QUEENSLAND BUREAU OF SUGAR EXPERIMENT STATIONS DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY BULLETIN No. 3, Notes on Insects | Damaging Sugar-Cane in Queensland EDMUND JARVIS, Entomologist. 1916, BRISBANE : : By Authority: Anthony James Cumming, Government Printer QUEENSLAND BUREAU OF SUGAR EXPERIMENT STATIONS DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY BULLETIN No. 3. Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar-Cane in Queensland EDMUND JARVIS, Entomologist. LESFiG: BRISBANE : By Authority: Anthony James Cumming, Government Printer. Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, Brisbane, 31st March, 1916. The Under Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Stock, Brisbane. Str,—I have the honour to submit for publication, as Bulletin No. 3 of the Division of Entomology of the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, the following notes on ‘‘ Insects damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland,’’ by Mr. Edmund Jarvis. I have, &e., HARRY T. EASTERBY, General Superintendent. Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar-Cane in Queensland By EDMUND JARVIS, Entomologist INTRODUCTION. Durine the course of recent experimentation relative to the control of ‘* white grubs ’’ in our Northern canefields opportunities were afforded for studying the economy of common insect pests of this important plant, some of which, although fortunately less harmful than certain species of root-eating Scarabaeidae, are nevertheless decidedly injurious to sugar-cane, and have not hitherto been figured or described. This research work was conducted under the direction of the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, at Gordonvale Experimental Laboratory, situated in the Cairns district—a sub-tropical portion of the State favoured with an annual average rainfall exceeding 92 inches, while the yearly minimum and maximum temperatures range respectively from 68-4 to 83-7 degrees Fahr. The land around Gordonvale is for the most part of voleanic origin, formed of friable soils varying in colour from light-red to chocolate, the latter class being as a rule deep and exceedingly fertile; but includes also extensive alluvial deposits composed of rich sandy or clay-loams eminently suitable for the culti- vation of sugar-cane. The surrounding country, which is uniformly flat and almost en- circled by mountain ranges, supports a somewhat stunted vegetation consisting principally of eucalypts and acacias, with an undergrowth of coarse grasses interspersed with various low-growing herbaceous plants. . The following notes must be considered simply as a brief record of field and other observations, made during a period of about twelve months, and confined almost exclusively to a very limited area within two miles radius of Gordonvyale. Messrs. Girault and Dodd have recently published details of pre- liminary work regarding the metamorphosis of several injurious cock- chafers (Qld. Bureau Sugar Expt. Stns., Div. Ent., Bull. No. 2, 1915), so that in dealing with this section of cane pests (Section E in the present bulletin) I have avoided a recapitulation of facts already known, and merely recorded personal observations on the control, parasitism, and general appearance of adults of our more important root-eating cane beetles, referring the reader to Bull. No. 2 of this Bureau for data respecting the life-cycle of Lepidiota albohirta and other allied forms. 4 Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. Similarly, when alluding to such well known pests as the ‘‘ Beetle Borer *? (Rhabdocnemis obscurus), and ‘‘ Army Worm ’’ (Cirphis wni- puncta), specific characters, ete., are omitted, as the student may, if inclined, consult a mass of existing literature dealing comprehensively with the subject. Descriptions of general colouration indicate the appearance of larval, pupal, or adult forms when viewed with the naked eye, and are purposely worded in simple language with a view to enabling cane- growers to recognise specimens. A small glossary comprising the few technical terms made use of will be found on page 43, and should prove very helpful. Details respecting puncturation, sculpture, scales, and the anatomy of insects were for the most part observed with an ordinary pocket lens of moderate power. I have not attempted a general treatment of the question of repres- sive methods, feeling that the scope of this handbook precludes extended discussion of so important a subject, and beheving that it would be wiser to postpone the publication of fullest information on this heading until such times as it may become advisable to issue leaflets or pamphlets dealing with individual species. All localities of infestation, unless otherwise specified, to be taken as meaning Gordonvale. Original illustrations are by the author; photos by the Qld. Dept. of Agriculture. My thanks are due to Dr. A. J. Turner, Brisbane; Mr. A. M. Lea, South