The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-05-19
THE CABBAGE BUTTERFLY
PEST WHICH HAS ESTABLISHED
ITSELF HERE.
Professor Koebele's Description of the
Pieris Rapae-How to Destroy the
Lantana.

Apropos of the cabbage butterfly,
which has appeared in such profusion
in and about Honolulu, Professor Koe-
belle, writes in his report to the Minis
ter of the Interor:-
1.-The insect is a native of Europe and
has appeared in North America about
1857. Here it was first noticed during
September, and is now quite common
in and around Honolulu, having I'M
doubleday been brought over on cab
| bageS from California where it appear
ed some four years since. The yellow
ish longitudinally ribbed eggs are de-
posted generally on the under side OF
the leaves; from this the young larvae
hatch in a few days and begin their
destructive work upon various cruel
ferrous plants, particularly the cabbage.
1t is known in America to feed also up
on caulifiower, mustard, turnip, radish,
mignonette, sweet alysum, gilly flower
and nasturtium. Ordinarily, the larvd
requires about two weeks until it be-
comes fully grown, here the time for its
development will be considerably less
and as it breeds equally fast all the
year round, it soon will spread over all
the Islands, and some of the native
crucferae will not be exempt from It's
attacks. The full grown larva is pale
green. finely dotted with black, with a
yellowish strip down the back and a
row of yellow spots along each side, yet
none of the yellow markings are dis
tinct. The chrysalid is variable in color,
generally pale green and speckled with
fine black spots. 1t is said in the Unit
ed States that the chrysalid during
warm weather, in summer, becomes a
butterfly usually in about two weeks;
we have bred it here in half that time"
The professor is breeding parasites to
prey on this mischiveous butterfly
! NK-bif h OF Il loot 70
will assist nature in establishing an
equilibrium"
LANTANA.
While in the States of Morelos, Mex
leo, during September the lantana
question was looked into somewhat.
Naturally, in its native home it may be
expected that numerous insects will
live upon the same and in consequence
the plant is never found to be a pest
| as it proves in tropical countries where
it had been introduced.
The chief reason, no doubt, is the
scarcity of seeds the plant is able 10
produce Some five white Towering
plants found were examined, and upon
| the whole not more than some six ma
| ture seeds were noticed. Large num-
| bers of immature berries were collect
ed and from these various insects were
bred. A small trypeda fly, it's larvae
living within the seeds may be one of
| the most important. A cecidomyid fly,
a chalcid form may likely breed in the
seeds. small tineid was numerous,
yet more so a pyralid which Matched
out in large numbers.
The larvae of a small blue butterfly,
lycaena, is feeding upon the young
! seeds. Besides, we bred a large num-
Der of parasites living on the insects
above mentioned The forms of Ian
tana so prevalent here We're only seen
rarely and as small plants, apparently
producing a few good seeds yet on dis
section it will be found that nearly all
of these contain small larvae of dip
ferrous insect eating out the same. In a
pill box, some of these seeds were pre-
served and in due time a small black
| fly issued from some of them, the most
becoming too dry. The insect has been
pronounced a species of acromyza.
We are advised by authorities not to
attempt the introduction of any of
these insects, yet the cecidomyid and
acromyza flies deserve our attention,
whilst the rest of them are known to
be more or less injurious. BY a careful
study of the lantana and its enemies in
it's native country, we could doubtless
find numerous insects detrimental 10
the same, which could safely be intro
| duced here.
We have made arrangements for
seeds to be sent and shall proceed with
only the most careful caution.