218 A. D. PEACOCK — ENTOMOLOGICAL PESTS 



INSECTS AFFECTING ARABIAN COFFEE. 



The following insects and the notes upon them were found in the collection 

 upon assumption of duty. All the specimens were taken on coffee at Olokemeji 

 in 1909 :— 



Chrysomelidae : Ootheca mutabilis, Sahib. 



Pentatomidae : Antestia variegata, Thunb. 



Coreidae : Riptortus tenuicornis, Dall. ; found in great numbers, 



FULGORIDAE : Dictyopharina serene, Stal. 



INSECTS AFFECTING OTHER PLANTS. 



Oil Palm. The common palm weevil, Rhynchophorus phoenicis, F., is the only 

 insect recorded from this tree. 



Coconut Palm. A weevil, Temnoschoita quadrimaculata, Gyl., has been 

 found on the trunk of this tree at Olokemeji, in May 1909, but nothing is known 

 as to its habits. The large Dynastid beetle, Archon centaurus, Burm., is suspected 

 of damaging these palms. 



Kola. A Rutelid beetle, Adoretus hirtellus, Castn. (Plate XXV, fig. 1) eats 

 the leaves. 



Okra {Hibiscus esculentus). Various cotton pests, such as Cosmophila erosa, 

 Zebronia pheyiice, Dysdercus super stitiosus and Oxycarenus dudgeoni, are similarly 

 injurious to Okra. 



Cowpea. Three beetles (Lagria villosa, F., L. viridipennis, F., and Mono- 

 lepta sp.), a locust (Zonocerus variegatus, F.) (Plate XXVII, fig. 2), and the larva 

 of moth (Azazia irrorata, F.) have been observed to eat the leaves of this plant. 



Poinciana regia. A Bostrychid beetle, Apate terrebrans, Pall., bores into 

 the trunk of these shade trees and eventually kills them ; most of the trees at 

 Ikom station are affected. The insect has also been noted at Abakaliki, E.P. 

 The Poincianas are sometimes stripped of their leaves by the caterpillars of a 

 Psychid moth. 



The following insects attack plants of several different kinds : — 

 Zonocerus variegatus, L. 



These locusts have been found in all three provinces. They occur in swarms 

 but never to the same extent as migratory locusts. 



Both the young wingless forms and adults feed openly on the leaves of cotton 

 (Plate XXVI), yam, maize, pumpkin, cassava and cowpea. No insect has been 

 met with in Southern Nigeria with such an omnivorous taste, and this list of 

 food-plants will certainly be lengthened by further observation. 



Their boldly contrasted colours have evidently a warning significance. Evi- 

 dence of this is afforded by the fact that a young English terrier, fresh from 

 home, made an excellent meal on them and afterwards was violently sick. 

 Pinned specimens emit a very unpleasant smell. 



All stages of young were found towards the end of October 1911, at Ibadan, 

 and, in March 1912, in the Central Province. The breeding season is probably, 

 therefore, quite long. 



