225 



CURRENT NOTES. 



Report of Cape Government Entomologist. 



From the Report of the Cape Government Entomologist for 1909 it 

 appears that that most intractable of pests, the Cyodling Moth, is slowly 

 extendino- its range in South Africa and has now reached Johannesburg. 

 The introduction of the Spanish Ichneumon (CaliepJiialtes messer) has not so 

 far proved successful ; nor does it seem likely to be of any practical value 

 for keeping the Codling Moth in check ; for Mr. W. W. Froggatt has shown 

 (Official Report on Fruit Fly &c., Sydney, 1909) that this much advertised 

 insect has been a complete failure in California, where it has been given a 

 very thorough trial. The discovery of a local egg-parasite, Trieliogram- 

 moidea lutea, Girault, is recorded, and this insect may prove of value as a 

 partial check. 



Mr. Lounsbury points out that two Scale Insects, Saissetia olece and 

 AvJacaspis penfaf/ona, w^hich are very serious pests in some other parts of the 

 world, are widely distributed in South Africa, but their numbers are so 

 restricted by local enemies that they cannot be classed as pests. He is 

 endeavouring to obtain supplies of the local parasites for exportation. He 

 has also made the interesting discovery that the highly destructive Olive Fly 

 of Mediterranean countries occurs sparingly on wild and cultivated olives in 

 Cape Colony, but the damage done is quite trifling. Numbers of a Hymeno- 

 pterous parasite of the family Braconid^ have been bred from infested 

 fruit, and it is hoped that this may prove a valuable ally, if it can be 

 established in European olive groves. 



The strikingly successful demonstration of the value of Mr. Mally's 

 remedy for Fruit Fly (Ceratitis) * is regarded by Mr. Lounsbury as perhaps 

 the most notable achievement of his Office during the year. " Some of the 

 most prominent fruit growers in the Western Province have put the measure 

 to the test in the present fruit season (1909-1910) and have had most grati- 

 fying success.''^ It is also anticipated that the remedy will serve for the 

 control of the Melon Flies (Dacus), which do serious damage to cucumbers, 

 melons, pumpkins, etc. 



Notes on Griossina fusca. 



The following interesting notes on Glossina fusca have been kindly sent 

 by Dr. Meredith Sanderson, from Karonga, at the north-western corner of 

 Lake Nyasa : — 



" At the suggestion of Mr. Neave, who has just arrived here, I am sending 

 you this preliminary unofficial note on my observations of Glossina fusca. 



* See above, page 170. 

 BULL. ENT. RES. VOL. I. PART 3, OCTOBER I9IO. T 



