The Tea insects of India. 57 



Green, who found tbat they were responsible for much of the damage 

 commonly attributed to red spider, from which, however, they should be 

 carefully distinguished. The following is a summary of Green's obser- 

 vations as published in the Ceylon Independent. 



TypJilodronms carhiatus, Green. This is a minute dull-coloured mite 

 characterised when full grown by a series of fine white longitudinal 

 ridges of waxy secretion down the back. It feeds both on the upper 

 and under surfaces of the leaves, especially along the margins. When 

 attacked the leaves become dry and bronzed, but they do not curl up 

 as when affected by red spider. The life-history of the species would 

 seem to be very similar to that of red spider, but has not yet been com- 

 pletely traced. 



Green recommends treating nurseries affected with this mite with 

 washes of one part of kerosine emulsion to eighty parts of water, or one 

 part of phenyle to two hundred and forty parts of water. The appli- 

 cation to be made in the evening and followed the next morning with a 

 washing of pure water, unless rain has fallen in the meantime. 



Acarus translucens, Green.^ This is a minute amber-coloured mite 

 with a clouded stripe down the middle of the back. It confines its 

 attack to the flush where it is to be found on the buds and young leaves. 

 It seems to be unaffected by rain and continues its ravages all the year 

 round, with the result that it occasions a large amount of damage on 

 many estates in Ceylon. Green found the mite in all stages of develop- 

 ment, including eggs, larvae, and adult males and females, on the young 

 leaves. He recommends the persistent plucking of every shoot on 

 affected'bushes. 



For further particulars about these two species reference should be 

 made to Green's work. 



INSECTICIDE APPARATUS LIKELY TO BE USEFUL UPON 

 INDIAN TEA GARDENS. 



Artificial means of destroying insects are now widely employed both 

 in the United States and in Europe, and no reason is apparent why they 

 should not be adopted for use in India. This is especially the case 

 where such valuable crops as tea and coffee are concerned, which are 

 likely to repay the cost many times over in increased productiveness. 



The first point to notice is the fact that the best time to employ 

 insecticides is as soon as ever the blight appears, and without waiting 



^ In Nietner's Enemies of the Coffee Tree, second edition, Colombo, 1880, the name 

 Acarus translucens is gi\''en to a mite found associated witli the scale insect Lecanium 

 coffece, Nietner, on coffee bushes in Ceylon. It does not appear whether the two forms are 

 identical. 