Australia; Mr. W. J. Rainbow, F.L.S., and Mr. W. W. Froggatt oo 7, F.L.S., New South Wales; and Mr. G. Lyell, of Gisborne, Victoria, for the identification of several doubtful species. In view of the fact that our insect pests of sugar-cane include representatives of several natural orders, and consequently differ greatly in habits, I have thought it best to arrange them under the following five headings, one of which (Section E) has for convenience been further subdivided into two classes. Section A—Insects boring Cane-stalk and Mid-rib of Leaf. Section B—Insects eating ‘‘ Sets ’’ and Stalk below ground. Section C—Insects attacking the Foliage. Section D—Sap-sucking Insects. Section E—Insects devouring the Roots. Class I—Notably Injurious species. Class I1.—Slightly Injurious species. Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. 5 PLATE I. Fig. 1—Phragmatiphila truncata, Walk. ‘‘ Noctuid Moth Borer” (natural size). A.—Horns on tail-end of pupa of same (magnified ; Q. Dep. Ag.). Fig. 2—Diatraea saccharalis, Fabr. ‘* Moth Stalk-Borer”’ (enlarged ; after Howard, U.S. Dep. Agric.) Fig. 3—Rhabdocnemis obscurus, Boisd. ‘* Beetle Borer’ (enlarged). B.—Grub of same (natural size ; after Terry). Fig. 4—Polyocha sp. ‘‘ Moth Shoot-Borer”’ (natural size ; original). Fig. 6—Lozxostoma sp. ? ‘“* Bud Moth” (magnified 4 times ; original). (See also Plate II). Fig. 7—Cosmopteryx sp. ‘‘ Leaf-Rib Borer” (magnified 5 times). c.—Larva of same (highly magnified). p.—Nature of injury to mid-rib of cane leaf (all original). Fig. 11—* White Ant” (Termes meridionalis, Frogg). Antennae and part of head of soldier ant (enlarged). E.—Mandible of same (highly magnified). ¥.—Antenna of same (highly magnified ; all original) Fig. 19—Cirphis unipuncta, Haw. “‘Army Worm ”’ (natural size). G.—Caterpillar or cutworm of same (natural size; after Wills). Fig. 25—Euproctis holoxutha, Turner. ‘‘ Brown-tail Moth” (natural size). H.—Wing scales of same (highly magnified ; original), 6 Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. : a WHT CLAN Ze at WS E. Jarvis, Del. Q. Dep. Ag. Photos. PLATE I. Insects attacking Stalk, Foliage, and “Sets’’ of Sugar Cane. Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. 7 Section A.—Insects boring Cane-stalk and Mid-rib of Leaf. (1) “* Noetuid Moth-Borer.”’ (Phragmatiphila truncata, Walk.) (2) “ Moth Stalk-Borer.” (Diatraea saccharalis, Fabr.). (3) “ Beetle Borer.” (Rhabdocnemis obscurus, Boisd.). (4) “* Moth Shoot-Borer.”? (Polyocha sp.). (5) “ Bud Moth,” No. 1. (Opogona glycyphaga, Meyr.). (6) “ Bud Moth,” No. 2. (Loxostoma ? sp.). (7) “ Leaf-Rib Borer.” (Cosmopteryz sp.). (1) PHRAGMATIPHILA TRUNCATA, Walk. (Family NOCTUIDAE). Synonymy—Nonagria exitiosa, Oliff.: Leucania leonina, Walk. iMate Bigs alesosno: This species has long been familiar to entomologists under the name of Nonagria exitiosa, and as far back as 1891 was recorded as a serious cane pest In New South Wales. It has been taken also in South Aus- tralia and Tasmania, and in our own State occurred injuriously in the Mulgrave district in 1907, and later (1909) at Bundaberg, but up to the present has not, I understand, occasioned serious damage in Northern (Queensland. In the course of investigation at Pyramid it was noticed that larvae of this insect generally gnaw one or more holes about a sixteenth of an inch in diameter through the sides of affected shoots, usually close to the ground, but sometimes just above it. Happily for the grower, these tiny holes—which apparently act as safety valves for the escape of car- bonie acid gas, and admittance of fresh air to the interior—afford a ready means of ingress to parasitic and predaceous foes, which doubtless destroy large numbers of the caterpillars. The notorious ant Pheidole megacephala is not slow to take advantage of so ready a means of invad- ing the tunnels, and I am of opinion that in the event of its thorough establishment on a plantation might prove an important controlling factor in this connection. Its presence, however, is undesirable in cane- fields infested by the ‘‘ beetle borer ’’? Rhabdocnemis obscurus, as this ant is known to seriously check the increase of certain dipterous para- sites that help to control the ravages of weevil borers. Two kinds of hymenopterous insects have been previously recorded as parasitic on P. truncata in New South Wales. One of these, Apanteles nonagriae, is credited with destroying about fifty per cent. of the caterpillars, while the other hymenopteron, Euplectus howardi, attacks the pupa, effectually preventing the emergence of myriads of moths that would otherwise cause immense damage. Probably these, and other valuable parasites, occur also in Queensland. Larvae collected at Pyramid yielded specimens of a large tachinid fly, not yet identified. 