267 



caused by the sting of some small llymeuopterous insect than anything else; the 

 wound Avas of a liiglier cidor and tlicro was a hard but small luinj) on the lid for 

 some days. — L. E. Hood, Massachusetts. 



[The spider .sent by Mr. Hood was Latrudcctiis mactaitfi.] 



Insect Pests in Bermuda. 

 (Extract from a Report by Vice-Consul J. B. Hcyl, of Bermuda.) 



This island was clear of insect pests until some time in 1858 or 1859, when a ves- 

 sel was brought here in distress, with a cargo of oranges, which were sold at auc- 

 tion, and the fruit was carried all over the island, and in a few mouths our flourishing 

 trees wore covered with an insect which gave the trees the appearance of being 

 whitewashed. This insect fed on the bark of the tree, extracting the yellow sap 

 therefrom and causing the bark to curl up. Every device thought of Avas tried, but 

 the island wassoou cleaned of nearly every tree. All this came from the distress cargo. 



Another insect Avas afterwards introduced in peaches. The island at that time was 

 stocked with a delicious peach. This insect Avas a small white maggot, Avhich de- 

 stroyed all the peaches on the island. As the infested fruit fell to the ground no 

 trouble was taken to destroy it, and the insects increased so that thev attacked other 

 fruit, mangoes, loquats, etc. The maggot turned into a very small bug. * *^ * 



Rkplv. — # * * rpjjg maggot in Peach has been recently studied and reported 

 upon in No. 1 of vol. iii, Insect Life. * * * The scale-insect on the bark of 

 Orange is the Chiona8])is citri of Louisiana, treated in various reports of the Ento- 

 mologist, Avhich are now unfortunately out of print. The best remedy for this insect 

 is the application of a kerosene-soap emulsion, the formula for which is given on page 

 3 of Circular, No. 1, new series. 



Insect Injury to Cocoanut Palms. 



I take the liberty to address you with a view to ascertain if it would be possible to 

 have a remedy for the destruction of an insect called, in the island of St. Domingo, 

 Caiarroi}, and in Cuba Cncarachon, Avhich attacks young cocoanut trees on the second 

 or third year of their growth. 



I own a cocoanut plantation in Samana Bay, St. Domingo, and I have found out 

 that from the month of March to September this insect is very active in destroying 

 young cocoanut trees. It confines, apparently, its work to the night time. I think 

 that the Catarron belongs to the family of the uoctnmal Cucttjo of the West Indies or 

 the Firefly of this country. Its size is about 1^ an inch in length, by 1 inch wide, 

 and it is perfectly harmless. As a further illustration of the manner in Avhich this 

 insect accomplishes its destructive Avork, I Avill state that the young cocoanut tree, 

 after sprouting on a seedling bed, is i)lanted from four to six inches in the ground, 

 leaving one-half or three-quarters OA'er the soil. The worm attacks the tree on any 

 side and perforates the husk to the nut, continuing its work until the sprout under 

 the husk is reached and the heart of it is destroyed. 



I haAe submitted the idea that perhaps by submerging the tree in coal tar mixed 

 with bitter aloes and Paris green, tlie bug might be prcAcnted from invading the 

 husk; but they say that the fiune of coal tar will kill the plant. The main point is 

 to fiiul some lasfuiy matter to cover the surface of the husk, without injuring the 

 tree, that will at the same time protect it against the A'oracity of the insect. [M. 

 Pomarez, New York, NoAcmber 10, 1891. 



Reply. — On page 136 of the current A^olume we have published some information 

 relatiA'e to the Palm Weevil, Avhich may or may not be the insect of which you com- 

 ]daiu. ** * ^^ It may be that you Avill consider the suggestion concerning trap 

 palms of some i)ractical Aalue in your case. As you particularly mention, hoAvcAer, 



