FIELD OBSEEVATIONS ON SUGAR-CANE INSECTS. 5 



weevils found at Brownsville were in the larval stage in dying plants of stubble 

 cane, below the surface of the ground, and near the point where the young shoot 

 left the old stubble. In plant cane at Audubon Park the weevil larvae were also found 

 below the surface, and near the point where the young plant joined the seed cane. 

 The larvae were from one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch in length. Sometimes a 

 borer was found in the middle of the stem, while in other cases the borers were near 

 one side of the stem. The injury to the plant is like the "dead heart"' caused by our 

 moth borer. It seems probable that the moth borer is blamed for some of the injury 

 caused by the weevils. 



Very likely these boBers have been introduced in shipments of sugar cane from 

 the Tropics. They are small, and their work is hard to find, so that they might 

 easily have escaped the eye of the average person. So few of the weevils have been 

 found up to date that there may be no occasion for alarm, while on the other hand 

 they may increase in numbers so as to become a serious pest. 



THE FALL ARMY WORM. 



(Laphygmafrugiperda S. & A.) 



Following the wet weather of the spring of 1912 an outbreak of 

 the fall army worm, or southern grass worm, was noticed in the 

 Southern States. Com, rice, and forage crops suffered more than 

 sugar cane, but one field of cane that came under the writer's observa- 

 tion was ruined by this or a nearly related species. This field was 

 near La Fayette, La., and was examined on July 20, 1912. The 

 land was comparatively low and undrained, thus providing a suitable 

 place for the development of the ''grass worm," which prefers a wet 

 soil. The characteristic work of the larvae was observed, though no 

 larvas were found. Larvas, however, were found attacking sugar 

 cane at Audubon Park, New Orleans, during July, 1912. 



Li most cases it seems that no great injury from this species was 

 suffered by sugar cane, and the plants recovered so completely that 

 in the grinding season the injury was hardly perceptible, and only a 

 few leaves could ordinarily be found showing traces of the work of 

 the larvae. 



THE SUGAR-CANE BEETLE. 



{Ligyrus nigiceps Lee.) 



No definite records have been obtained during the year regarding 

 the sugar-cane beetle, and it is probable that it has done very little 

 damage this season. 



May beetles {Lachnosterna spp.) are also known to attack sugar 

 cane, but no injury due to them was observed during the year, and 

 very few adults of the beetles were seen at New Orleans. 



[Oir. 171] 



