Present status of certain insect pests under Biological control in Hawaii

Abstract

In Hawaii the introduction of natural enemies for the biological control of insect pests has proven satisfactorily successful in a number of cases. The present status of some of these pests is herewith given. The cottony cushion scale is found occasionally in small colonies, but is not of any importance as a pest, The sugar cane leafhopper no longer produces significant interference with the growth of the cane. The sugar cane borer is satisfactorily controlled in the most of the sugar cane districts, but in some places and under certain circumstances is still causing many thousands of dollars losses annually. The spread of the cane rootgrub has been checked and it is not in the least injurious any more. Armyworms are well controlled, so that only occasional outbreaks occur in cane fields, and then of little importance. The grey ,sugar cane mealybug is sufficiently controlled. The avocado mealybug is 100% controlled, almost completely exterminated. The Mediterranean fruitfly is 55% controlled. The melonfly somewhat better than that. Bruchids in algaroba beans are pretty well controlled. Plant lice fairly well controlled. Some of the scale insects are well controlled, but others not sufficiently.