438 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Jan. i, i?9S. 
Like so rainy of our insect enemies, this is ono 
of the " scale hugs" (Coccida), but is more active than 
many of the better known member* of that family. 
The accompanying figures (on our frontispiece*) will 
be ofassistanceinthe recognition of the enemy:— 
Fig. 1 represents a twig with the bugs in -*itn, 
natural size. To the naked eye the general effect 
is of a mass of dirty-white insects crowded upou the 
stalk* and along tha prominent veins on the nader- 
surface of the leaves. The iusact itself is dull 
greenish or brownish; but it 19 the white waxy 
appendages that first catch the eye, the most pro- 
minent of them being the cylinlrical ovisac projecting 
from the hinder part of the bodie3 of the adult 
females. 
Fig. 2, a half-grown female, uppar side highly 
magnified. The body cf the insect is dark brownish 
or olive green. There is a double row of short white 
conical processes along the middle of the back, and 
a fringe of similar but stouter appendages rmnd the 
mirgin, gradually increasing in length towards the 
hinder part of the insect. The3a processes are very 
fragile; bui when broken off are soon reproduced. 
In front ca-i be seen a pair of moder.uoly-long 
tapering antennas composed of eight joints. The six 
legs are well-developed and pr ject beyond the body 
of the insect. 
Fig. 8 shows the uuder-side of an older female 
insect, greatly enlarged. The beik can be seen 
between the front pair of legs. Round the base of 
each leg i3 usually a ring of white waxy matter. 
From below the posterior extremity of the body 
proceeds a stout white cylindrical appendage, fluted 
abovo, smooth below, varying in length according 
to the age of tha insast, reaching in some indivi- 
duals to nearly four times tha length of the body, 
broad at base and very gradual y taparing to extre- 
mity which is slightly upsurged. This is the ovisac 
a - id contains a vast numb;r of eggs; here they 
remain until they have hatched when they make their 
exit through an aparture at its extremity. If one of 
these egg-cases be broken open, it will ba found to b9 
filled with pggs and young insects; the eggs at the 
base of tha tube are of a very pa'e cream v colour, 
having been ju.tlaid; lower down they become bright 
yellow, then orange, then greenish, and the young 
insects ready to emerge fro.n the tube are olive 
green. A woolly secretion fills up the crevices between 
the eggs. 
Fig. . 4 represents a still more advanced stage 
(side view) in which the ovisac has attained its full 
length. 
Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged figure of the male 
insect. I believe this has not previously been des- 
cribed. In Mr. Douglas' original description of the 
Orthezia, the male of some other insect, probably that 
of the " mealy bug " {Dactyhpius) has evidently been 
erroneously tacked on to this species. The real male 
is a delicate little fly ; slaty-gray in colour ; antennae 
very long and slender, 10-jointed, the two basal joints 
very short, the others greatly elongated ; legs long 
r*- * Lithographed at the Surveyor-General's Office from 
drawings by Mr. E.E, Green, Eton, Puudaluoya, 
and slender ; a single pair of wings, rather opaque, 
dueled with grayish powder; a tuft of long silky 
filaments at the end of the body. Eyes black, with 
numerous facets. The adult male insect has no 
mouth, and consequently takes no food in this stage. 
The more minute details of structure would be 
of interest to the Entomologist only, and may be 
omitted in an artie'e dealing with the subject solely 
from an agricultural point of view. 
Remedies. 
Determined efforts should be made to stamp out 
the pest upon it- first appearauco in any locality. 
Infected plauts should be treateltm the tpjt, regardless 
of expense and, if necessary, with com >lete ^a^nn te 
of the plant. To 3 great stress canuot be laid upon 
the importance of "Treatment u;>on the spit" io 
all cases of serious insect-pests. The pruning of 
affected plants and subsequent carriage of the cut- 
ting* to some spot where they might be burnt or 
buried wou'd only serve to sow the pest broadcast 
along the route of transport. However much a fixture 
the adult in*ect may seam to be, as in the ca9e of 
many of the scale-bugs, it mist be remember, d thU 
the youug are very minute, very activ- 1 , and usually 
very numerous. 
Should a colony of the insects be discovered up m 
any plant, a good-sized hole might be dug beside it, 
in which a fire of dry brushwood and grass could 
be lighted. The plant should then be cut down or 
pruned ta bare poles, the pruuings thrown directly 
on to the fire, and all dead leaves and rubbish from 
below the plant swept into the hole. The hole 
should afterwards be filled with ea:th to present the 
escape of any possible survivors. 
In places where the pest has established itielf on 
lautana or other waste land, such patches should be 
fired. 
On cultivated land such extreme measures will 
usually Le impracticable. In this case repeated and 
thorough spraying with insecticides will be the only 
available course. For the purpose kerosene-soap 
emulsion would probably be the most effective and 
economical. It should be very carefully and tho- 
roughly applied, and should be repeated at short 
intervals until the pest has been exterminated. 
Where practicable it would be advisable to first prune 
the trees (burning and burying the prnnings as 
suggested above), and then to spray the remaining 
stems and branches.* 
The formula for kerosene emulsion is 
Kerosene ... ... 2 gallons 
Common Soap ... ... £ lb. 
"Water . . ... 1 gallon 
Dissolve the soap in water heated to boiling. Add 
the kerosene to the hot mixture, and churn till it 
forms a thick cream on cooling. Dilute with from 
9 to 12 times water for application. 
But we have in reserve a still more powerful 
(^because natural) weapon to use against our enemy, , 
in the shape of the small " Lady-bird " (^occinellid) 
* A handy spraying machine called " the An- 
tipest " is supplied by the Eastern Produce and 
Estates Company. It is in knapsack form aud can 
be easily worked by one man. 
