42 



Harland (S. C). Insect Pests of Lima Beans in St. Vincent. — Agric. 

 News, Barbados, xiv, nos. 352 and 353, 23rd October and 6tli 

 November 1915, pp. 346-347 and p. 363. [Received 6th 

 December 1915.] 



The most important insect pests of Lima beans are :• — ^An undeter- 

 mined species of Cryptorrhynchus, Eudamus proteus, L. (bean leaf- 

 roller), an undetermined blotch leaf-miner and the lima bean cater- 

 pillar. The Cryptorrhynchus borer is found in all parts of St. Vincent 

 and in Bequia and attacks Vigna (cowpea), PJiaseolus lunaius (Lima 

 bean), P. irinervis (Jerusalem pea) and P. vulgaris (haricot bean). 

 The eggs are laid in the node, just below the epidermis. The early 

 larval stage is passed in this position, the stems being tunnelled later. 

 Pupation takes place in the stem. The duration of the larval and 

 pupal periods is two or three weeks. The adults, after emergence, 

 feed on the young shoots and stem, the latter being attacked near the 

 base and below the surface of the ground. Young plants are either 

 completely killed or fail to make further growth. Older plants seem 

 to adapt themselves to the presence of the weevil. The best methods 

 of control appear to be the uprooting and destruction of the native 

 food-plants, PJiaseolus semierectus and Vigna luteola, adjacent to fields. 

 Since the insects remain near the base of the stem, hand collection 

 might be successful. Rotation of crops should be practised. 



Eudarmis jyroteus (bean leaf-roller) has been observed on the following 

 additional host plants :- — Desmodinm incanum, Clitoria sp., Vigna 

 catjang and Dolichos lahlah (bonavist bean). This insect is controlled 

 by the Braconid Apanteles (TJrogaster) leucostigmus, Ashm., which 

 parasitises the larva, and three species of Chalcids, reared from the 

 eggs. The blotch leaf-miner, possibly a species of Agromyza, must 

 be regarded as a major pest of Lima beans. Several eggs are laid in a 

 single leaf. The larval stage, which is passed within the leaf tissue, 

 occupies from 6 to 9 days. Pupation takes place in the ground. The 

 pupa is parasitised by a Chalcid. 



An unidentified moth attacks the leaves of Lima beans. The larva 

 possesses a leaf-rolling habit ; the length of the larval stage is 8 or 9 

 days, that of the pupal, 6 or 7 days. The host plants are Clitoria sp., 

 Dolichos lablab, Vigna catjafig, Stizolobiiim aterrimian (Bengal bean), 

 PJiaseolus mungo and P. lunatus. The pest completely disappears 

 at some seasons of the year owing to the attacks of parasites, including 

 two Chalcids and a Braconid in the larvae and a Chalcid in the pupa. 

 A mixture of starch and lead arsenate (30 to 1) serves as a good means 

 of control. 



Harland (S. C). Starch, instead of Lime, with Paris Green. — Agric. 



News, Barbados, xiv, no. 353, Gth November 1915, pp. 362-363. 

 [Received Gth November 1915.] 



While studying the control of LapJiygma frugiperda, it was found 

 that if Paris green and lead arsenate were diluted with low grade 

 arrowroot starch, a mixture was formed which seemed to have a deadly 

 effect on all kinds of caterpillars. The greater effectiveness of these 

 mixtures, as compared with those with lime, may be due to the fact that 

 insects usually avoid vegetation where lime is present, until forced 

 by hunger to feed upon it. Starch is also more adhesive than lime 