8 Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. This pest was observed by the writer during October, 1914, damag- ing ratoon and plant cane by tunnelling and killing the young suckers. Upon cutting open an affected shoot the centre was seen to be hollow, often down to the roots, and more or less choked with excreta; or else partly transformed into a brown evil-smelling mass of decomposing fibres. In September, when growth is just commencing, a single cater- pillar is able to kill many shoots; in some cases stools had lost over a dozen; this, however, was doubtless due to the presence of more than one borer. Injurious symptoms are very conspicuous in the field, as the central leaves of affected plants, being at once killed, turn brown in a few days. Description of Larva. General colour light-purplish, blotched indistinctly with dull white. Head bright to very dark red. Prothoracie collar light-yellow. Dorsal surface of 2nd and 3rd thoracic segments deeply wrinkled. Abdominal segments 1 to 8, with four black dots on dorsal area, each encircled by a whitish ring, the anterior pair closer together than the others, except on 8th segment, on which they are wider apart than the posterior pair; 9th segment with a row of six large smoky blotches close to posterior margin. Anal segment light-yellow, shining, with 8 dull yellow hairs arranged in two transverse rows, each hair being encireled by a tiny black ring. Spiracles surrounded by four very irregular unequal sized smoky blotches larger on 8th abdominal segment. All dots and blotches mark the site of a single short brown hair. Ventral surface dirty white, prolegs and sides of claspers vellow. Length, 25 mm. to 38 mm. (1 to 11% inches). The larva when disturbed invariably seeks the bottom of its tunnel, making no attempt to vacate it unless the shoot be sectioned lengthwise, when it drops hastily to the ground and remains motionless. When fully grown it pupates either in the centre of injured suckers amongst moist excreta, or outside close to the ground against the bases of dead canes, or under withered leaf-sheaths and débris previously webbed together to afford temporary protection. Description of Pupa. Reddish-yellow, darker on head, back, and anterior edges of seg- ments. Head-end abruptly rounded bluntly. Extremity of anal segment very dark red, flattened, with two short curved hooks turned up at an angle towards dorsal surface (see Plate I., Fig. A), and near them a short longitudinal groove on ventral area. Abdominal segments punc- tured near anterior margins, particularly on their dorsal surfaces. Length, 19 mm. The pupal stage of first brood in November occupies twelve days under an average shade temperature of 77 deg. F. Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. 9 Description of Moth. Fore-wings light yellowish silvery-brown, with a row of minute black dots on edge of outer border, an oblique irregular row near centre of wings, and a few dots on basal area. Hind-wings paler and without spots. Antenne setaceous in female and with two rows of pectinations in male. Wing expanse variable, averaging 114 inches. The eggs of the first Spring brood are laid towards the end of July. (2) DIATRAEA SACCHARALIS, Fabr. (Family CRAMBIDAE),. Plate I., Fig. 2, p. 6. Like the preceding insect this notorious moth appears to be under effective natural control in Queensland and cannot be classed as a serious pest. I have not yet had an opportunity of studying its life-history or economy. It will be of interest to mention, however, with reference to control measures, that experiments conducted in Texas, U.S.A., during 1914, showed that the average infestation of fields in which trash had been buried was 30-6 per cent., as against 76 per cent. in burned fields, the lower percentage being due to the destruction of egg parasites on the foliage and in the egg masses of borers attached to the leaves. The small proportion of borers left in cane tops and stubble after harvesting reappear the following season, and on plantations where trash is buried, or better still raked to the headlands, are met by their parasites, which are thus able to render great assistance by promptly destroying the eggs of the first brood of moths. (3) RHABDOCNEMIS OBSCURUS, Boisd. (Family CURCULIONIDAE),. Plate I., Fig. 3, p. 6. This formidable insect has apparently become firmly established in the Johnstone River district, where it not only exercises an appreciable influence on the quality and weight of crops but is said to annually destroy thousands of tons of cane. It was troublesome locally at Mackay and Mossman during 1909-11, and in June of the following year (1912) occurred in various localities at Innisfail, attacking Badila cane and occasioning serious losses. The Queensland Government Entomologist, Mr. Tryon, whilst in New Guinea discovered a tachinid parasite of this pest which subse- quently received the name of Ceromasia sphenophori, Vil., and in 1911 was introduced into Fiji, where it quickly spread and is now reported to be successfully combating the beetle-borer. Larve of this useful fly were later (1914) brought to North Queensland