( ^ ) 
ENTOMOLOaiST « REPORT. 
During the past year the usual work of correspondence, research, and experiment has been 
carried on. Local correspondence shows an increasing interest in, and appreciation of, the work and 
aims of the Department. In addition to advice to local planters, letters of inquiry and specimens for 
report have been repeatedly received from Southern India, especially since the much-to-be-regretted 
death of Mr. Lionel de Niceville, the talented Entomologist lately attached to the Indian Museum. 
Owing to the scarcity of students in this particular branch, considerable collections of '-scale insects" 
(Goccidce) have been received from foreign countries for determination. 
In January an extended tour was made through the Maskeliya, Dikoya, Bogawantalawa, and 
Balangoda districts, during which I had an opportunity of investigating on the spot several prominent 
insect pests, notably the "Tea Tortrix" {Capua coffe.aria, Nietn.), and a kind of "white ant" 
{Terines sj).) that has been doing considerable injiiry to otherwise healthy tea plants. Meetings of the 
local branches of the Planters' Association in the same districts were attended, at which information 
on enconomic entomology was given and disciission invited. 
In March a trip to JafEna, occupying two weeks, was made in company with Dr. Holtermann, a 
iistinguished scientific visitor. The principal object of this tour was to investigate the insect pests of 
nich native-grown products as tobacco, gingelly, palmirah, and the various grains. These crops were 
^ound to be remarkablj' free from attack this year, though several serious pests have been previously 
■eported from the Northern Provinces. 
The Gampola district was visited in July, where the " Shot-hole borer " {Xyleboriis fornicatas) — 
, serious enemy of the tea plant — was made the special subject of investigation. 
In the same month the Rangala district was visited for the purpose of studying a pest of the 
sardamom plant. 
In August a special visit was made to Colombo, at the request of the Municipal Council, to study 
he habits of the " Lake fly " (Ghironoinus sp.), a pest that has attracted much attention in the neiglibour- 
lood of the Colombo lake. These flies do not cause any actual injury, but make themselves 
ibjectionable by their habit of swarming into the bungalows at night (attracted by the lights), invading 
he food, and immolating themselves in the lamps in enormous numbers. The complete life-history 
f the insect was discovered, and an exhaustive report made advising the best means of removing 
he nuisance. 
A tour in the Kelani Valley was planned for November in connection with the so-called " Mosquito 
>light " of tea {Helopeltis antonii). But this visit was i^ostponed until the conditions should be more 
avourable for study. 
Experiments are being conducted, with satisfactory results, to ascertain the connection between 
ttacks of tea-mites and pruning. These experiments tend to show that injury from these pests may 
e very largely avoided by regulating the time of pruning, but a longer period is required to obtain 
pcurate data. 
Experiments are also being conducted with a view to the efficient destruction of " white ants " 
ermites). Various means have been tried, but nothing promises such complete success as bisulphide 
L carbon, which proved absolutely fatal to these pests in the limited experiments that I was able to 
Lake. The difficulty is that at present, owing to the exceedingly inflammable nature of the gases given 
I by the bisulphide, the shipping companies refuse to carry the compound, and it appears impossible 
obtain it in any quantity in Ceylon. With the advent of special steamers for the transport of 
cplosives, this difficulty should eventually be removed. 
The question of quarantine continues to receive attention. All Wardian ca"5 ?s recei .-ed at the 
atanical Gardens are promptly fumigated with hydrocyanic acid gas before the contained plants are 
stribiited. The Legislative Council has now passed an Ordinance providing for the effective treatment 
all imported plants, and a fumigatorium is being erected for the purpose in Colombo. It is hoped 
at imported fruit (a fertile source of introduction of noxious insects) will be subjected to similar 
latment. The same Ordinance empowers the Government to absolutely prohibit the importation of 
oclaimed plants from countries known to be subject to specially dangerous pests of such plants. 
Sericulture would appear to be an industry particularly suited to the natives of Ceylon. Efforts 
being made to introduce a good stock of silkworm, and if the results are satisfactory, it is hoped that 
Sinhalese may be induced to interest themselves in the cultivation of silk. 
Circulars dealing with the Helopeltis insect and the "Mosquito-Malaria" question have been 
ued from the Department. 
Fuller particulars of the miscellaneous work of the division of entomology will be published 
Jrtly in the form of a Circular. 
E. ERNEST GREEN. 
