Pest From Java

Its Wide Manifestation

Some More Facts

FURTHER information is now available concerning the coco nut pest from Java. As was stated in last issue, there is a danger of the pest finding its way into New Guinea and Papua by a direct steamer from the Dutch Indies, and there is need for prompt action to prevent this happening.

The pest is known as the coconut white fly. It occurs not only in Java, but in the North and South Celebes, the Phillipines and on some of the smaller islands in the East Indies.

In Java it is reported that a natural parasite is to some extent keeping it down, but elsewhere this same parasite has not been so effective.

The fly has been known to exist in the Phillipines since 1911, and has spread over the various provinces, until it is now r widely distributed.

Where it is met with in abundance, the leaves of the coconuts affected are discoloured and blackened in spots with a sooty mould growth, as a re sult of the honey-dew exuded by the insect. It is found that this pest is most destructive during the dry season.