658 
THE TROPICAL AGEICTTLTURISr. [April 1, 1964. 
until nine months after they had been tarned loose, 
but are both now in very large numbers and rapidly 
extending their range ; while of the three others, two 
at least will probably prove to have established 
themselves, and the remaining one to have died ont. 
BEETLES AND FLIES. 
Of the two beetles neither have been seen at present, 
but one of these was hardly likely to increase suffi- 
ciently to become noticeable under two years ; and 
the other, since we considered it of minor importance 
in its e^ect on lantana, has not been looked for iu 
the spots where it was liberated. 
Of the two species of flies the success of the one 
was instant and phenomenal ; the second was also 
quiet successfully established, but is of comparatively 
small economic value. 
The solitary species of true bug of which only half 
a dozen sickly individuals reached here, is now firmly 
established. Its effectiveness is not yet fully ascer- 
tained, since it has natural enemies, in the shape of 
certain other bugs, which have been present in the 
Islands for many years. 
As to the 
CTHEB IMPOBIANT LANTANA INSECTS, 
they are at present practically free from attacks 
from other predaceous or parasitic insects; and it is 
quite certain that the parasites, which iu Mexico 
destroy at least 90 per cent, of the individuals of the 
lantana-eating species, were entirely eliminated here, 
before the latter were liberated. To this fact is 
due the astonishing rapidity of increase of some of 
the quicker- breeding insects in these Islands, so 
that after three months, from two or three dozen 
of the berry-eating fly, originally liberated, the pro- 
geny had already run into many millions. 
THE LANTANA CHECKED BUT NOT DE8TB0YED, 
The imported insects enumerated above are almost 
all feeders on the seed, unripe berry, ^flower, bud or 
shoot. These do not in any way destroy the bush 
itself, but they are highly effective in checking any 
further spread of the plant, and render it possible 
for any one to clear lantana covered land once and 
for all, without fear of having to perform this work 
at intervals of every few years. Amon^^st these, 
however, are a few which have a more serious effect 
on the health of the plant. One of the two im- 
ported beetles lives as a larva in the tap root, and 
if it proves to be established and become numerous 
it will probably destroy many bushes. The true bug 
that I have specially mentioned above, is extremely 
injurious to lantana, and in localities where it thrives 
best, is quite capable of entirely killiug a bush. Its 
effectiveness will probably vary much according to 
the nature of the locality, and also on the number 
of the predacious insects that, as I have mentioned, 
already attack it. 
SHOULD LANTANA BE DESTROYED ? 
This finally brings up the question, whether lantana 
should be, if possible, entirely destroyed. Most 
owners of laotana-covered ranches will have but one 
answer. Many persons, however, who are interested 
in forestry and agriculture, are opposed to any such 
total destruction. The question appears to me one 
to be decided only by an expert forester, not on super. 
fioial examination, but only after having spent at 
least many months in fully examining all the con- 
ditions here. 
The insects that have now been imported, are, I 
believe, sufiiciont to fully check any further spread 
of the pest, but insufficient for its destruction. That 
total destruction could be effected by importation 
of other insects can hardly be doubted, but so much 
care would be necessary, that it would certainly 
require the individual attention of several entomo 
logists for at least two seasons to complete the work. 
It must be remembered that in the work already accom- 
plished only those insects which appeared safest 
to introduce were handled, and even of these some 
were discarded as dangeroas. Other species would 
require the most careful and prolonged experimenting 
with before they could be liberated. 
SEED-DESTBOYING INSECTS. 
As to the results obtained from the seed -destroying 
species distributed throughout the Islands, I cannot 
personally supply much information. Although scores 
of parcels of the insects have been distributed, only 
four or five of those interested have reported results. 
I can only say that in the immediate neighbourhood 
of Honolulu, where I distributed the insects myself, 
complete success was rapidly attained. Throughout 
the length of the Pacific Heights car line it is hardly 
possible to obtain a good seed, and in many places 
the insects are actually starving from their excessive 
numbers. Frequently some solitary flower on a bush 
contains several eggs of one or other insect, though 
it is quite insufficient alone to bring to maturity 
even one of these. 
The small seed-eating fly flourishes as high as 2,000 
feet in the mountains, and has been reported to me 
as having reached 2,500 feet. I have no doubt some 
of the other insects will extend to greater elevation still, 
or at least as high as the extreme range of the lantana 
itself. No doubt members of the Association can 
supply full information on the spread and effect of 
the lantana insects in many districts of the Islands. 
Such information is much needed by me, as it is 
the intention of the Entomological Division of the 
Boai-d of Agriculture to prepare a bulletin giving a 
full account of the work that has been accom- 
plished. 
To show 
THE COMPLICATED NATUBE OP THE PBOBLEM 
that presented itself to Mr. Koebele when he was 
at work in Mexico, I may mention that the 
collection of insects made by him from lantana in 
that country amounted to nearly four hundred distinct 
species, and to these must be added about one 
hundred more, chiefly very minute parasites, bred by 
me here from material forwarded from Mexico. A 
large number of these species I have brought with me 
for inspection by those interested — H- Forester. 
PLANTING AND OTHER NOTES. 
Pabasitism OP Sandalwood Seedlings. — The fol- 
lowing regwding seedlings of the sandalwood tree 
being parasites is written to our contemporary by Mr. 
(1. W. Thompson. The sandalwood {Santalum album) 
is not a native of the Circars, of the Vizagapatam 
district at any rate. Bat having found it doing well 
some years ago in Ajmere, I got up four seers of 
fresh seed from Mysore, in Octooer last year, and put 
the seed dowa in beds under shade. Only some 
three hundred yoang suedlings came up, which I 
potted and am having put oot ia different places 
this year. The nursery was made under a clump 
of Eugenia jamholana trees. When lifting up the 
seedlings from the beds, I noticed that their young 
root fibres bad already attached themselves ta the 
roots of the E. jambolana, little cushions indicating 
the points of attachment. The connections were 
always made with the small root-fibres of the Eugenia 
and not with the larger roots. The soil of the seed 
beds being a more or less stifliah clay, I was not 
successful in attempting to secure specimens showing 
the root-attachments snffiiiently clearly. However, 
since the observations were carefully mside bv me, 
I have no doubt about the root -connections. There 
is therefore one more species to be added to the list 
of 'hosts' of the sandalwood tree alroadv given in 
the Indian Forester. In this connection I also noted 
that such of the seedlings as had not formed root- 
attachments always appeared sickly, with scanty 
yellowish leaves ; whereas the others were always 
vigorous and healthy looking plants. Those in the 
pots are doing well, although they have no oppor- 
tunity of forming root-connections with other species, 
and this I attribute to the leaf moiild mixed with the 
soil in the pots. 
