41 



the insect "Salivita", since it nrnoh resembles the human saliva. 

 In this state called the nymph, the insect grows and gradually 

 leyelopes, changing its skin 4 times, it being observed from the 

 third change that the wings are beginning to form, and at the 

 fourth change these are complete. When the nymph is in the 

 first stage, that is to say still simall, it is found only on the lower 

 part of the plants, near the roots, but in the third and fourth 

 stages it goes higher on the plant and some times in tlie angle 

 formed between the leaves and the stem of the plant. To attain 

 complete develop&ment it takes from 32 to 40 days, and it may 

 move to another part of the plant that is more juicy. 



The time of the year in which this insect seems to reproduce 

 itself in greatest numbers is in the rainy months from July to 

 November, especially in these last months, September, October 

 and November, according to the weather. 



PLANTS ATTACKED. 



The plant in which this insect has been found in greatest 

 numbers is the .pasture grass called "Parana", "Panama", or 

 "Paral" (Panioum NumicUawwm) It is also found attacking the 

 guinea grass (Panicum maximvum), when this plant is found 

 among the iParana, it having been found completely dried out to 

 the extent that it can be pulled up without any force, notwiths- 

 tanding that it is well rooted. In the grass "Don Carlos" (Sor- 

 gum halapense) at the Experiment Station, this insect was found, 

 and in Camagiiey this insect was found in the grass "Vetiver" 

 (Andropogon miiricatus), and in other grasses that were not 

 determined. In sugar cane ( Saodhanwn offlcimirwm) it may often 

 be injurious, but the plague can easily be arrested by removing 

 the lower leaves and cleaning the field of grass. 



IMPOETANCE OF THE DAMAGE. 



In the parana grass the damage has been considerable at the 

 ranch La Horqueta and in neighboring ones to the south-east of 

 Caanagiiey. In pastures whicli were very fertile and new and 

 where the grass grows with great vigor was observed large areas 

 up to 20 caballerias in extent, completely dry, although ttie plants 

 remained intact, since the damage done by the insect consists in 

 sucking the juices at the foot of the plant, and the roots near 

 the collar, wMch are the parts most juicy. In the nyonphal stage 

 or wlhen it looks like a s£&ivita is when it is most injurious. In the 

 adult stage it feeds itself in the same way by sucking the juices. 



