3o8 



adult beetles as they emerged from the soil, more than 25 

 millions of these insects were collected and destroyed during 

 the two months November and December 1911, and that in 

 one night the catch amounted to nearly three million, it will 

 be seen that it is not too much to say that the numbers are 

 both remarkable and alarming. It might be added that this 

 insect has been sufficiently numerous in Mauritius to attract 

 attention only during the past year or a httle more, and that 

 the infested area is only about 600 acres in extent. The other 

 condition called to mind by the occurrence of Phytalus smithi 

 in Barbados rests upon the hypothesis that it may be a recent 

 introduction into that island, and is on the increase, and may 

 eventually assume something of the serious proportions to 

 which it has attained in Mauritius. As bearing on this point, 

 however, it may be remarked that specimens of this insect 

 collected in the West Indies some years ago are stated to be 

 in the collections of the British Museum ; but on the other 

 hand it should be borne in mind that it is only during the past 

 two or three years that this insect has occurred in sufficient 

 numbers in Barbados to attract any attention at all. In June 

 1910, in two localities in the vicinity of Bridgetown, this insect, 

 which is known locally as the brown hard-back, made its appear- 

 ance in gardens or ornamental grounds in very considerable 

 numbers. In one place something over a pint of these insects 

 was collected in a small garden in the early morning, when 

 they were found hanging on the foliage of roses and other plants. 



Root Borer. 



The root borer of sugar-cane {Diaprepes ahhreviatus Linn.) 

 is also a pest found in Barbados, restricted to a very small 

 district, where it has caused a very considerable amount of 

 injury and given rise to grave apprehensions as to what will 

 happen if it extends its attacks to other parts of the island. 

 A general account of this insect was published by the Rev. 

 N. B. Watson, F.E.S., in the West Indian Bulletin, vol. iv., 

 p. 37. Although this account was based on investigations 

 carried out during 1 899-1901, when the insect was studied 

 purely as a matter of general interest, it was not until 1910 



