ering of the nest and lays a few eggs amongst those of the spider. 

 Two or three of the resulting larv^ae are sufficient to entirely de- 

 stroy every egg in the spider's nest, from which, instead of scores 

 of young spiders, there usually emerge two or three specimens 

 of the parasite. This parasite is widely, if not generally distrib- 

 uted, but where it was most common not more than 5 per cent, of 

 the spiders' nests were destroyed at tlie time of my visit to 

 Hawaii. 



(n) Finigi Parasitic 011 the Lcaf-Hoppcr. 



Several species of fungus are well known to attack the native 

 leaf-hoppers in certain localities and t\\ O' or three of these have, as 

 mi gilt have been expected, transferred their attack to the sugar- 

 cane species, while others have not yet done so. In 1892 a con- 

 siderable mortality amonst native leaf-hoppers, caused by one of 

 these fungi, was noticed in parts of Kona district and subse- 

 quently Koebele and myself found leaf-hoppers killed in the same 

 maimer in Olaa. 



riiese diseases are very noticeable amongst the cane leaf-hoppers 

 in Olaa, though comparatively a very small percentage of the 

 hoppers present were affected at the time of my visit. Probably 

 with more rainy weather (at the time of my visit it was extreme- 

 ]}• -Jiy) diese fungi would be more active agents in destroying 

 the pest. It should be noticed that at the time when I made my 

 oi^servations, it was the mature leaf-hoppers, almost invariably, 

 that were attacked, and if this proves to be usually the case, the 

 value of these fungi will be greatly diminished, since the leaf- 

 hopper does mo.st damage before becoming mature, and further, 

 of those killed a considerable proportion may already have laid 

 their eggs. 



The evidence of disease is manifest in the hoppers before actual 

 death takes place. The infected insect is slow and lethargic and 

 finally stations itself on the under side of the leaf in the open, — 

 that is to say. it generally leaves its concealment at the base of the 

 leaf or elsewhere and moves for a longer or shorter distance to- 



