SUGAR l6 I 



material deterioration in the juice. Their attacks are 

 often followed by a complete destruction by Termites 

 or wood ants, whose function in the insect world is to 

 entirely demolish all decaying or diseased vegetable 

 matter. 



Giant Moth Borer. 



The giant moth borer confines its attack more to the 

 stool or rooting system of the cane. It is a compara- 

 tively recent pest, as it appears to have been unknown 

 twenty years ago. Since its first appearance it has 

 multiplied at an exceedingly rapid rate, and during 1912 

 296,214 moths were destroyed, and 672,104 caterpillars 

 and chrysalides. During 1913, 597oO3 moths were 

 destroyed, and 1,374,878 caterpillars and chrysalides. 



Like many of the injurious insects of this part of 

 Tropical America, Castnia has invaded the cultivated 

 areas from the forest region, the original habitat of its 

 larva being either orchids or the roots of wild plantains. 

 It will also breed in the roots of cultivated plantains and 

 bananas. The larva attains a length of 2 to 2\ in. No 

 known true parasites of this pest have ever been dis- 

 covered. This is due to the concealed habit of the larva 

 and chrysalis, which is often some considerable distance 

 beneath the surface of the soil, and the eggs are 

 deposited in the most haphazard manner by the female 

 moth, never being laid in any particular spot, but 

 dropped one or two at a time about the cane plants. 

 This, of course, excludes the possibility of egg parasites 

 and reduces their chances to a minimum. Birds are the 

 most important enemies of Castnia, especially the so- 

 called .kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) and the old witch 

 (Crotophaga ani), both of which are particularly fond of 

 the adult moth. On all sugar estates organized gangs, 

 principally composed of native-born East Indian children 

 (known as Creoles), are employed in the destruction of 

 this pest. The gangs vary in size from thirty to as many 

 as 100 individuals on some estates. These children have 

 grown remarkably astute at this work, and many of them 

 now earn comparatively large sums of money. 



The most effective control method employed is to send 

 ii 



