SECTION I. — INTRODUCTION. 15 



In 1889 the froghopper was first discovered by •!. H. Hart who des- 

 cribed an outbreak of blight in the Chagnanas district and believed it 

 iio be due to the ravages of this insect. He also noticed the presence of 

 root fungus {Marasmius) on the canes on some estates and said that 

 " on these the attack of the froghoppers appeared to be more pronounced 

 that on other fields where better health prevailed." He also mentioned 

 a green mould growing on the insects, which has since been identified 

 as the parasitic Green Muscardine fungus. 



In 1906 attention was once more directed to the problem by a severe 

 outbreak. Hart (1906) laid more stress on the part played by the root 

 fungus, and Collens (1906 A. and 1906 B) reported on two outbreaks 

 in both of which root fungus and froghoppers were associated. 



In 1907 O. W. Barrett, who was visiting the island to report on 

 Cacao Cultivation, published two short notes on the sugar-cane blight 

 (Barrett, 1907 A. & B.) In these he agreed that Che froghopper injury 

 to the roots must be considerable, but considered that the worst pest 

 is the Marasmius root fungus which he believed responsible for over 

 ninety per cent, of the damage in the C]ouva district in 1907. 



The years 1906, 1907, and 1903 were all marked by severe outbreaks 

 of blight, and, as a result of this, in 1909 the first steps to get regular 

 investigation of the problem were taken by the recently formed Board 

 of Agriculture, who appointed a Mycologist fMr. J. B. Rorer) an Ento- 

 mologist (Mr. F. W. Urich), and, in the following year, an Assistant 

 Entomologist (Mr. P. L. Guppy) to investigate plant diseases in general 

 and the froghopper blight in particular. 



J. B. Rorer, who worked intermittently at the problem from 1909 to 

 1918, studied chiefiy the possibility of controlling the froghoppsr by 

 propagating artificially one of its fungus diseases, the Green Muscardine 

 (see p. 82). He considered that the froghopper blight and root-disease 

 were distinct but were sometimes associated and confused. 



F. W. Urich who has given part of his time to the investigation 

 from 1909 to the present date, produced in 1913 a comprehensive 

 bulletin on the Froghopper, its life history and natural enemies, (Urich 

 1913 C) and gave various suggestions for its control. He believed in the 

 possibility of reducing the numbers of froghoppers by agricultural 

 methods and by encouraging the natural enemies already known in 

 Trinidad, particularly that known as the Vermilion Egg-parasite 

 {see p. 65). 



P. L. Guppy was appointed Assistant Entomologist in February 

 1910. In this position he worked until March 1913, when he became 

 assistant to J. C. Kershaw {see below). In November 1912 he discovered 

 the Vermilion Egg-parasite {see p. 65) and in January 1913 the Trash- 

 coloured Egg-parasite (see p. 65). After Mr. Kershaw's departure he 

 continued to carry out recommendations in connection with the 

 breeding of the Syrphid fiy until June 1915. 



In 1910 the services of Dr. L. D. Gough were obtained and he 

 studied the problem for one season. In his report (Gough 1911C) he 

 outlined the fife history of the froghopper, advised the growing of the 

 Green Muscardine fungus on a large scale to destroy the froghoppers, 

 and further recommended spraying with kerosene emulsion to kill the 

 adult insects. He was apparently the first to discover the parasitic 

 Syrphid fly, the maggot of which feeds on the nymph of the froghopper. 



In 1912 the damage" to the sugar-cane was again so severe that the 

 services of another entomologist, J. C. Kershaw, were obtained, and he 

 .studied the problem from December 1912 to December 1913. His 

 .results were published in a series of Circulars {neo Bibliography at end) 



