THE AVOCADO 61 



Barber does great damage to avocados in Guatemala. Its larvae 

 have been found in avocado seeds sent to the United States, 

 but it is believed the species has not become established in this 

 country. Once thoroughly established, the seed weevils are 

 difficult to exterminate, hence it is to be hoped that they will 

 not gain a foothold in this country. 



In Guatemala, Trioza koebeki Kirkaldy (and perhaps other 

 species) produces leaf-galls on the avocado, often in such great 

 numbers as seriously to affect the health of the tree. 



In addition to these insects, a number of others have been 

 reported as attacking the avocado in various parts of the tropics. 

 These include numerous scale insects, both armored and un- 

 armored, several borers, and the well-known Mediterranean 

 fruit-fly (Ceratitis capitata Wied.) ; the better-known species 

 are listed in the Manual of Dangerous Insects published by the 

 Department of Agriculture. 



In the dry climate of California, fungous parasites give the 

 avocado grower comparatively little trouble, but in Florida 

 and in many parts of the tropics they may require stringent 

 combative measures. 



The following extracts from a paper by H. E. Stevens, pub- 

 lished in the Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural 

 Society for 1918, cover the situation as regards fungous pests 

 in Florida as it exists at the present time : 



" Leaves and frequently fruits of the avocado are attacked by a 

 fungus which is probably a species of Gloeosporium. The affected 

 leaf is usually attacked at the tip, and the disease gradually spreads 

 until the greater part of the blade is involved, when the leaf falls. 

 Severe attacks may cause considerable defoliation of trees and result 

 in the death of young terminal twigs. Fruits may be attacked when 

 small, in which case severe shedding may follow. If the more mature 

 fruits are attacked, a brown spotting is produced and the skin may crack. 



" Another common type of injury, frequently noted on the fruits, 

 is referred to as anthracnose by some of the growers. This type of 

 injury is very similar to melanose of citrus fruits in general appearance. 

 It is superficial and appears in the form of dark reddish brown caked 



