187 



were serious pests in one district. Other pests reported were : borers, 

 Atidraca bipunctata, Wlk. (cluster caterpillar), Poecilocoris latus, Dall. 

 (tea-seed bug), and the scale-insect, Tachardia {Carteria) decorella. 

 Mask. 



Observations on the Lime Industry. — Rept. Agric. Dept. Montserrat, 

 1916-1917 ; Barbados, 1917, pp. 12-14. [Received 7th March 1918.] 



The failure of young lime trees in recent years appearing to be 

 generally associated with severe infestations of purple scale \Lepi- 

 dosaphes beckii], trials have been made of growing sugar-cane, pigeon 

 pea and Bengal beans between young trees to afford shelter and shade 

 and assist in the control of the insect. The result of these experiments 

 showed that the trees interplanted with pigeon peas made more 

 growth, and showed greater vigour, and also considerably greater 

 iramunity from the development of purple scale, than did those 

 sheltered by Bengal beans. 



Of young trees planted in July 1915, those showing signs of infesta- 

 tion were sprayed with the insecticide " Scalo " seven times during 

 the year March 1916-March 1917, with the result that the trees were 

 kept in tolerable health for twenty months after planting, while 

 unsprayed trees planted at the same time suffered from severe attacks 

 of scale-insects and showed the usual decline. 



Owing to the damage to the roots of lime trees by the grubs of the 

 weevil, Diaprepes {Exophthalmus) esuriens, weekly hand-picking of the 

 adults was carried out during the year May 1916 to May 1917, the 

 total number being 8,655, of which the majority was collected in 

 May and July and the smaller number from January to May. As 

 the eggs of this weevil are laid on the leaves and the young grubs 

 fall to the ground in the vicinity of the roots, the value of this work 

 is at once apparent. ' : ; ■ ' 



Work connected with Insect and Fungus Pests and their Control. — 



Rept. Agric. Dept Montserrat, 1916-17 ; Barbados, 1917, pp. 

 26-29. [Received 7th March 1918.] 



During the season cotton-stainers [Dysdercus] caused a loss to the 

 island of approximately £1,800, though, fortunately, the period of 

 greatest abundance occurs after the greater part of the crop has been 

 gathered, thus emphasising the need for early planting. From January 

 to May the insects are always more or less associated with Thespesia 

 populnea, which however occurs only in small numbers on the island. 

 In April and May it is also found on the silk-cotton tree {Eriodendron 

 anfractuosum), which is fairly plentiful, but acts as a host-plant only 

 when bearing pods. Legislative action to enforce the destruction of 

 these two trees is being delayed, pending the result of such action in 

 St. Vincent. The insect has also been found in small numbers 

 on Malvaceous plants during April and May, and on its first appearance 

 daily hand collection should be at once undertaken. 



In November 1916 a field of maize was foimd to be badly infested 

 with the corn leaf-hopper {Peregrinus maidis), which is normally 

 controlled in Trinidad by Hymenopterous parasites. This is probably 

 the case in Montserrat also, since this is the first recorded instance of 

 damage to crops. 



