13 
X 
Insect Notes. 
The green scale (Lecanium viride) still continues its depre¬ 
dations in the low country on coffee, citrus, and ixora bushes in 
spite of the fungus parasite (Cephalosporium lecanii) which has 
found a more congenial home and keeps in check more easily 
the scale insect above 1000 feet elevation. This fungus para¬ 
site has also been found this year attacking lecanium tessella- 
tum on cinnamon. 
Another scale insect of world wide distribution (Aspidiotus 
ficus) which the oldest inhabitants have known from childhood 
has extended its depredations during the last three years in 
various islands of the archipelago, some at 150 miles distance 
from Mahe, thus showing the effect if some unknown factor 
(probably climatic) on the spasmodic propagation of this species. 
Coconut trees were virulently attacked, the trees attacked being 
scattered about in a given plantation and not necessarily in the 
same grove, but it is a great mistake to think that these palms 
are the only food plants of this insect locally called barnacle 
scale. 
Other trees and also shrubs which are used as props for 
growing vanilla between lines of cococut trees : Frangipane 
(Plumeria acuminata). Breadfruit (Artocarpus incisa), pseudo 
sago palm (Cycas officinalis) Citrus and Roses are also food 
plants of this insect. I always found it on one of these plants 
in a more or less dormant state on all the estates which I 
visited. Frangipane is one of the worst plants to grow between 
lines of coconut trees as it is also attacked by another very 
dangerous scale insect (Lecanium hesperidum). The presence 
here and there of trees such as Takamaka (Calophyllum 
Inophyllum) between lines of coconut palms has also been 
found to propagate another allied scale (Lecanium tessellatum) 
which also attacks coconut palms besides being always present 
on Cinnamon plants which are also used as props for vanilla in 
or near coconut plantr ons. It is therefore important when 
destroying the barna scale (Aspidiotus ficus) on coconut trees 
not to keep a host of food plants in the neighbourhood, the 
evil on coconut palms being done not only by this small scale 
but also by Lecanium tessellatum. Aspidiotus ficus spreads 
suddenly after remaining dormant for years but it also stops 
its depradations quite as suddenly as noticed in several parts of 
Mahe, where it was complained of as a pest in one year and 
taken no notice of the next year. It seems however important 
that this insect should be combated when it is in its dormant 
state especially on those bushes such as Cycads and roses 
which are more easily accessible than tall coconut trees. The 
insect is fatal to young coconut trees suffering from drought 
or from unsuitable soil conditions and its presence is clearly 
noticeable at a distance on these plants by the spotted appear¬ 
ance of the leaves. It propagates as much in wet years as in 
dry years. The lemon coloured youngs are very conspicuous with 
a lens actively moving about on the leaves preparatory to re~ 
maining attached, a few hours after, for the rest of their lives. 
In destroying attacked coconut leaves one should also be care¬ 
ful to burn or scorch the younger leaves which conceal quite 
as many insects just visible as dots to the naked eye. There 
are very few parasites of this insect which have been found as 
yet, only an infinitesimal proportion showing holes in their skins 
punctured by some hymenopterous fly. Before ending this 
chapter on scale insects, it may be interesting to record that 
Lecanium hesperidum and Lecanium tessellatum have been 
found to infest leaves of water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes). 
In countries where this water plant is a pest these scale bugs 
may be considered beneficial. 
The scale insects are always accompanied in their depreda¬ 
tions by ants which seem to play an important part in their 
distribution. For this reason it was considered urgent to study 
the life history of the commonest of these ants (Technomyrmex 
albipes) which has also become household pest by itself. 
These black ants are supposed by the public to have been 
introduced in 1904 from Ceylon in a consignment of coconut, 
cacao, nutmeg and Hevea rubber seedlings which arrived by 
H. M. S. “Merlin”. 
