40 



stalk borer of cane, reported in January of 1916 that he had 

 seen these insects in the sugar cane over almost all the Island, 

 but in small numbers. Finally the recent plague of this iasect at 

 the ranch of La Ilorqueta and others adjacent in Camagiiey is 

 evident proof of the general distribution of the- insect over the 

 Island, multiplying until it constitutes a plague, apparently only 

 when the season is very damp, and there exists a desirable food 

 in abuiidance. 



SIMILAR PLAGUES IN THE BRITISH WEST INDIES. 



In the British West Indies, insects (Tomaspis spp.) very 

 similar to the foregoing are well known from the damage they 

 cause in the sugar cane and other grass plants and are desigiiated 

 by. the common name of . frog-hopper and frog-spittle (Insects 

 with the saliva of frogs) . Jn the Island of Trinidad these insects 

 have been very destructive, being according to F. W. Urich, the 

 two species most common, Tomaspis varia Fab. which is more 

 abundant, and T. hicimta. Insects of this same group also occur 

 in the countries of Central America and Northern South Ameri- 

 ca, Mexico, Nicaragua, British. Honduras, Costa Eica, . and 

 Demerara. ! 



LIFE HISTORY AND HABITS OF THE INSECT. 



In its adult state, that is, the state of the complete develop- 

 ment, the insect has the appearance of a small butterfly, with 

 a thick body of a size approximately 10 mm. long by 5 mm. wide. 

 The body is reddish, marked with black, and the anterior wings 

 (those -which are seen when the insect is in repose) are of a color 

 dead black with two transverse reddish stripes. These insects are 

 easily found upon the leaves of the grass and they fly with ra- 

 pidity from 2 to 5 meters when molested. 'They are most active 

 from dawn until the sun becomes most hot, then hiding under 

 the trash close to the ground. 



The eggs are laid on the soil very close to the plant in the 

 places most protected from the suu. The eggs take to hatch some 

 12 to 20 days, in a wet period, but if the weather changes and 

 becomes 'dry they remain in good condition without hatching for 

 more than four months, waiting for a wet period, this being the 

 reason w-hy they multiply so when the season is continually wet. 



Immediately upon hatching, the small insect adheres to some 

 roots or some tender part of the plant where it begins sucking 

 out the juices and covers it self with a secretion which protects 

 it, and for this reason we have believed it appropriate to call 



