18 Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. 



(26) " Plant-eating Beetle " (Rhyparida morosa, Jac). 



(27) " PI ant -eating Beetle " {Colas posoma sellatum, Baly.). 



(28) " Plant-eating Beetle " {Rhyparida (var. hasipennis. Lea ? ). 



(29) " Plant-eating Beetle " {Rhyparida didyma. Fab.). 



(30) " Leaf-eating Weevil " {Stenocorynus aridus, Pasc). 



(12) LOCUST A DANICA, Linn. (Family ACRIDIIDAE). 



This handsome grasshopper enjoys an almost world-wide distribu- 

 tion, occurring plentifully not only throughout Australia, but in many 

 other countries. It is at once recognised owing to a curious sharp 

 clapping sound made at intervals by the adult whilst flying, and by 

 the presence of a large patch of bright yellow, deeply margined with 

 black, on the basal portions of wings. In 1912 it occurred in enormous 

 numbers in Western and Northern Queensland, and was reported as 

 damaging sugar-cane in the Cairns and Innisfail districts by stripping 

 leaves to the mid-rib. 



The following egg parasites have been bred from this species in 

 Australia: — ^(1) Scelio australis, Frogg. ; (2) Scelio ovi, Girault. Frog- 

 gatt has bred a blow fly {Sarcophaga aurifrons, Coq.) from adults of 

 L. danica collected in New South Wales. I may mention in this con- 

 nection that no less than six species of Sarcophagidaj are known to 

 parasitise grasshoppers in America. One of these, ^S*. kellyi, Aldrieh, a 

 recently described viviparous blow fly, has been repeatedly observed in 

 the act of infesting flying grasshoppers by depositing minute larva^, on 

 the underside of their unfolded wings. A specimen of Locusta danica 

 obtained by the author at Gordonvale last April was found to be infested 

 with several dipterous larva^, which crawled from their host after it had 

 been killed with cyanide of potassium, but, unfortunately, were affected 

 by the poison f.nd did not develop into flies. 



(13) LOCUSTA AUSTRALIS, Brunner. (Family ACRIDIIDAE). 



Somewhat resembles L. danica in size and structure, and usually 

 frequents open forest country in the coastal districts of both Queensland 

 and New South Wales. It is often met with in canefields. 



Colonraiion of Adult. 



Wing covers pale brownish-yellow, mottled with six or more oblique 

 brown blotches distinctly separated on apical half and clouded more or 

 less unifornfly with the same colour on basal and central areas. Wings 

 clear, main nervures black, neuration between same pale yellow on basal 

 area darkening into brownish towards outer margin. Ends of main 

 nervures at apex of wing and on apical portion of costa shaded with 

 brown. Width across extended tegmina about ;^Vli inches. 



SwaiMiis of these large grasshoppers invaded plantations behmging 

 to the Colonial Sugar Reflning Comi)any at CMiilders in 1!)()-1. l)ut were 

 cheeked by means of screens and pits, and i)revented from sei-iously 

 damaging the voung cane. 



