50
Picard adds that, since this wasp probably attacks other Diptera besides Glossina and we are unable to spread it, we can look upon it only as a useful auxiliary in the war with the tsetse flies.
87247
(No. 166.) MY LORD,
No. 42.
ORANGE RIVER COLONY.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 13 November, 1909.)
Governor's Office, Bloemfontein, 25 October, 1909. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch, No. 156 of the 10th ultimo,* enclosing copy of a despatch which has been addressed to the Officers Administering the Governments of the British Colonies and Pro- tectorates in West and East Africa on the subject of entomological research in those countries.
2. My Ministers advise me that, in accordance with your Lordship's request, arrangements will be made for supplying Mr. Guy Marshall, the Scientific Secretary of the Committee of Management, with reports regarding entomological research in this Colony.
I have, &c.,
HAMILTON GOOLD-ADAMS,
51
insect attacking A. Moloneyi in the Western Sudan, which has been named Cryptus rittatus, Tosq. (Mem. Soc. Ent. Belg. V., 1896, p. 148). In making a comparison of the descriptions of the two species, there does not appear to be any character of sufficient importance to separate them.. For this reason the British Museum identi- fication should probably be applicable to both. C. formosus has been obtained by me from the cocoons of A. infracta from Ibadan (Southern Nigeria), and from those of A. Moloneyi from Muri (Northern Nigeria).
Infesting the cocoons of both the species above named, two Phycitinae moth larvæ have been found, one of which is Metoecis carnifex, Coq., which perforates the newly-formed cocoons and pupates within the cocoon envelope. The insect prob- ably attacks and destroys the silk larvae when they are just preparing to pupate, as the perforated cocoons are found to contain excreta only after the parasite has passed out into an adjoining cocoon. Sir George Hampson remarks that another species of Metoecis has been bred from the cocoons of A. Moloneyi.
From some batches of cocoons of both species of silk moths examined by me in 1908, a number of Tachinid flies emerged, but these have not been identified further than being placed in the genus Tachina. M. Fleutiaux mentions a specimen of Tachina bella, Meigen, as having been bred from the cocoons of A. Moloneyi,
GERALD C. Dudgeon,
12th November, 1909.
38022
Inspector of Agriculture for British
West Africa.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
37312
No. 43.
Governor.
MR. G. C. DUDGEON to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 15 November, 1909.)
Braeside, Burghley Road, Wimbledon, 14th November, 1909. SIR,
ENCLOSED I have the honour to hand you a short account of the parasites you observed infesting the cocoons of two species of West African silk worms, which may consider of sufficient importance to communicate to the Entomological Research Committee.
I have, &c.,
GERALD C. DUDGEON,
Inspector of Agriculture for British
West Africa.
Enclosure in No. 43.
PARASITES ON Two SPECIES OF WEST AFRICAN WILD SILK-WORMS.
Silk cocoon masses woven by the larvæ of Anaphe infracta, Wism., AÁ. venatu, Wlsm., A. Moloneyi, Druce, and others of the same or an allied genus of the family Eupterotidae, are utilised in the Haussa and Yoruba countries of Northern and Southern Nigeria, for the manufacture of yarns, used in the embroidery of Haussa gowns in the former country and, in conjunction with cotton in the latter locality, for the production of the "sanyan" cloths.
Observations in connection with the cocoons of A. infracta and A. Moloneyi show that they are very largely parasitized by at least one species of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera), two Phycitinae (Lepidoptera) and a Tachina (Diptera).
The Ichneumons belongs to a species which is placed in the British Museum This collection under the name of Cryptus formosus, Brullé (described in 1846). is a shining black insect, with some red upon the head and pronotum and a broad white band on the middle of the antennae, the wings being purplish blue with a broad hyaline bar. M. Fleutiaux, in "L'Anaphe Moloneyi et ses parasites" (L'Agric. Prat. des pays chauds, No. 71, Feb. '09, pp. 162-3) mentions a similar
• No. 31.
>
No. 44.
EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE.
THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 22 November, 1909.)
(No. 608.) MY LORD,
Government House, Nairobi, October 25th, 1909. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch, Miscellaneous, of the 9th ultimo,* detailing the progress that has been made in connection with the scheme of entomological investigation in British Colonies and Protectorates.
2. I have noted with much pleasure the steps that have been taken in the interests of entomological research, but I would with all deference suggest that if it had been possible to consult the Colonies and Protectorates concerned before any decision was arrived at as to the course to be followed, many suggestions of a practical nature would probably have been obtained which could not but further the object in view.
3. In the present instance, it is open to question if the course of instruction outlined in the 12th paragraph of your Lordship's despatch under reply is the best method of imparting instruction to the officials concerned.
4. Apart from the fact that it is undesirable to ask an official to devote a portion of his leave to undergoing a course of instruction in a subject in which he is possibly but little interested, insects in a state of nature are as a rule very different to those seen in cabinets or tubes of spirit, and I believe that better results would accrue and far more enthusiasm be engendered by practical demon- strations in the field than by a course of instruction at home.
5. It would be an easy matter to arrange for both lectures and practical demonstrations to be given by Mr. S. A. Neave during his visit to East Africa, and Mr. Anderson, the Entomologist of the Agricultural Department, would also he available for this purpose.
6. Such lectures and demonstrations, together with a few practical lessons in the art of collecting and preserving specimens, would. I feel convinced, prove of greater instructional value than a course of lectures delivered in England under somewhat unfavourable conditions, and I would ask that before any definite
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• No. 29.
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