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and beneath the dried leaf bases at the base of banana stems. 
This pest is very destructive to bananas where it occurs in 
Fiji, Queensland, Java and probably most of the groups of 
islands between there and Samoa. Where numerous in the 
base of banana stems these are weakened and may easily fall 
over, or the plant prevented from normal growth and fruiting, 
and the young suckers may be entirely killed. This pest has 
become very serious in Fiji and it is very difficult to devise 
satisfactory methods of control. It is likely to increase to that 
condition in Samoa. 
Nacoleia octasema Meyrick. 
The banana scab moth is generally prevalent. The cater- 
pillars of this moth feed among the flowers and the green 
bananas on the bunch. Where they feed on the surface of the 
young growing bananas it does not always prevent their grow- 
ing to normal size, but the surface where eaten assumes a 
scabby appearance which is detrimental to the sale of the 
fruit. The bunches, too, are unattractive where littered up with 
the black frass from the caterpillars. 
This pest occurs from Java to Queensland, Solomon Islands, 
and to Fiji and Samoa, and no doubt it occurs at all interven- 
ing islands. I think that it has not been previously reported in 
Samoa, and may be of somewhat recent introduction there. 
In Java, dusting with pyrethrum powder is said to be effective 
in controlling the pest. The pyrethrum is mixed one part to 
three parts of sifted wood ashes or lime, and dusted into the 
opening flower cluster or among the small growing bananas by 
means of a syringe-like duster. 
PAPAIA FRUIT-FLY. 
Dacus xanthodes Broun. 
This fruit-fly was reared from immature fruits of papaia at 
Amauli towards the east end of Tutuila. I did not find it gen- 
erally attacking papaias, but it is not confined to papaia as it 
has been reared from guavas and granadillas. Fruit-fly maggots 
were found in alligator pear, and in several kinds of native 
fruits in the forest, but none of these were reared, so we do 
not know if they were this species or other species of fruit-flies. 
