ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY IN HAWAII. 65 



number of them were selected to fight man's unequal battle with 

 lantana. After eliminating their innumerable parasites they were 

 sent on, and, after a second weeding out, liberated here by Professor 

 Perkins. The result of their work is too evident to require comment. 

 As a result of the combination of seed, flower, and leaf insects the 

 lantana is now everywhere decidedly sick. In the lower places, 

 where the water supply is more liberal, the plant is more resistant, 

 but even there it is doomed. It is not our mission here to forecast 

 the activities of these insects when lantana is no more. The primary 

 object of ridding the country of lantana is well-nigh accomplished, 

 and " apres nous le deluge." 



While in Mexico it would seem Mr. Koebele prepared an article 

 on O. insignis, which was published in the report of the commis- 

 sioner of agriculture and forestry for 1902, page 54. Therein the 

 author delineates the past history of the insect, its habits, plants 

 likely to be attacked by it, and remedies against it, should they 

 become necessary. In conclusion he urges strongly against its dis- 

 semination over the islands, although it was already known to exist 

 on Maui and Oahu. Locally it is referred to as the " Maui blight." 



THE SUGAR-CANE LEAF-HOPPER. 



{Perkinsiella saccharicida Kirk.) 



In Volume XXII, page 123, 1902, of the Planters' Monthly, Mr. 

 Perkins sounds the alarm to the sugar industry in consequence of 

 the sugar-cane leaf -hopper (Perkinsiella saccharicida Kirk.). This 

 insect seems to have been introduced from Australia some time in 

 1897 and confused with the corn leaf -hopper (Peregrinus maidis 

 Ashm.), which occasionally frequents cane fields. Ever since its 

 introduction it has been on the increase, enjoying almost perfect 

 freedom from natural enemies. Upon inquiry Mr. Koebele was in- 

 formed that Mr. Otto H. Swezey had bred some parasites on leaf- 

 hoppers at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Koebele, therefore, journe}^ed 

 thither, and bred and shipped many specimens to Mr. Perkins, who 

 was left in charge here. Meantime, a native parasite (Ecthrodel- 

 phax fairchildii Perk.) was found attacking the cane hopper on 

 Kauai, and numerous specimens of that insect were bred and dis- 

 tributed. Mr. Koebele also shipped hopper parasites from Califor- 

 nia, which were bred here and released. In the spring of 1903 the 

 Territorial Board of Agriculture and Forestry organized a division 

 of entomology, with Mr. Koebele as superintendent and Mr. Perkins 

 as his assistant. In August of the same year the entomological arm 

 of this Government was considerably strengthened by the addition 

 of such powerful sinew as Messrs. G. W. Kirkaldy and F. W. Terry. 



31024— No. 60—06 m 5 



