VIII 



PEPPERS 273 



This insect is a species of Centrotus, one of the 

 Membracidae belonging to the order of Hemiptera. 

 I have found in Singapore one of these Centroti on 

 the pepper plants and it may be the same as the one 

 described by Mr. Hewitt, but it is rather brown than 

 black. The little animal is ^ in. in length, and of a 

 dark amber brown colour, lighter coloured beneath from 

 the pale pubescence on its underside. Its eyes are large 

 and far apart. Its body is somewhat of an inverted 

 boat shape and stout in proportion to its length. From 

 the angles of its square thorax spring two curved horns, 

 giving it from a front view the appearance of a goat's 

 head. The wings are appressed together and flattened, 

 and from the thorax lying over them for two-thirds of 

 their length is a long horizontal spine. The legs are 

 rather long. This insect attacks the flower spike 

 with its short beak, which it thrusts into the spike to 

 suck the juices. It is a quick, active animal, and can 

 walk, jump, or fly. Indeed, it is rather difficult to 

 catch it. 



Another small plant bug, which is equally destructive, 

 is a small, black, flattened creature which creeps along 

 the spike, sucking it with its beak. This is known as 

 Elasmognathus Hewittii. Another species of Elasmo- 

 gnathus, probably E. Greenii y is recorded by P. 

 Konigsberger (Bulletin agric. Ind. ne'erlandaises, xx. 

 6-8) as attacking pepper at Sontang in Borneo. This 

 species punctures the leaves and makes brown spots 

 on them. It does not, however, seem to seriously injure 

 the plant. 



In Sarawak Mr. Hewitt also found a small, flattened, 

 green bug, peculiar from having its sides fringed with 

 tiny spines. It is an immature form, probably of some 

 species of Centrocnemis. The insect was a very sluggish 

 animal, but a serious pest. 



The best method of dealing with this class of animal 

 is by spraying the vines with a decoction of tuba-root 

 (Derris elliptica), or some of the well-known insecticides, 

 such as nicotine. 