by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, and the imagines bred from same liberated among infested cane on the Johnstone River. Control measures practised by 10 Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. erowers in the above district consist in the use of well-known baits composed of short pieces of split cane which are laid on headlands. They have also found it a good plan to clean up all cane sticks lying on the ground, broken tops, &¢., these having been noticed to be more badly infested than undamaged cane. Mr. R. Davis, of Daraji, has observed that this beetle works in the centre as well as borders of a field and apparently prefers variety Badila to any other. (4) POLYOCHA, sp. (Family PYRALIDAE). Plate I., Fig. 4, p. 6. This interesting moth-borer, which has not previously been recorded as a cane pest in Queensland, was found by the writer damaging young ratoon shoots at Pyramid during November, the injury occasionally being identical in character with that caused by the well known ‘‘ Noctuid Moth-Borer’’ (Phragmatiphila truncata (see pages 7-8) ). Although of little economic importance, the species deserves mention in view of its harmful propensities and possible increase in the future. An allied species, Polyocha saccharella, Dugd., attacks sugar-cane in India. Description of Larva. General colour light bluish-green. Prothoracic-plate black, with anterior margin green. Second thoracic segment with a centro-dorsal smoky-brown blotch adjoining prothoracic-plate and enclosing a central black blotch. Abdominal segments with a dark-brown median line of blotches, and dorsal surface more or less clouded with light pink. Anal segment with a small terminal dark-brown plate, and red extermity. Prolegs green; anal claspers blotched on outer sides with dark brown. Head lght yellow; mandibles blaek. Body tapering towards each end and supporting a few seattered long white hairs. Length, about 11 mm. The larva pupates in its tunnel in the centre of the shoot; a specimen at the Laboratory assumed the pupal stage on 22nd November, the imago emerging on 12th December, after an interval of twenty days. Description of Pwpa. Yellowish-brown, darker on head-end. Abdominal segments coarsely punctate, except on hind margins—viz., about one-third width of seg- ment—which are smooth, and brown instead of cream-coloured. Extremity of anal segment blunt and rounded, but without hooks or spines. Length, 15 mm. Greatest width, 3-50 mm. Colouration of Moth. Fore-wings shaded with pinkish-gray; the nervures, costal border, and areas between lower radial nervure and inner margin of wing Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. 11 ereamy-white. Outer margin edged with three rows of flesh-coloured spatulate scales. Hind-wings pale silvery-yellow suffused with gray on apical area and extreme edge of outer margin. Head, thorax, and palpi pinkish-white, the last mentioned porrected and snout-like. Abdomen dark-gray, barred transversely with narrow silver bands; anal segment tufted with yellow seales. Centre and distal end of hind tibiw armed with two spurs of unequal length; intermediate tibiwe with two distal spurs. Wing expanse, 31 mm. (about 114 inches). Length of body, 15 mm. (5) OPOGONA GLYCYPHAGA, Meyr. (Family TINEIDAE),. Plate II., Fig. 5. 3-n., p. 13. Although of little economic importance, this insect occasionally proves injurious to seed cane, the caterpillars sometimes destroying as much as 80 per cent. of eyes in soft varieties like ‘* Clark’s Seedling ’’ (H.Q. 426). In addition to direct injuries of this nature, they feed on the leaf- sheath, gnaw the surface of the rind close to buds, and frequently bore into cane stalks, thus producing various wounds that court invasion from fungus diseases. Owing to secluded habits and the insignificant size of both larva and adult, a moderate infestation may easily remain unnoticed in the field, especially when affecting varieties of hard cane. ‘‘ Badila’’ is freely attacked at Gordonvale, but injuries appear to be confined principally to the epidermis of the rind in the immediate vicinity of nodes, and to softer basal portions of the leaf-sheath and arrow. The succulent leaf- stalks of the banana and fruit of the granadilla are also tunnelled by larve of this pest. Appearance of Larva. Body translucent; general colour pinkish-yellow. Head dark reddish-brown with several rather long yellow hairs. Prothoracic segment smooth and shining, pale-yellow, shading to brown on posterior half, - which constitutes a collar extending nearly to spiracles, and with a darker brown plate on each side on spiracular area forming a continua- tion of the dorsal collar but separated from it. Meso- and metathoracic segments each with 10 large yellowish-brown blotches of unequal size above spiracles, and a narrow transverse blotch between spiracles and legs. Abdominal segments with four small dark spots arranged in subdorsal lines extending the length of body, and four spots on each side grouped around spiracles. Ventral area of first, second, and last three abdominal segments with a transverse row of about eight smaller spots. Blotches on thoracie segments bear two yellow hairs, and abdominal spots a single hair. Anal segment terminated by a light re Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. PLATE II. Fig. 5—Opogona glycyphaga, Meyr. “ Bud Moth” (magnified 5 times ; Q. Dep. Ag.). J.