Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-05-23

of these Matched in this period. Should
any bird or parasitic insect be import.
cd which would diminish the numbers
Of or exterminate these wasps, an
tiCipate that the caterpillars would do
excessive damage both to cane and pas.
ture lands. the more so as on account OF
their habits they would be themselves
little subject to the attacks Of birds.
Unlike the caterpillars just mention.
ed, which will eat the leaves young or
old alike, the well-known "peelua'
feeds only on the very young leaves
Moreover II feeds unconCealed. while
the others always hide themselves by
fastening two leaves or two parts of a
leaf together with silk, and live in tho
space between the two surfaces. Seeing
that the "peelua" is highly injurious
TO pasture land. occurring in countless
thousands locally and at irregular i'm
tervals II Is surprising that 1t has not
come into greater prominence as an
enemy of cane. 1t has been recorded
as injurious to cane in these islands
under the name of.Laphygma frigiper.
da. which is well-known injurious
species in America. but II appears to
have been wrongly identified with that
insect. The long and short-horned
grasshoppers also eat the leaves OF
cane. The latter (OxyaD is recorded as
an enemy of cane in Java also. Here
it Is chiefly to be found in cane at high
er elevations or in wet districts; in
lower and dry localities its place is
taken by the long-horned grasshopper,
although the two may often be found
together. The increase of the latter is
quite remarkable. Introduced no doubt
year or two previously to 1902 In that
year II was one of the rarest of the ISL
and insects. being found sparsely only
in the Pauoa valley. Now II Is found
throughout Oahu and Is represented by
millions of individuals. II is partial 10
corn, sorghum and various grasses as
well as cane. The short-horned species
, had no doubt been introduced long
prior to the long-horned. but II Is near
. ly certain that 1t was not here twenty
that another and very different short
horned species has been imported with
! in the last few years and is now firmly
established although not yet numerous.
The plant-louse and mealy-bug are
certainly locally injurious, as they are
found in great numbers together. II
is noteworthy that whereas the latter,
when attacking other vegetation, are
easily kept in check by the imported
lady-birds, this Is not the case in the
cane fields. where the bugs lie conceal
ed at the extreme base of the leaves
and appear to be inaccessible to their
destroyers. Further observations are
II not in accessible. the cane could
probably be easily rid of these bugs
by turning out quantities OF the proper
kinds of lady-birds in the field. The
Nitidulid beetle breeds in the parts in
jured by these disgusting insects
The "leaf-hoppers" where present In
excessive numbers must materially in.
jure the cane. The eggs are laid be.
meath the surface of the thicker parts
of the leaf and are placed, several to-
gether. in a small chamber formed by
the ovipositor of the female parent
Their position is readily identified by
the scar and disCOloration at the spot
where the leaf has been pierced. The
young which hatch from these eggs
leave the chamber and feed externally
often iD great numbers toEr,h by
sucking the juices of the plant.
The eXCretiOns Of the several pre-
ceding insects afford a suitable medium
for fungoid growths.
The amount of injury done by many
of the insects have enumerated above
is, as you will observe. quite profile
matlcal. In cases where without APP
parent reason It, e., when soil, water
supply. etc, are all satisfactory tho
cane does not seem as vigorous as
might be, It is possible that injury il
done by some of the above named in
sects. which might easily escape notice
or injury may have been done at an
early stage of the growth Of the cane
and the cause of its deterioration would
not be evident In the mature crop.
go. As regards the insect commonly
called "leaf-hopper" can you give in.
formation concerning the period In
which the different species were frs
, noticed on these Islands by you on can,
or other plants? Also do you belev,
these insects to have come to this couu
try In cane importations?
Work Of "LeaI Hoppers."
or the two species of "leaf-hoppers
which are found in the cane fields on
has certainly existed in the Islands 70
more than ten years and both may hav
J done so. Unfortunately Uhe specie
, being much alike superfcially) ! an
not able to say whether specimens tax
en- by me In the early part of 10Y col
leCtng in these Islands belonged to on
or both species. There Is at present il
the press a work on the island specie
of this group based on the materia
collected by me during the past tel
years which may be published any da
and will probably furnish the informa
ton required. At least 1t Is CeTtail
that the two cane field species hav
been imported for they have not tn
least resemblance to the many indigo
nous species, which frequent the for
ests and are peculiar to these Islands
Whether these imported species ar
identical with any of the several specie
alranH,, known N ha in iurinug n on n