VIII 
PEPPERS 
273 
This insect is a species of Centrotus, one of the 
Membracidae belonging to the order of Hemiptera. 
I have found in Singapore one of these Centroti on 
the pepper plants and it may be the same as the one 
described by Mr. Hewitt, but it is rather brown than 
black. The little animal is ^ in. in length, and of a 
dark amber brown colour, lighter coloured beneath from 
the pale pubescence on its underside. Its eyes are large 
and far apart. Its body is somewhat of an inverted 
boat shape and stout in proportion to its length. From 
the angles of its square thorax spring two curved horns, 
giving it from a front view the appearance of a goat’s 
head. The wings are appressed together and flattened, 
and from the thorax lying over them for two -thirds of 
their length is a long horizontal spine. The legs are 
rather long. This insect attacks the flower spike 
with its short beak, which it thrusts into the spike to 
suck the juices. It is a quick, active animal, and can 
walk, jump, or fly. Indeed, it is rather difficult to 
catch it. 
Another small plant bug, which is equally destructive, 
is a small, black, flattened creature which creeps along 
the spike, sucking it with its beak. This is known as 
Elasmognaihus Hewittii. Another species of Elasmo- 
gnathus, probably E. Greenii, is recorded by P. 
Konigsberger [Bulletin agric. Ind, neerlandaises, xx. 
6-8) as attacking pepper at Sontang in Borneo. This 
species punctures the leaves and makes brown spots 
on them. It does not, however, seem to seriously injure 
the plant. 
In Sarawak Mr. Hewitt also found a small, flattened, 
green bug, peculiar from having its sides fringed with 
tiny spines. It is an immature form, probably of some 
species of Centrocnemis. The insect was a very sluggish 
animal, but a serious pest. 
The best method of dealing with this class of animal 
is by spraying the vines with a decoction of tuba-root 
[Derris ellijptica), or some of the well-known insecticides, 
such as nicotine. 
T 
