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for sometime, so that the injury is not observed till too late, and suddenly collapses when dry weather sets in. The 
damage done is reported to be very considerable. Until the life-history of this particular species has been worked 
out it will be difficult to suc^gest any radical cure. Nothing is known of the nesting habits of the insect. As the termites 
probably travel for long distances underground, they are difficult to follow up. If the nest could be found and 
destroyed, the pest could soon be got ,vinder. A case of serioi'is damage to tea seedlings by Nematode worms has been 
brought to my notice. The worms were said to have partially destroyed a good nursery of plants by eating off all 
the fine roots together with the bark of the taproot and young stems. The plants blacken and die off, and when 
pulled up are found to be entirely devoid of roots. I found the remains of the taproot and the cotyledons to be 
swarming with the young threadworms. If this disease should become prevalent it would be very difficult to raise 
seedling plants. Whenever signs of the worms appear the ground should be treated with one of the alkaline 
manures, e.q., nitrate of soda or of potash, preferably the former. These keep away worms and similar pests and are 
beneficial to the plants. Diseased seedlings should not be planted out. 
Cardamoms have suffered heavily from the caterpillars of a small blue butterfly, Lampides elpis, Godart. In 
my own experience as much as 25 per cent, of the fruit has been damaged. The caterpillar itself is very hard to find, 
but its work is only too apparent. A round hole is bored in the side of the unripe fruit, and its contents completely 
eaten out. One caterpillar will consume four or five fruits in a night. This pest is a difficult one to attack ; the 
grub-like caterpillars are so inconspicuous and hide themselves so effectually during the day that they cannot be 
collected, and the butterfly must be attacked instead. 
Another small butterfly, Cyaniris laveudular/s, Moore, has attracted attention at Peradeniya, where its 
caterpillar has completely ruined the appearance of nearly every plant of the Cycas family in the Botanic Garden. 
Many other more or less injurious insects have been received and reported on. Caterpillars of some unknown 
moth were said to be damaging Mauritius grass near Colombo. The rice-sapper was prevalent on paddy in the 
Galagedara district. The larvae of several Psychidee — popularly known as bagworms or caddis — have been 
troublesome in the Gampola and Kalutara districts. " White grub " (cockchafer larvae) were reported to have 
destroyed several acres of Guinea grass in Dolosbage. A large Aphis, determined by Mr. G. B. Buckton, F.R.S., 
to be a new species, and named by him Lachnus pyri, appeared in large numbers on cultivated pear trees in 
Nuwara Eliya. 
The question of quarantining and fumigating imported plants and fruits has been under consideration, and 
experiments have been made with a view of determining the best methods of treatment for such cases. The risk of 
importing dangerous scale and other insects is considerable ; the green bug of coffee and the lantana bug are both 
importations. Satisfactory results have been obtained by fumigation with hydrocyanic acid gas, and by the use of the 
gas in a more concentrated condition than usual in such work, and for a shorter period, the injury caused to delicate 
plants has been avoided. 
Introduction of Bemficial Insects. — A consignment of lady-bird beetles of the species Exockomiis nigromaculatus, 
has been received through the kindness of Mr. C. P. Lounsbury, Government Entomologist, Cape Colony. To avoid 
unnecessary delay the box was sent by post, taking four weeks in transit. Only five beetles and four larvae 
(evidently boi'n during the journey) were found alive when the package reached me. The rest were dead, perhaps 
owing to having been captured when adult. The insects were carefully packed in moss, with a supply of food 
in the shape of cochineal insects, which being restricted to the prickly pear were not liable to become a pest here. 
The surviving beetles were transferred to glass jars, and provided with local scale insects us food (rulvinaria psidii, 
Dactylopius citri, and Lecaniurn viride, the green bug) upon which they commenced to feed freelj\ They were also 
tried with Ortlwzia, but steadily refused it. They have since been fed exclusively on green bug, upon which they 
have thrived vej'y well, and have produced young ones which have been reared to maturity upon the same food. I 
consider the result of the experiment to be most encouraging, as proving the possibility of obtaining living beetles 
without the great expense and equal uncertainty of sending a special commissioner for their collection and transport. 
By securing a brood of beetles immediately after their arrival at the adult state, or while still in the pupal stage, the 
chance of their surviving the journey will be greater. Repeated small consignments would be more certain than a 
few large ones. The few survivors from the Cape consignment have now more than quadrupled their number, and 
fresh larvae are appearing daily. When sufficient have been obtained specimens will be distributed for liberation in 
the coffee districts, but it is important to keep a good stock for breeding purposes. There has unfortunately been 
considerable loss owing to the cannibal propensities of the insects. I now find it advisable to have small jars with 
a limited number in each, and to provide plenty of cover in the shape of dead leaves or moss into which the insects 
can retreat when moulting, at which period they are most liable to the attacks of their neighbours. Adult beetles 
and larvfe must not be kept together, for the same reason. The eggs are concealed among the rubbish, and the larvte 
also conceal themselves, so that when it is necessary to clean out a jar the rubbish must be kept under observation for 
a month, during which time many larvfe will make their appearance. 
An exchange consignment of local lady-birds (C/(//oc7(o;'M,s c;rcM/?irfa<J<s) was despatched by post to the Cape, 
but being delayed on the way, and not arriving for six weeks, the insects were all dead on arrival. 
In a recent letter to the United Planters' Association of South India Mr. Lounsbury wisely cautions the 
planters not to expect too much from the colonization of foreign lady-birds, &c,, pointing out that even when the 
introduction has been successful, local circumstances may tend to minimise the result. Climatic influences may be 
unsuitable. We are still quite in the experimental stage of the work, and must expect many failures, but the possible 
benefit is worth the cost of repeated failures. The work of Mr. Koebele in California and Hawaii shows what may be 
done in this direction. When we have to deal with large areas artificial treatment is usually impracticable, and we 
must fall back upon natural remedies. 
Laboratory. 
The laboratory room iu the Museum building has been Tery full during the year, and the want 
of space has been acutely felt. Mr. Parkin has occupied one bench from March '20 to the end of the 
year. Dr. Max Fleischer, now of Buitenzorg, worked here from February 2 to 24 and collected mosses 
in many parts of the Island. Mr. J. B. Carruthers occupied a bench at intervals for the investigation 
of the cacao fungus and other mycological studies. Mr. A. K. Coomarnswau^y. of T'niversity Colles:e. 
