1. PART TV.
The delegates agreed that Baron Surcouf’s paper should be
incorporated in the Report, but that a statement should be added to
the effect that: —-‘There
 is danger of Apion becoming a serious pest if uprooting
and burning is not resorted to, and that in Tanganyika uprooting
and burning has been found to be entirely successful.
(d) Tur Economic Status oF Corton STAINERS (Dysdercus spp.).
The paper® upon these cotton pests presented by the Rhodesia
Department of Agriculture was read and considered in conjunction with
the notes! submitted by Mr. G. C. Haines, Union of South Africa.
At the same time an endeavour was made to formulate a reply to the
question raised by the Secretary for Agriculture, Union of South
Africa regarding Internal Boll rot and the value of: (a) Natural
enemies; (b) elimination of food plants; (e) trapping, and (d) hand
collecting, in the control of stainers.
My Section is not, unfortunately, in a position to give an explicit
and full answer to the question as put, but considers that some practical
 means of controlling the suctorial insects of cotton could be devised
and points to the successful use of a sweetened arsenical solution in
the control of the Antestia Bug of Coffee.
In view of the diversity of views existing among Entomologists, 1t
was agreed that the following statement be recommended for adoption
by the General Conference:
t The status of suctorial insects In the spread of boll rot
requires much more investigation before any definite statements
can be made. The problem is the more difficult owing to the
fact that the boll rots have not yet been classified.
(e) GENERAL.
The questions of the Empire Cotton Growing Corporation
regarding natural occurrence of major pests and their behaviour under
conditions of cultivation were considered and the Section decided to
adopt the statement formulated by Mr. G. C. Haines, Union of South
Africa, and agreed that a wider survey was needed before any definite
information could be supplied. Mr. Haines’ statement is as follows:
““ Except for the very small cotton areas in the Cape (of which
little study has yet been made as to their insect pests) the boll worms
(Diparopsis castanea, Chloridea obsoleta, and Earias spp.), the cotton
jassid (Chlorita fascialis), the cotton aphis (Aphis gossypii), the
stainers (Dysdercus spp.), and the cotton seed bug (Oxycarenus sp.)
are found naturally all through our cotton areas. It is true that in
certain areas certain pests give more trouble. For example, the
jassid, which as far as our records go, occurs naturally throughout our
cotton areas, is a serious pest only under certain conditions and in
certain areas. At present, it cannot be said with certainty that any
of our major pests occur naturally under any particular conditions as
to flora. nature of soil, or climatic factor, although they may fluctuate
* For text of this see page 238.
See page 242.
Subsequently amended. See page 178.

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