probably 

 introduced with the first coffee plants into Porto Eico. Eggs are laid 

 on the upper leaf-surface and hatch in about 5 days. The larva mines 

 in the parenchyma. After about 11 days the fully-grown larva 

 emerges through a hole in the upper surface of the mine and spins its 

 cocoon, usually on the under-side of the leaf, the pupal stage lasting 

 5 or 6 days. The adult moths are swift nocturnal fliers, hiding under 

 leaves during the daytime ; they live from 1 to 4 days. Artificial control 

 of this insect has been as yet unsatisfactory. Nicotine sulphate sprays 

 are partially effective for the larvae, but fail to kill the eggs. Two 

 Chalcid parasites, Zagrammosoma multilineatum, Ash., and Chrysocharis 

 livida, Ash., destroy this miner in its larval stage, the latter at times 

 being responsible for at least 30 per cent, mortality. 



Lachnopus sp. (coffee leaf weevil) is abundant in many plantations, 

 but is not known to occur at elevations less than about 1,000 feet. 

 The adults are found in April and May feeding on the leaves, 

 blossom-buds and newly set berries. The life-history of this weevil 

 has not been ascertained ; field observations indicate that the life- 

 cycle occupies one year. Eggs are laid in masses between two 

 overlapped leaves ; the larvae upon hatching enter the ground and 

 feed on the roots, but the greatest damage is done by the adults. 

 Vitex divaricata is also attacked. A Chalcid has been bred from what 

 appeared to be an egg-cluster of this insect. Shaking the trees and 

 hand-picking during April and May are recommended, but have not 

 yet been tried on a large scale. 



Ants are serious pests of coffee in some districts. Myrmelachista 

 ambigua, Forel, subsp. ramulonmi, Wheeler (coffee-shade ant) eats 

 out longitudinal tunnels in which it rears its brood and cultivates 

 colonies of two species of soft scales ; when the host-tree is coffee, the 

 scale concerned is a Pseudococcus ; in most of the trees grown for 

 shading coffee the scale is a fleshy, pink scale representing a new species 

 of Coccus. Various poisoned baits have been tried without success ; 

 the only possible control seems to be the felling and burning of all 

 infested growth and the planting of temporary shade, such as banana, 

 in which this ant will not form colonies, and replanting of permanent 

 shade trees after several months. This method is expensive and of 

 doubtful permanent value. Another ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, 

 Roger, is reported as occasionally killing or displacing colonies of 

 M. ambigua, but this little yellow ant is so vicious that pickers refuse 

 to enter areas where it is established. 



Minor pests of coffee include the two scales, Saissetia hemisphaerica, 

 Targ., and Howardia, biclavis, Coms., which are both checked by 

 parasitic fungi, the former being particularly heavily parasitised by 

 Cephalospornmi lecanii. In some localities a Cossid larva, the adult of 

 which has been tentatively determined as Psychonoctua jamaicensis, 

 Schs., bores in the main trunk and larger branches, causing a knotty 

 formation in the old wood. Pruning and burning the invaded wood is 

 recommended. Apate francisca, F., is another borer with many host- 

 plants that attacks coffee. The larvae can develop only in dead wood. 

 The adults can be killed in the burrows with a piece of stiff wire. 

 Epicranion cJiampioni, Fowl, (spittle insect), is frequently found round 

 the berry clusters ; an external Hymenopterous parasite has been noted, 



