1916] Entomology in the British Empire 33 



and rhyncophorous borers, particularly such root borers as 

 Diaprepes abbreviattis L. and Exophthalmus esuriens are serious 

 pests of sugar cane. Termites are also injurious to sugar cane. 



Citrus trees in the West Indies have their full share of scale 

 insects, the purple scale {Lepidosaphes beckii Newm.) being the 

 most important. A considerable degree of control is exercised 

 over this and other scale insects by certain entomophagous 

 fungi. The red-headed fungus (Sphcerostilbe coccophila) and the 

 white headed fungus {Ophionectria coccicola) attack the purple 

 scale, the former fungus also attacks the white fly {Aleyrodes 

 citri R. and H.) The green scale {Coccus viridis Green) is con- 

 trolled to a marked degree by the shield scale fungus (Cephalo- 

 sporium lecanii). In Trinidad the fungus Metarrhizium ani- 

 soplcE has been artificially cultivated and used with a view to 

 controlling frog-hoppers attacking sugar cane. 



Naturally every effort is made to prevent the introduction 

 of foreign pests into the islands by quarantine regulations. The 

 regulations of the various plant quarantine acts are carried out 

 by the local agricultural ojfficers in the various islands; these 

 officers are required to inspect plant imports and to arrange for 

 the necessary fumigation and other prescribed treatment. 



Much of the entomologist's time is occupied in traveling, 

 owing to the geographical situation of the islands of the Lesser 

 Antilles and the difficulties of steamboat travel which result in 

 an unfortunate loss of time. Nevertheless, the pages of the 

 West Indian Bulletin, the quarterly journal of the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture and its fortnightly publication. The 

 Agricultural News, and the pamphlets that have been issued 

 dealing with the insect pests of various crops bear witness to the 

 excellent work that is accomplished by the Entomologist in 

 spite of the difficulties with which he has to contend. And the 

 same may be said of those who are responsible for entomological 

 work in the individual West Indian colonies that I have 

 mentioned. 



Other Imperial Entomological Work. 



Space forbids an individual treatment of the entomological 

 work that is being carried out in scattered units of the British 

 Empire to which reference has not been made. In many of 

 these places the investigations that are being conducted relate 



