070 



C. B. WILLTAMS.- NOTES ON A FROGHOPPER. 



The froth made b}- the nymphs is of the loose soft type similar to that made by 

 T. savcJiarirui, and not like the close stift" froth made by T. pnhescens, F,, one specimen 

 of which I obtained from grass alongside one of the cane- fields. " 



Seventy-one nymphs were collected, of which 2 were in the first stage, 8 in the 

 second, 14 in the third, and 47 in the fourth. This difference in numbers is, 1 tliiiik, 

 entirely due to the greater conspicuousness of the older ]iymphs. 



The first stage is 2-3-5 nun, long, has the antennae 5-segmented and no trace of 

 wing-rudiments. The second stage is about 5 mm. long, has 6-segmented antennae 

 and very slight wing-rudiments. The third stage is about IS mm., has 7-segmented 

 antennae and distinct wing-rudiments. The fourth stage is 12-14 mm. long, has 

 8-segmented antennae and long wing-cases. They are all pale yellow in colour, with 

 a faint reddish tinge on tlie .sides of the abdomen and dark mesothorax, metathorax 

 and wing-cases. In the last stage just before the adult emerges the dark coloration 

 is partly developed. 



In the short time that I had in the field no natural enemies were observed. 

 This froghopper appears to be a possible serious pest of sugar-cane, but owing to its. 

 habit of attacking the cane above ground, it will not, I think, ever be so serious a« the 

 Trinidad species, for the stout stem is more able to withstand loss of sap than the roots. 

 On the other hand, flooding the fields, as is done in Demerara for T. favilatero, will 

 have little or no effect on this species. 



Judging by the numbers we were able to pick in a very short time, I should think 

 that organised hand-picking, particularly at the beginning of the wet season, would 

 be worth while, if the pest recurs again this year as commonly as it is reported to have 

 done last August. The position of the nymphs above ground lends itself to control 

 by spraying, if such a thing were considered possible. Light traps might be tried on a 

 small scale until the porportion of the two sexes caught by them has been determined. 

 No trace of green muscardine fungus was observed on any insects in the cane-field. 

 If this could be introduced, it might be very successful in view of the short and com- 

 paratively moist dry seasons in this country. 



I find that there are specimens of this species in the Museum at Georgetown, 

 Demerara, taken " somewhere in British Guiana," but neither Mr. Bodkin nor Mr. 

 Moore has ever taken it. 



The nearest related species in Trinidad is T. guppyi, Urich, an apparentl}' rare 

 species of which the habits are unknown. 



