27 



or three species of Ccvpophilits (C. uiaculafiis and C. diinidialiis) , 

 two or more of these insects being often present in the same cane- 

 lields. Breeding- as they do in the parts attacked by the young 

 leaf-hcppers, they certainly add to the injury bv increasing fer- 

 mentation and decay. 



It may be noted in passing that some of the above mentioned 

 species are under ordinary circumstances not infrequently a 

 source of considerable loss, owing to the fact that where seed 

 cane is allowed to lie around before planting they frequently lay 

 their eggs m the slightly fermenting ends of this seed. Such 

 seed-cane when planted will in some cases entirely fail to sprout, 

 since the larvae of the beetle develop quite well under ground and 

 cause its decay, and in fact instances are known where a very 

 large proportion of seed planted has been ruined by these insects. 

 T\Inch less, therefore, under the present circumstances should seed 

 cane be left exposed for these insects, now so abnormally numer- 

 ous, to deposit their eggs in, and if not planted wdien cut, nor pro- 

 tected, it might well be given treatment with corrosive sublimate. 

 (See Appendix, note I below). 



With the more sluggish larvae of Carpophilus and Haptoncus 

 there are frequently found the active larvae of one or two spe- 

 cies of Ciuujidac or Cryptophagidac, and it is quite likely that 

 these may prey on the former. Otherwise, excepting that they 

 are rarely killed by fungus diseases, they appear to have no ene- 

 mies. 



Similarly breeding in the parts injured by the leaf-hopper, and 

 adding to the injury, may be mentioned several Diptera, notably 

 species of Drosophila, which are extremely abundant on some 

 plantations, Euxcsta annonnc commonly and another Ortalid in 

 one or two instances. 



Again with these (in abundance locally) were two species of 

 Stapliylinidac, the common imported Hoiiialola so frequently at- 

 tracted by fermenting vegetable matter, and a common Philoii- 

 tJius. 



Finally, there may be casuallv mentioned a host of more or 



