172 
IxsroT PESTS. 
e of the most mE features of the reports that reach Kew is 
the prominen still given to the injuries caused to sugar-canes by the 
moth-borer (Chilo saccharalis) (figured in the Kew - Bulletin, 1892, 
ps This first described by the Rev. L. Guilding from 
St. Vincent pi ae in 1828. eat is little doubt poat it las in 
The other i 
pen ren in: described with figures in the Kew Bulletin 1892, 
pp. 153-178 
The losí sustained owing to the attacks of these insects must be 
very large, and yet there is apparently little or nothing being done io 
lessen it. 
In a letter received from Mr. Henry Powell, Curator of the Botanie 
Station at St. Vincent, dated the 23rd November last, he describes a 
visit paid to several sugar estates at the invitation of the proprietors to 
examine the canes. In one instance he states: * During our interview 
* about half-a-dozen canes were bro ought i in for our inspection, one of 
* which was riddled by the moth-borer.” In a field of canes lately 
stripped * the presence of the moth-borer, which had not been observed 
* before, was disclosed in considerable numbers." Its presence in nearly 
mature canes “can readily be detected by the yellow tops, showing the 
* eanes to be injured beyond recovery." In riding through another 
estate, *the presence of the moth-borer was seen on all s sides, but on 
* established.” In another instance: “the canes were most luxuriant, 
“ but already the moth-borer was Playing great havoc amongst them 
* and was steadily on the increase 
In the S Islands the Mee borer appears to be equally rife. 
Mr. C. A. Barber, F.L.S., peal patie s of Agriculture, as lately 
as the 16th April last, reported to his Government: “ The APEN 
(Trichospheria) is our greatest ” Mr. Barber places 
* destruction of the moth-borer " as is the first duty of the planter. Ho 
goes on to state, “ It is = pee to obtain a cane of any variety 
“ unaffected by the moth-bo each moth I have captured has 
* jaid 50 to 150 eggs, vgl in one lot I hatched 97 per cent. of the 
“ grubs, From this it will be seen that the supply is practically un- 
* limited. I have observed as many as 12 in my own drawing-room 
* ina couple of hours, although there is no cane field paiia ately to 
* windward.” 
m va mor summary of information respecting the moth-borer is 
given in Indian Museum Notes, Vol. I., pp. 22-27, pl ii. The 
means "hitherto iiid to get rid of it are given in the following 
extract :— 
d on large number of remedies has been proposed = the pest, and it 
8 to be pretty well established that it can be a great extent 
contealiad by the remit or is ying all the apone: Sind and clearing 
the fields of all waste sugar-cane stalks after the crop bas been taken ; 
for, as the insect passes the winter as a larva inside the sugar-cane, if 
in 
y ers. aste , 
should be carefully gathered together and removed from the field before 
being burnt, for if they are burnt carelessly, on the field itself, many 
