216 A. D. PEACOCK — ENTOMOLOGICAL PESTS 



Breeding goes on in the Eastern Province during May. The time of commence- 

 ment in the Western Province is not known, but it persists up till the end of June. 

 The eggs are pinkish at first, then turning red-brown, about 2 mm. long, and 

 sausage-shaped ; they are laid on the underside of the leaves and on the stalks in 

 clusters of about 6. 



As is usual in this genus, the larvae cover themselves with their own excreta. 

 In two instances full-grown larvae surrounded themselves with a white limy 

 shelter enclosed in a fold of a leaf. But as no soil was put at the bottom of the 

 glass vessels used for rearing them, it is probable that pupation may normally 

 take place underground. Other food-plants are not known, and only one genera- 

 tion a year has been noticed. 



This being the first occasion upon which observations have been made on the 

 pest, its significance in the Colony is not known. If the numbers and damage at 

 Uyo and Ibadan can be taken as typical, the insect must be watched for all over 

 the Colony, lest a staple food crop like yam be subject to serious attack. The 

 habit of the insect of chewing just beloAv the leading shoots is particularly 

 bad. This, coupled with the damage done to the leaves, seriously retards the 

 growth of the vines. Fortunately at Ibadan the larvae disappeared, probably 

 into the ground for pupation, and the plants survived, but not before a great 

 amount of damage was done. 



Spraying seems the best method of attack. This has been found quite 

 successful against C. asparagi of the asparagus beds in America. 



Apomecyna parumpunctata. Chev. The natives say that this beetle chops 

 down the yam vines in the early morning. Vines were found cut off at a 

 distance of 6-12 inches from the ground and beetles were found on the plants 

 (Uyo, 18th May 1912), but the act of cutting was not observed. 



Lagria vittosa, F., L. viridipennis, F., and Zonocerus variegatus also attack the 

 leaves of yams. 



The following insects were found on yam, but are not yet known to do any 

 appreciable injury : — a Chrysomelid beetle, Oides ferruginea, F., Ibadan, 2 vii. 12 ; 

 a Pentatomid bug ; Cyclopelta dorsalis, Walk., Uyo and Ikot Ekpene, 20 v. 12 ; 

 and an undetermined scale-insect, Pseudococcus sp., Ibadan, vi. 12. 



INSECTS AFFECTING FUNTUMIA RUBBER. 



Glyphodes ocellata, Hmp. (Plate XXV, fig. 6). 



This moth has only been detected at Ibadan, during September 1912. As 

 it is found on Funtumia elastica in the Gold Coast, it is probably common in 

 Southern Nigeria, wherever Funtumia is grown. 



The caterpillars attack both nursery plants and grown trees alike, curling 

 the leaves upon which they feed. Every plant in a nursery bed at Ibadan 

 was attacked, and the caterpillars were prevalent upon 3-year old trees. Left 

 unchecked, this is likely to become a pest. 



The larvae have a wet green appearance, the intestine showing through the 

 dorsum as a dark stripe. The pupae were found in the curls of the leaves, and 

 the pupal stage lasts for at least 12 days. 



Hand-picking the affected leaves, in the case of nursery plants, is not so good 

 as spraying with Paris green, which was found to be quite successful. For 