—Pupa of same (magnified 5 times ; Q. Dep. Ag.). K.—Ventral surface of head of pupa at J 1 (magnified ; original), L.—Extremity of anal segment of pupa at J 2; as seen when pupa lies on its back with end of abdomen turned up (highly enlarged ; original), m.—‘‘ Bud Moth” in resting position (natural size). N.—Diagrammatie sketch of damaged cane stalk (original). 13 Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. Q Dep. Ag. Photos. E, Jarvis, Del. PLATE II Sugar Cane Bud-Moth; destroying Eyes and demaging Stalk. 14 Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. brownish-yellow semi-circular patch bearing eight long yellow hairs. Length of body, 16 mm. (about 2 of an inch). The caterpillars are usually more or less in evidence during stripping or loading operations, being forced at such times to explore the surface of defoliated canes in search of congenial hiding-places. Description of Pupa. Light yellow suffused with reddish on dorsal surface. Abdominal segments each with a transverse ridge near anterior margin, surmounted by dark-brown spines. Ventral surface light yellow except on head-end and anal segment, which are clouded with reddish, darkening towards extremities. Legs and antenne distinctly outlined in light-red, the latter meeting centrally on fifth and sixth segments and projecting slightly beyond wings. Top. of head prolonged into a somewhat conical cap terminating ventrally in a short sharp spine. (Plate II., Fig. K.) Eyes black. Anal segment provided with two short dark-red curved spines situated dorsally and directly upwards. (Plate II., Fig. L.) Pupation takes place under a silken covering spun by the larva and completely hidden under pellets of its excreta ingeniously fastened to the outside. It is usually concealed between the leaf-sheath and cane- stalk and attached near the base of the former or more rarely to rind close to a node. The moth before emerging works the pupa partly out of its cocoon- hke covering, leaving half of the broken pupal shell protruding from one end. Colouration of Moth. Fore-wings ochreous-yellow, with an elongate purple blotch at base of costa and a large blotch of same colour on apical margin. Hind-wings pale-yellow speckled with gray ; fringes light shining yellow. First few joints of antenne, upper surface of prothorax, and top of head thickly clothed with purple scales, which viewed with an ordinary pocket lens are seen to flash with metallic crimson tints. A sort of comb- hike ruff of these beautiful scales occurs in front of the head, and they are scattered also over a portion of the blotches on fore-wings. Abdomen golden shaded with iridescent light green. Hind femora densely covered with long golden hairs. Wing expanse, 16 mm.; length of body, 6-40 mm. (about 14 of an inch). Female: The moth rests by day in a conspicuous position on leaves of sugar- cane, ete., with its wings enfolding the body, and antenne laid flat on the surface, projecting straight in front of its head in parallel lines that appear to emerge from the sides of the thorax, this deception being due to a curious disposition of the large, movable, first antennal joint, which Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. 15 is scape-like and directed obliquely to each side of the head. (Plate ITI., Fig. M.) > NP bo bo bo be CO — Sow NS OU (12) LOCUSTA DANICA, Linn. (Family ACRIDIIDAE). This handsome grasshopper enjoys an almost world-wide distribu- tion, occurring plentifully not only throughout Australia, but in many other countries. It is at once recognised owing to a curious sharp clapping sound made at intervals by the adult whilst flying, and by the presence of a large patch of bright yellow, deeply margined with black, on the basal portions of wings. In 1912 it occurred in enormous numbers in Western and Northern Queensland, and was reported as damaging sugar-cane in the Cairns and Innisfail districts by stripping leaves to the mid-rib. The following egg parasites have been bred from this species in Australia :—(1) Scelio australis, Frogg.; (2) Scelio ovi, Girault. Frog- eatt has bred a blow fly (Sarcophaga aurifrons, Coq.) from adults of L. danica eollected in New South Wales. I may mention in this con- nection that no less than six species of Sarcophagidwe are known to parasitise grasshoppers in America. One of these, S. kellyi, Aldrich, a recently described viviparous blow fly, has been repeatedly observed in the act of infesting flying grasshoppers by depositing minute larve on the underside of their unfolded wings.