32 Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. 



millions of eggs, lava', and pupa". I lielicvc our Queensland alenrodid 

 to be identical Avitli A. bcrghi, Sign., a well-known sjx'cies affecting cane 

 elsewhere. 



(38) PSEUDOCOCCUS (CALCEOLARIAE. :Ma>.k. ? ) (Family COCCIDAE). 

 Plate IV., Fig. 37, p. 34. 



Most canegrowers are familiar with these peculiar soft-bodied 

 insects that appear to have been dusted over with flour, and are so 

 frequently met with under the older leaf-sheaths, etc., of standing cane. 



Our common " mealy-bug " is thought to be identical with P. 

 calceolame of Maskall, a large pinkish-coloured species that atifects cane 

 in other countries. In Hawaii, however, a mealy-bug of similar appear- 

 ance to the Australian one, and that has until quite lately been known as 

 calceolaride. is now considered by Ehrhorn to be Psfudococcus sacchari, 

 so that possibly our sugar-cane coecid may not after all be the former 

 insect. Fortunately this pest, although extremely prolific, is efficiently 

 controlled by various natural enemies and under normal conditions 

 unlikely to occasion serious damage. 



(39) RIPERSIA, ? sp. (Family COCCIDAE). 

 Plate IV., Figs. 39 w., p. 34. 



Occurs somewhat sparingly in canefields, several specimens having 

 been found recently near Gordonvale and at the Laboratory atfecting 

 the roots and underground buds of " sets." The adult female varies 

 much in shape, being often packed tightly in irregular crevices between 

 expanding buds, etc. Like the well-known " Nut Grass Coecid " 

 {Antonia australis) it is more or less enveloped by a crust composed 

 of a yellowish-white felted secretion, but differs from that insect in being 

 dark purplish-brown instead of black and in the absence of conspicuous 

 tubercles and hairs on the anal segment. The young larva, which is 

 elongate oval and dark brown above, margined witii dull yellow, is 

 covered with minute excrescences and possesses a very long hair-like 

 rostrum and (i-jointed antenna*. (See Fig. W.) Length of body, 0-60 

 mm. When touched, these curious scale insects emit a tiny globule of 

 clear sugary fluid that is greedily devoured l)y a small golden ant usually 

 in attendance, and which, in return for sucli sweet morsels, protects 

 them fi'oin the attacks of various insect enemies. 



