The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-10-11
PROF. kOT|NsKY
ON MAUI BLIGHT

At meeting of the Manoa Improve
ment Club held at the residence of
Judge Cooper, Puupueo, the other night,
it was resolved that the club take
action in regard to the acquisition as
public club park of the premises at
the junction of upper and lower Manoa
roads with Kamehameha avenue.
! A vote of thanks was rendered the
Board of County Supervisors for the
excellent completion of the Manoa road
| from Punahou to Kamehameha avenue.
The following interesting letter from
Prof. Kotinsky, the entomologist of the
Board of Commissioners of Agriculture
and Forestry, was read and discussed:
Honolulu, Hawaii, June "a, 1907.
To the President and Members of the
Manoa Improvement Club, Homo
lulu, T. H.
Gentlemen: In response to a request
ure in addressing to you the following
notes relating to the so-called Maui
blight" elsewhere known as lantana
scale (Orthezia insignis. Douglass.
AS elsewhere pointed out by Mr..
Koebele and myself, this insect was
not introduced by Mr.. Koebele. 1t is
not, known by whom the insect was
originally introduced into these IS
lands, but some ten or twelve years
ago it was discovered by Brother
Frank of Wailuku and Mr.. G. P. VIZ
der, on Maui, opposite the Catholic
school at Wailuku, whence the name
Maui blight" 1t is a common green
house pest in the States, where it is
called the greenhouse Orthezia." Mex
leo is probably it's native home, which
is apparently also of lantana, it's prin-
cipal host. 1t is, however, recorded
also from England. South Africa, Maui
ritius, Ceylon, China, Brazil, British
Guiana, Trinidad, Jamaica, Mexico and
the United States, on the following
plants: Cnleus, lantana, ipomoeca,
thunbergia, strobilanthus. verbena,
achillea, saliva, cuphea, capsicum,
ageratum, vernonia, gardenia, chrys-
anthemum, lonicera, various species of
citrus, tea plant, strawberry. tomato.
and many other plants. This list will
give you an idea of its possibilities for
evil. The entomologist of Ceylon, who
is a specialist in this group of insects,
was very much apprehensive of results
when it's presence was discovered in
that country. Mr.. Koebele also, who
has Travelled so far and wide, was very
much exercised when it's presence on
these islands became known to him.
He has expressed his opinion in the
matter in one of his reports to the
government several years ago. 1t is
true that thus far, because OF it's injury
to lantana, it has been more of a
blessing than an evil to US. The few
plants other than lantana that it has
been found infesting here are of in
sufficient consequence to justify radl-
cal measures. Should such become nee
essary, we are aware of effective para
sites of the pest existing in its home
in Mexico and could introduce them
quite readily. In the case OF city gar
dens in which plants subject to attack
by this insect are grown, some degree
of protection may be gained by clear
ing neighboring lots of infested Ian
tana. The insect is dark gray in color,
but profusely covered with waxy fla
ments forming a rather pretty pat
tern. A number of these filaments pro-
ject considerably behind the insect,
forming a sack, within which the eggs
are deposited. In all stages of its life
it bears legs and antennae, but the
male alone is endowed with wings. The
presence of useful legs in this group
of insects is not very common. By
means Of these legs the insect man
ages to traverse short distances, but,
as in the case of other scale bugs, its
principal means of transportation are
doubtless wind, birds (on their feeD
and other insects not forgetting man.
Its presence upon a plant is usually
manifested by the dirty, black, sooty
appearance of the leaves and stems.
This is caused by the accumulation
of dust and moldy growth in the
honey-dew excreted by the insects. AS
the insects congregate on the under
sides of leaves the honey-dew natural
ly falls to the upper surface of the
leaves below, which accounts Tor the
common presence of the sooty film on
the upper surface of the leaves.
Outside of general predators, like the
Hawaiian kissing bug" (Zelus perez
grinus) which probably destroys some
of the scale insects occasionally, there
are no enemies of it existing on the
islands. In view of the large ranching
interests here that consider this blight
as an agent of lantana destruction, |
and since its attack upon useful plants
is, so far, next to no Importance, we
would be scarcely justified in intro
ducing a specific parasite. Should oc-
casion require it, however, 1 feel quite
certain that it could be done. Re-
spectfully yours.
JACOB KOTINSKY,
Assistant Entonologist.