72 



I *' - 



Fig. 78. Pink mealy bug 

 of the sugar cane. 



>.i,; . Enlarged. 

 (Imperial Dept. Agric.) 



be classed' among the serious pests, but it is capable of 

 increasing to such an extent as to bring about a considerable 

 amount *of injury. In Louisiana, where it is fostered 

 and protected by the Argentine ant 

 (Iridomyrmex humiliv), this insect 

 has developed into a very serious pest. 

 It occurs under the leaf sheath, where 

 it sucks the sap from the cane by 

 means of its slender mouth parts. 

 Sugar-cane, especially ratoon canes 

 suffering severely from root disease, 

 have been observed to be rather badly 

 attacked by the pink mealy-bug. 

 This circumstance may a;rise on 

 account of the possible fact that 

 canes suffering from fungus disease 

 are more suitable for the development 

 of mealy-bug than healthy canes, and 

 it may also result from the planting 

 of infested cane plants. The insects 

 introduced at the time of planting 

 would have had opportunity for development and would be 

 well established dm ing t^e early growth of ratoons. 



This insect has a general distribution throughout the 

 West Indies. 



Control It does not often happen that any direct 

 remedial measures are necessary in dealing with the pest, 

 but the greatest care should be taken that no cuttings should 

 be used for planting which are infested by this mealy-bug. 



Natural Enemies. It is probable that the pink mealy- 

 bug is held in check by natural enemies, especially parasitic 

 Hymenoptera. No definite record of 

 this parasitism seems, however, to be 

 available. 



THE SUGAR-CANE ASPIDIOTUS 

 (Aspidiotus sacchari, Ckll.) Hemiptera. 



This is a rounded scale insect of 

 a light straw colour (Fig. 79) which 

 occurs on sugar-cane, under the sheath- 

 ing bases of the old leaves, and some- 

 times underground. It is rarely 

 abundant, and probably does but little 



*/. 



Fig. 79. Sugarcane 

 aspidiotus. 

 Enlarged. 

 (Imperial Depk. Aqric.} 



