With Further Notes on the Pyralid Moth Borer of Cane. 13 
Natural Enemies. 
(1) Hymenopterous Parasite. (Braconidae sp.). 
Cocoons of this wasp were found on several occasions (December, 
1919; February and December, 1920) in the tunnels in suckers destroyed 
by larve of Polyocha. From one of these white clongate-oval silken 
cocoons about a quarter-of an-inch long a parasite emerged on 8th 
February and may be briefly described as follows :— 
Male.—Reddish-yellow, sides and venter of abdomen cream colour ; 
eyes, a patch on vertex enclosing ocelli, antennz, a small spot at root 
of wing, and ends of intermediate and posterior tarsi, black ; mandibles 
prominent, reddish-brown ; wings pale yellow, a transverse central band 
and whole of upper half of fore and hind wings dusky grey, membrane 
tinted with iridescent green, pink, and gold; wing expanse 6 mm. ; 
length of body 4:10 mm. ; length, including antennz, 8-25 mm. 
(2) Predaceous Larva of Elaterid Beetle. (Agrypnus sp. ?). 
A larva of this “skip-jack” beetle was found 30th January, 1920, 
feeding upon a larva of Polyocha, having evidently entered its tunnel 
through the hole at the base of the sucker. The caterpillar was dead, 
and had probably been sucked, its body being much shrunken. 
NOTES ON INFESTATION AND CONTROL. 
The severest infestations of the Tineid borer apparently occur 
among third ratoons, many of which spring from buds situated above 
ground level, the trouble being less noticeable in the case of first ratoons 
that arise mostly from buried eyes; while the shoots from plant cane 
originating well under the*soil are rarely attacked. 
Now, it is a well known fact that a stool when ratooning produces 
more suckers than are able to mature, the final number of canes harvested 
depending on the width between the rows and plants, fertility of the 
soil, and other factors. 
Assuming that fully 50 per cent. of shoots in a stool perish naturally 
during the struggle for existence, it may be reasoned that those killed 
by small moth-borers merely represent a proportion of such percentage, 
and would have died in any case. 
This argument may, I think, be considered as applicable to a large 
‘number of the thin weakly ratoons attacked by the above moth, but, 
on the other hand, numerous shoots invaded by this pest, and more 
abundantly by Polyocha, being robust and of vigorous growth, might, 
if left alone, have produced mature canes. 
