THE ANIMAL LIFE OF THE GROUP. 383 



liberated on all the important ])lantations. Seit'nee was thus a^ain i-alletl to 

 the aid of the planters, as it had been many times before, and the experiment 

 worked out has been so successful that the effects of the leaf-hopper on the 

 cane crop of Hawaii is almost a negligible quantity. The outbreak is now 

 under control, and the whole industry saved and restored to its normal con- 

 dition. 



The Slgak-Cane Borer. 



The search for the parasites feeding on the almost eciually destructive 

 sugar-cane borer ^ has been a thrilling scientific adventure. Happily, after 

 years of search, Dr. Frederick Muir was rewarded by the discovery, and sub- 

 sequently succeeded in the successful introduction into Hawaii, of parasites to 

 prey upon this most destructive insect. 



Lantana Insects. 



Examples of the controlling of injurious insects by introducing their insect 

 enemies might be multiplied at length, but one more instance, of a somewhat dif- 

 ferent nature, in which insects were used to combat the spread of an injurious 

 plant must suffice. A great many years ago (1858) the common Lantana,^ a na- 

 tive plant of the subtropical regions of Soutli America, l)ut elsewhere eultivatci 

 extensively as a green-house or ornamental shrul), was introduced into Hawaii as a 

 garden plant. In course of time the mynah bird, which was likewise introduced, 

 made the discovery that the small blue-lilack aromatic berries of the Lantana 

 were edible. As a result, in a very few years this hardy plant had been spread 

 broadcast to all parts of the group b}^ these birds. Thousands of acres of 

 what was formerly open pasture land became completely choked with the rank 

 growth, while even in the lower forests it grew^ several feet in height, often 

 forming an almost impenetrable, though beautiful, flowering jungle. 



Although the plant was regarded as beneficial by reason of its powei' to 

 force its long roots down deep into the earth, thereby loosening the soil and 

 furnishing to it a large amount of humus as fertilizer, its inroads into pasture 

 and tilhible land hecaiiii' so inarlvcd and persistent as to cause it to l)e regarded 

 as a serious scourge. Entomologists began to look into the natural enemies of 

 the plant, and before long had found a numl)er of insects and fungus parasites 

 that naturally fed on the Lantana. prel'eri'ing it to any other food. 



By far the most important among these is the Lantana seed-fly." which is 

 a small black two-wing insect, the maggot of which lives in and destroys the 

 seed. So perfectly has it done its woi-k that in favoral)]*^ localities it is diffi- 

 cult to find a seed that has not been killed by this insect. This is of great 

 importance, foi- if land is once cleared of Lantana it will not gi-ow a<:ain. 

 though unfortunately guava often springs up to take its place. 



The Lantana plume-moth,'' a small brown moth about a half inch in 



^ Rlicihdncnemis = (SjjhcKuiiliorus) (ih.sriiriis. * Ltintana CiiiiKifd. ^ Agromyza sp. 



" PlatypHUa sp. 



