. Agricultural news. Agriculture -- West Indies; Plant diseases -- West Indies. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. July 12. 1919. INSECT NOTES. SUGAR-CANE AND HARDBACK GRUBS IN ANTIGUA. The Entomologist of the Imperial Department of Agriculture paid a visit to the Northern Islands in March of this year, to inve-stigate certain insect pests of crups in those islands. The following is reproduced from his report to the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture, on his return to Barbados:— The hardback grub still continues a serious pest of «ugar-cane and other crops in Antigua. The grubs are to be found most acti
. Agricultural news. Agriculture -- West Indies; Plant diseases -- West Indies. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. July 12. 1919. INSECT NOTES. SUGAR-CANE AND HARDBACK GRUBS IN ANTIGUA. The Entomologist of the Imperial Department of Agriculture paid a visit to the Northern Islands in March of this year, to inve-stigate certain insect pests of crups in those islands. The following is reproduced from his report to the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture, on his return to Barbados:— The hardback grub still continues a serious pest of «ugar-cane and other crops in Antigua. The grubs are to be found most actively feeding from July or August, to January and February. About March or April they s'op feeding, change to pupae, and then to adult beetles, wLicL issue forth with the early rains in April or May. Moat of the beetles come out of the ground at about the same time, and egg laying appears to take place within a short time of emergence, and not to extend over a very long period. Planters know from experience that from August on to March or April, in those sections of the island where the grabs have occurred, sugar-cane cuttings newly planted, corn, onions, sweet potatoes, and yams are liable to suflFer from attack. During my visit in the only locality where the insects were abundant, I found more than half of those dug up were in the pupa and the beetle stages. The beetles found were still in the pupal cell. This is a closed cavity in the soil, which the full-grown larva has prepared, and where the change fiom larva to pupa, and from pupa to beetle takes place. Some of the insects transform near the surface, and others go deep into the soil. The hardback grubs appear to attack field after field, and not to remain year after year in the same fifld. Plant canes appear to be less attacked than ratoons. The beetles on emerging from the soil with the first good rains in April or May, appear to be attracted to trees or bushy plants whore feeding and mating take place at night. Durin
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