SUMMARY OF INSECT CONDITIONS, IS BRAZIL FOR 1932 
Edson J. Hambleton 
Escola Superior de Agricultura e Veterinaria, Vicosa, Minas Geraes 
(Unless otherwise indicated, notes refer to Minas Geraes) 
SUGARCANE 
A sugarcane froghopper, Tomaspis liturata Lep. et Serv., without doubt 
was responsible for heavier losses in the Bonte rTova and Rio Branco zones 
this year. From February to May the damage was more noticeable when the fo- 
liage turned yellow and poor growth resulted. Growers are inclined to be- 
lieve that the better mosaic-resistant varieties are more seriously attacked. 
Five species of other grasses growing in and near cane fields have been 
found to harbor and serve as successful food plants. In the State of Rio 
de Janeiro this insect also caused serious losses in the cane fields. (C. 
Moreira. ) 
Another sugarcane froghopper, T. indent at a Walk., is evidently causing 
more injury than has been accredited to it heretofore. This snecies is wide- 
ly distributed in this section of the State.. It confines its feeding to the 
foliage while T. liturata feeds on the roots, near the surface of the soil. 
The sugarcane aphid, Anhi s sacchari Zehr.t., was observed this year for 
the first time in Fonte Nova, Rio Branco, and Vicosa. The infestation was 
quite generally distributed in Rio Branco, where considerable losses resulted. 
Pseudococcus spp. were more commonly encountered this season than hereto- 
fore in Vicosa sugarcane. 
Several specimens of Mahanarva indicata Walk, were intercepted at the 
College this yea,r in a small shipment of seed cane from Campos, State of Rio 
de Janeiro. This froghopper has not yet been observed in Vicosa. 
The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis Fab., was common through most of 
the growing season but did not cause serious losses. In fact several growers 
reported it as being less abundant in several varieties this year. Buring 
April three egg masses of Diatra.ea were found parasitized by Tricho gramma sp. 
The West Indian cane weevil, Metamasius hemipterus L. , caused complete 
loss in several hectares of newly planted erne in Rio Branco during February. 
In Vicosa this species has been observed only in banana. This insect caused 
considerable loss in a small banana planting at the College during July. 
Two species of Thysanoptera, yet unidentified, were encountered in abun- 
dance in young cane at the College from March to May. 
A sugarcane stalk mite, probably belonging to the genus Tarsonemus, has 
been found to be quite common in the variety F. 0. J. 2714. It causes small 
blisters on the stalks while these are still covered by the leaf sheaths. 
