MONTHLY NOTES ON GRUBS AND OTHER CANE PESTS. 23 
Since Australia is the native home of numerous beetles of the family 
Scarabaeidae, with great range in size, this is a fertile field for the 
development of parasites; but, unfortunately for our own interests, this 
parasitism has advanced to the hyperparasitic stage, 1.e., the parasites 
are themselves attacked by other parasites. It is a well-recognised fact, 
however, that insects introduced into new countries, where they are 
freed from their natural enemies for a time, multiply by leaps and 
bounds if the climate is suitable for them. 
White grubs are becoming increasingly important in sugar-growing 
countries, and it behoves us to work together for their control. 
Our experience with these wasps has been that they are not limited 
to any particular species of grub, for they are apparently able to adapt 
themselves to a considerable range in size. Then, too, transportation to 
foreign countries will be rather simple, since the wasps have a rather 
extended pupation period. 
We are hoping that we may get some relief by the introduction of 
parasites. “At any rate, it is worth making the attempt. We are in 
correspondence with various sugar-growing countries with this end in 
view. We, certainly, stand ready to reciprocate, if our wasps are needed 
elsewhere. 
EMERGENCE OF BEETLES, 1918. 
The long drought has delayed this emergence in many districts, so 
that it is possible that many will not come out at all. Sections favoured 
by the rains last month got a crop of beetles at once. About two inches 
fell around Babinda on the night of 15th October, and the next day the 
grey-backs were out in force. On the 19th, at dusk, I found the feeding- 
trees swarming with beetles. One shrub had nothing but green beetles, 
Calloodes punctulatus; others had all three species of Lepidiota:— 
albohirta, caudata and froggatti, in almost this order of abundance. 
There were cane lands alongside, and the shrubs were in a grass field. 
Notes ON LEPIDIOTA FRENCHI. 
Changes take place in the grubs of this species during October. 
Both second and third stage grubs are in cells during the cool weather, 
but as the hot days come on, the second-stage grubs moult, changing to 
the third stage, and begin their destructive feeding. At the same time 
the third stage pupate; hence it is seen that this species spends a full 
year in the third larval stage. It is shortly after fhe beginning of this 
stage that the insects do their worst damage to sugarcane, as indicated 
in our reports published in the ‘‘Sugar Journal’’ for December, 1917, 
and January, 1918. 
Fortunately, this species only troubles new land, for the beetles 
do not favour the laying of their eggs in old fields and prefer blady grass. 
