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of Diafrefes. The adult is not known ; a greyish weevil smaller 

 in size than Diaprepes has, however, been found a number of 

 times in the soil in close proximity to infested cane stumps, 

 in such a manner as to suggest a relationship between it and 

 the grub. 



These appear to be the only localities where attacks have 

 occurred in the underground portions of the sugar cane by 

 insects of this kind, that is, by the larvae of the larger weevils. 



Termites. 



For several years past, termites have been recognised as 

 a serious pest in sugar cane in the island of St. Kitts. ^ In 

 1906 these insects were so abundant in two or three fields on 

 one estate as to cause almost complete loss of the sugar-cane 

 crop over an area of some 25 to 30 acres, i.e. a money loss of 

 from £350 to £400. The fields in which this attack occurred were 

 planted in cotton for two or three years, and then the land 

 was returned to sugar cane. Up to the present time, 1912, 

 no serious attack of termites has occurred on the areas where 

 cotton was planted ; but these insects have caused a considerable 

 amount of damage in the immediately adjoining fields. A 

 severe attack of a fungal root disease and unfavourable weather 

 conditions, especially extreme drought, seem greatly to influence 

 the abundance of these insects. The species concerned has 

 not been definitely determined, but it is believed to be Termes 

 fiavipes. No nests of these termites have been found in or 

 near the fields attacked, and no royal queens have been dis- 

 covered. In one field, breeding galleries, which are slightly 

 enlarged tunnels containing a few complemental queens, have 

 been discovered, and it is believed that these are the breeding- 

 places in which the propagation of the species takes place. 

 Winged individuals, soldiers, workers, and complemental queens 

 are now known. Larvae have not been discovered in numbers, 

 and it is therefore believed that there must be galleries, of a 

 kind not yet discovered, in which the young are fed and developed. 



The same species of termites has been found attacking the 

 woodwork of buildings in St. Kitts, and it is probable that this 

 is the species which is most concerned in the destruction of 



