94 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



Among' the Hcmiptera besides lice there are plant lice of several 

 kinds, hiroe water bugs (Belostoma) in stagnant pools, and swarms of 

 l*loteres, which skip over the surface of the water. Several varieties 

 of roses have been introduced into (luam, but happily the rose aphis 

 (Siphonophora) has not reached the island. 



Among the Neuroptera arc several handsome dragon flies, one of 

 which is bright red. Termites, or " white ants," called "anai" by the 

 natives, are pests. They do great injury to books and furniture and 

 to the woodwork of houses, often building covered galleries of nmd 

 along the walls of a room. In construction wood must be chosen 

 which will resist the attacks of these insects. It is not an uncommon 

 occurrence for a chair or table to collapse, and to find that it has been 

 horte^^combed by termites. Sometimes they form continuous galleries 

 through a whole shelf of books or a pile of manuscript. These insects 

 do not confine their attacks to dead wood; thej^ attack living trees and 

 are among the insects injurious to the cacao." 



Among the Coleoptera may be mentioned the weevils, which destroy 

 great quantities of corn, rice, and other farinaceous food. Grain nujst 

 ])e thorough 1}" dried in the sun and then stowed in earthen jars for 

 protection against these pests. 



The Orthoptera are represented by several species of grasshoppers, 

 which furnish excellent food for chickens and turkeys, and which do 

 not seem to pause much injury to the crops of the island. Mole crickets 

 (Gryllotalpae) are very common. 



SCORPIONS, SPIDERS, AND CENTIPEDES. 



A small scorpion is common in Guam. Its sting is painful, but not 

 dangerous. Among the spiders one of the most interesting is a large 

 dark brown species, probably belonging to the Epeiridae, which car- 

 ries about with it a white disk-shaped membranous case filled with 

 eggs. There are no tarantulas nor other dangerous spiders. Wood 

 ticks (Acarina) are great pests and sometimes infest cattle to such an 

 extent as to cause them to sicken and die. 



Centipedes, called "saligao" by the natives, are common. They 

 inflict a very, painful but not dangerous bite. The}' are usually found 

 in damp places under stones or rotten wood, the mother often sur- 

 rounded by a brood of brightly colored j^oung, similar to her in form. 

 Like spiders and crustaceans they cast their skins in growing. The 

 jaws are modifications of a pair of legs. They are sharp, prehensile, 

 and fang-like, and are perforated at the tip so as to inject thc>r venom 

 into the wound inflicted by them. Their bod}^ is flattened, so that they 

 can force their wav into small cracks, under stones and beneath the 



«See Banks, Report of the Philippine Commission, ISOS^ Pt. 2, p. 605, figs. 166 

 to 169. 



