The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1913-05-23

itterranean fruit--fy in Hawaii provid
ed they will acclimatize themselves TO
existing conditions in the Territory.
You must remember Nthat the native
habitat of these insects on the West
Coast of Africa is much more tropical
and the temperature therefore much
higher than in Hawaii. Notwithstand
ing this ! have every hope that some,
if not all, of the species will establish
themselves in due course and this in
my opinion they will accomplish pro.
vided the conditions for their multi.
plication are good. 1t is probable
that badly infested district on one
of the other islands where clean cul-
turc methods do not obtain will give
the parasites a better opportunity to
multiply than is at present found in
Honolulu.
One Colony Died En- Route.
"Of the parasites successfully intro-
duced three are on the maggot or
larva itself and two others on the pupa
or chrysalls. One other important
and very interesting species / very
much regret having failed to success,
fully introduce, the colony having
been unable to stand the numerous
changes met with en- route to Honolulu
from Africa.
Already at Work.
$50 far L am quite satisfied with
the way the parasites are taking hold
Of the fruit-fy material whilst in cap
tivity. The colonies are at present in
glass tubes and jars and have already
begun active work. Barring accidents,
and climatic conditions being suitable
they should reproduce themselves in
large numbers within the next two or
three months. As soon as strong col
onies can be reared these will be dis
tributed not only in Honolulu but also
in localities in the other Islands where
fruit-fy is abundant
"The parasites above mentioned
were introduced as adult insects and
not in the larval or pupal form; all of
them were cared for en- route in large
glass tubes. No hosts whatever were
handled by me on the voyage.
Search for Roll Worm Foe.
~ am sorry to say L did not come
across any parasites for the species of
cotton boil worm which you have here
in Hawaii. Whilst searching for para
sites on the fruit-hy / devoted much
attention to the boil worm but did not
find it in evidence anywhere in the
parts of West Africa / visited. / Sc.
cured some information, however, as to
possible localities on the East Coast
where this particular species of boil
worm is said to exist and if opportun-
lily is afforded me later on / may be
in position to succeed in securing eff
fective parasites on that pest.
Melon Fly Parasite.
81 was also aware that you have
had the melon fly here in Hawaii fol-
some years and the president of the
board of agriculture and forestry in
securing my services particularly re
| ferred to this pest as well as that of
the cotton boil worm. | was unable
and in fact did not expect, to find that
particular species of fruit-fy in, West
| Africa. 1t belongs to an entirely diff
ferent genus of fruithies from that OF
the so-callcd Mediterranean fly and is
supposed to have its home in India
where | have no doubt it has its nat
ural parasites. Should / go to East
Africa at some future time to searcl
for parasites on the cotton boil worn
it would be an easy matter to take il
Ind a on that particular expedition ant
good results would possibly ensue. Ii
West Africa !, however, met with on
or two other species of the same genus
Of fruit-fies as your melon fly anC
from these bred parasites
81 am already experimenting witt
the pupae of the melon fly in the Homo
lulu insectary, and would not be a
all surprised to find that one or NOR,
of the parasites I have just introduce,
may incidentally if not effectively at
tach themselves also to the meloi
fruit-hy. 1t is, however, altogethe
impossible to give any. assurances oil
this point any more than it is possib
TO say that any of the parasites vii
surely acclimatiZe themselves and d
effective work in Hawaii under natura
conditions as they undoubtedly do il
their native habitat as well as in CAP
tivity in the inseetarv.
Altogether Problematical.
Objective parasitic work is alto
gether problematical and the fact tina
the success obtained in securing
parasite on any particular pest or o
its introduction into any country mus
not he intended to mean that its fina
establishment under natural condition
is foregone conclusion. Whilst II.
wall has heretofore been specially SUI
cessfnl in parasitic research work b'
cause of the eminent scientists VIII
have Eeen in charge of field and lal
oratory operations other countries hay
, not all met with equal success. | her
. particularly refer to the successfl
work done by the entomologists of tn
{ Hawaiian sugar planters association
Combating insect pests by means {
, natural insect enemies is not universi
by any means and such work migl
! well be considered as only Just beguI
G In this particular line of entomolog
I am most interested having alread
e introduced into the agricultural di
/. tricts of Italy many beneficial insect