29 



Urich (F. W.). Insects affecting the sugar-cane in Trinidad. — Bidl. 

 Dept. Agric. Trinidad & Tobago, Porl-of-Spain, xiv, no. 5, 1915, 

 pp. 156-161. [Received 29th November 1915.] 



The following list deals with some of the principal insects affecting 

 the sugar-cane in Trinidad, their natural enemies and methods of 

 control. The adults of Tomaspis saccharina, Dist. (sugar-cane frog- 

 hopper), are destroyed by the birds, Milvidustyr annus, and Crotophaga 

 ani, several predatory species of Attidae or jumping spiders, a parasitic 

 mite, Rhyncholophus sp., the predatory Orthopteron, Phlugis mantispa, 

 and a parasitic fungus, Empusa sp. The adults and nymphs are 

 attacked by a ground lizard, Ameiva surinamensis, a toad, Bufo 

 marinus, an ant, Solenojjsis geminata, and Metarrhizium anisopliae 

 (green muscardine fungus). The nymphs are attacked by the 

 predatory toad-bugs (Galgulidae), the Syrphid, Salpingogaster 

 nigra, a parasitic worm, Mermis sp., and an ant, Anochetus inermis. 

 Another ant, Monomorium, sp., preys on the eggs, which are parasitised 

 by the Chalcids, Oligosita giraulti (vermilion egg-parasite) and Para- 

 phelinus tomaspidis (brown egg-parasite). The only natural enemy 

 of Castnia licus, Drury (giant moth borer) is a bird, Pitangus sul- 

 phuratus, L. The best means of dealing with this pest is to cut out 

 the caterpillars from the cane-stools and catch the moths. 



The name of small moth borer is applied to the three species, Diafraea 

 saccharaUs, F., D. canella, Hmp., and D. lineolata, Wlk. Natural enemies 

 are the two egg-parasites, Trichogramma minutum and a species of 

 Prophanurus. The caterpillars are attacked by an undetermined 

 Tachinid fly, a Hymenopteron, Cyanopterus sp., and the green 

 muscardine fungus. Control measures include the collection of egg- 

 masses, cutting out the larvae and propagation of parasites. 



Mods (Remigia) repanda, F. (striped grass looper) is destroyed by 

 a bird, Quiscalus luguhris, Swains., a lizard, Ameiva surinamensis, 

 a toad, Bufo marinus, an undetermined Tachinid fly parasitic on 

 the caterpillars, a Chalcid parasitic on the pupae and Polistes canadensis 

 (Jack Spaniard). Dusting with Paris green or London purple is 

 effective. Weeding a field when the caterpillars are present, does 

 good, as they are knocked off the canes and exposed to the attacks of 

 birds. 



Cirphis humidicola, Guen. (cane-bud caterpillar) is parasitised by 

 an undetermined Hymenopteron ; artificial control measures are not 

 necessary against this insect. Laphygma frugiperda, S. & A. (corn 

 bud worm, Southern grass worm) is destroyed by insectivorous birds 

 and an undetermined Tachinid fly has been bred from it. It is a more 

 serious pest of maize than of sugar-cane. Dusting with arsenicals is the 

 control advised. Two undetermined species of Hesperid butterflies, 

 commonly known as cane-skippers, are parasitised by two species of 

 Chalcids. They are not present in sufficient numbers to be serious 

 pests. The larvae of a Histerid beetle prey on the larvae of Metainasius 

 liemiplerus, L. (weevil borer), which never attack healthy canes, but 

 occur in conjunction with Castnia licus and Diatraea. Seed-cane 

 should always be dipped in Bordeaux mixture before planting. 

 Myochrous armatus, Baly (cane-bud beetle), if very numerous, is 

 injurious to seedlings in nurseries, by eating off the young shoots. 



