AND PROBLEMS OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA. 213 



abundant support for the innumerable caterpillars. The destruction of young 

 maize is an important matter, for the maize replanted after the visitation of the 

 caterpillars does not stand so good a chance of succeeding as the original crop, 

 because of weather conditions. 



The Yoruba realises perfectly well that this is a pest. It is called " rami- 

 rami," the insect that comes when there is rain, and there is a traditional story 

 concerning it. 



The control of this pest demands vigilance. Early in April and, in the Eastern 

 Province in August, the maize fields, lawns, and their surroundings should be 

 examined for the small young caterpillars. If they are found, burning the grass or 

 bush round the fields and lawns will destroy large numbers of them. Caterpillars 

 which appear on the maize and lawn can only be prevented from doing extensive 

 damage by spraying. 



Calamistes praejjallens, Hmp. 

 This moth is found in Southern Nigeria but no work was done upon it. 



Calamistes fusca, Hmp. 



This insect has only been briefly studied at Ibadan during October and 

 November 1911. It is the Mealie Stalk Borer of South Africa and has been 

 dealt with in the " Cape Agricultural Journal " for 1905. 



The caterpillars bore into the maize stems, but the flowers are also frequented ; 

 as many as five have been found in one plant. They pupate in the stems, and 

 the pupal stage lasts about a week. The larvae are brown dorsally, verging to 

 pink laterally and a dirty cream ventrally. The head and posterior part are 

 dark brown. 



The presence of these pests in the centre of the stem usually causes the death 

 of the plant, and a large number of plants are usually affected. But so little 

 work has been done in Southern Nigeria upon this insect that suggestions for 

 treatment cannot be given. 



Noctuid Caterpillars in Cobs. 



Little opportunity for a proper study of these insects was afforded. They are, 

 however, very important and must be noticed, even though the name cannot be 

 given. They were only observed at Ibadan during October 1912. 



The larvae, which are numerous in the maize cobs, bore into the seeds and 

 destroy them. Whole cobs are ruined in this way both in the field and store. 

 The larvae are generally of a pinkish tinge and grow to 1 inch. The pupae are 

 found among the stored grain, as also are the moths, which are of a sordid 

 greyish brown. 



The caterpillars are most voracious and destructive. Instead of confining 

 their attentions to one seed at a time in the cob, they frequently eat a gutter 

 through a whole line of seeds. Wood covers, -\ inch thick, which were used on 

 store tins containing seeds, were perforated by the caterpillars. Because of their 

 numbers, size and appetite they are undoubtedly the worst maize pest, not 

 excluding the universal grain weevils. 



The field habits of the insect must be known better before measures can be 

 suggested. Their destruction in the store is discussed later after other maize 



