539 



particularly as tea was attacked in a few instances. It was decided 

 to import Novius {Vedalia) cardinalis from South Africa. The cut- 

 worm. Agrotis yjjsilon, was troublesome on vegetables ; expeiiments 

 wdth traps and poison-bait are being carried out. Two beetles, 

 Necrobia rnfipes and Silvanus surinamensis, were reported as doing 

 serious damage to stored copra. Scolytid beetles were studied in 

 various trees and plants, especially with regard to their attacks on 

 tapped surfaces of rubber treated with tar and liquid fuel. Coccotrypes 

 dacfyliperda, F., enters the nuts of Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) and 

 Xylehonis compacfus, Eich., affects the growth of coffee. 



Miscellaneous pests recorded include : — -On tea : Zeuzera coffeae 

 (coffee borer) ; Euschema palmyra ; Calotennes militaris ; Oscinis 

 theae ; Coccus (Lecanium) viridis (green bug) ; Saissetia (L.) hemis- 

 phaerica ; Toxoptcra coffeae {Ceylonia theaecola) ; Acheta bimaculata ; ^ 

 Tarsonemus translucens ; Brevipalpus ohovatiis. On rubber : Como- 

 critis pieria ; Coccus viridis ; Saissetia {Lecanium) nigra ; Batocera 

 Tubus ; Ceratina viridis. On cocormts : Nephantis serinopa ; Aularches v~ 

 militaris (spotted locust). Dn cacao : Comocritis pieria ; Arbela 

 ■qnadrinotata. On rice : Marasmia bilinealis. On sugar-cane : Argyro- 

 ploce {Grapholitha) schisfaceana ; Proutista {Phenice) moesta ; Pyrilla 

 aberrans. On cotton : Sylepta derogata ; Dysdercus cingulatus. On- 

 vegetables : Agrotis ypsilon ; Plutella maculipennis ; Crocidolomia 

 binotalis ; Dorylus orienlalis. On mustard : Crocidolomia binotalis. 

 On beans : Riptortus pedestris ; Agromyza phaseoli. On litchi : 

 Tachardia albizziae. On plantain : Odoiporus longicollis. On dadap : 

 Suana concolor ; Terastia meticulosalis ; Acherontia lachesis ; Spalgis 

 £pius ; Pseudococcus {Dactylopius) citri ; P. (D.) crotonis ; AnojAoc- 

 nemis phasiana. On Albizzia : Terias silhetana. On Cassia grandis : 

 Duomitus leuconotus. On Cedrela tooaa : Hypsipyla robusta. On 

 giant bamboo : Oregma bambusae. On rose : Icerya aegyptiaca. 

 On Cycas : Ceroplastes Jloridensis. 



Special investigations have been carried on WT.th regard to Xyleborus 

 fornicatus, Eich. (shot-hole borer of tea). Specimens have been received 

 from Bangalore in castor-oil plants, thus supporting the view that 

 it is the true host of this beetle. X. fornicatus has now been recorded 

 in twenty-three different plants belonging to the same number of 

 genera, only three of which are native to Ceylon. Experiments to 

 determine the depth to which prunings must be buried in order to 

 prevent escape of the beetles have shown that a larger number escape 

 from prunings at a depth of 2 ft. 6 ins. than at 2 ft., 9 ins., or 6 ins. 

 It is found that the methods of cutting across or slashing when bringing 

 tea into bearing are most conducive to severe attack and render 

 any control in such tea very difficult. Attempts are being made to 

 find a suitable paint for apphcation to bushes after pruning so that 

 adult beetles may be killed without injury to the plant. Coconut 

 oil and resin have been used in combination with other substances 

 and gave good results, but are too expensive for use on a large scale. 

 Other oils are being experimented \nth. Branches of Terminalia 

 catappa were tried as traps, and while only a few borers were present 

 in the adjacent tea, a few beetles v.'ere attracted to the branches. This 

 is the only decaying tree that X. fornicatus is knowTi to breed in, 

 besides cacao. It is proposed to carry out further experiments with 

 this tree and with castor-oil plants as traps. 



(C523) b2 



