64 IT. A. BALLOU — NOTES ON INSECT PESTS IN ANTIGUA. 



condition than others which have been cultivated and kept free from bush. 

 This accords with experience in other places where it has been found that 

 neglected, overgrown limes are generally free from scales, even though grown in 

 the near vicinity of badly attacked, unhealthy trees. In one instance many of 

 the young trees had recently been overgrown by rapidly growing weeds, such as 

 Ipomoea umbellata, a white-flowered butterfly pea (Clitoria sp.) and another 

 leguminous vine called wina (Teramnus sp.). I was informed that such trees 

 had no scales when the vines were first removed. 



At the base of a number of trees, nests of ants, the stinging ant or fire ant 

 (Solenopsis geminata) and a carpenter ant (Camponotus sp.), were to be seen. In 

 order to find if the presence of ants had any relation to the infestation, I made 

 notes on this point ; but it would appear that in this instance ants had no 

 influence on the presence of this species of scale-insect. 



Wherever red scale was abundant in Antigua there were two ladybird beetles 

 in numbers ; one of these was the red ladybird ( Cycloneda sanguined) and the 

 other a minute black or bluish black species, not larger than a pin's head. 



During this visit every opportunity was taken to examine cotton for any signs 

 of the presence of the flower bud maggot, but no such indications were seen ; 

 though this pest has since been reported by Mr. Jackson as being found on 

 the 29th December. 



In two plantations boll-worm was present and in one instance had done a 

 considerable amount of damage. At this place cotton and corn were planted 

 together, and it is likely that the corn has provided breeding places for a large 

 number of boll-worms which had gone from the corn to attack the cotton. This 

 transference may take place either by the larvae leaving the corn plant and 

 going over to the cotton, or the larvae may attain their full growth in the corn, 

 the moths of the following generation depositing their eggs on the cotton. I 

 advised that the corn should be removed at once and all the stalks fed to the 

 stock, such ears as were ripe enough being kept for grain. I also recommended 

 that children should be sent into the cotton to collect all injured bolls, which 

 should be destroyed by being turned into the cattle pens. It was further 

 suggested that by planting corn through the field at once it might provide an 

 attractive place for egg-laying when the moths from the worms which escaped 

 the other methods of collection should mature ; but if this were done it would 

 of course be necessary to cut the corn and feed it out before any worms which 

 might attack it should have an opportunity of becoming full fed. 



In the second plantation boll-worms were less numerous, but they had done an 

 amount of damage. The attack here was mainly on the younger bolls and on 

 the buds, and the larvae apparently wandered from one bud or boll to another and 

 having eaten out the interior moved on again. Several of these worms were 

 observed, generally attacking bolls which were so small that the caterpillar 

 could not get entirely inside them. The presence of a small amount of Guinea 

 corn in these fields of cotton probably accounted to a large extent, at least, for 

 the presence of the boll-worm. 



At Skerretts' Experiment Station a number of interesting things were 

 observed. Cassava was attacked by the cassava worm, the larva of the common 

 Sphingid moth (Dilophonota cllo). These larvae were of two kinds, green and 



