PART TV. 
+ Oviposition is effected in the following manner. On the selected 
site the bug in vertical position with head uppermost grips the surface 
firmly with all its legs, bending the abdomen almost at right angles 
to the thorax; the ovipositor is extruded, inserted and gradually 
pressed up to its base into the stem, the bug swaying slowly from 
side to side during this act. The egg is then extruded and the 
ovipositor is first gradually and, owing to the considerable pull 
necessary, finally removed from the stem with a distinct jerk. The 
whole operation of oviposition occupies 100 seconds. 
Both adults and nymphs feed on young leaves and terminal buds, 
producing brown patches on the leaves and ultimate death of the 
leaves and buds. Secondary growth is thus induced and this in turn 
is attacked in serious infestations, eventually producing dense bushes 
on which no crop can be borne. = So far as is known berries are not 
attacked. 
Factors FAVOURING Li. MIMETICUS. 
As indicated earlier in this paper shade and (probably) certain soil 
conditions favour the presence of the bug. Owing to the fact that the 
Agricultural Chemist has not yet the facilities necessary for a soil 
analysis the possible soil factor has not so far been investigated. 
Mr. FULLER, in thanking Mr. Hargreaves, asked what the 
nature of the damage was. 
Mr. HARGREAVES: It kills the young shoots and stimulates 
secondary growth, causing bunching. 
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Fuller): It possibly resembles the effect 
of ‘‘ frog-hopper >’ on the wattle in South Afriea. From wattle 
several species of Jassids, also a Capsid, have been reported, and 
trouble occurs more or less regularly, one insect being in the 
ascendancy at one time and another at another time. 
Mr. HARGREAVES, in reply to Mr. Ritchie, stated that the 
symptoms are similar to the twig infestation of Colletotrichum, and 
that the effect is very similar to that caused by Antestia. 
Mr. FULLER asked Mr. Hardenberg to explain something of the 
‘“ witchbroom *’ formation in wattle. 
Mr. HARDENBERG said that he had now more or less come 
to the conclusion that the insect was not so much to blame. He 
attributed the damage to the inoculation of a fungus by some 
insect. The plants were attacked generally at some 6 {t. to 12 ft. 
above the ground, which is the height at which most of these insects 
fly. The insects were responsible in some way but he had not 
really been able to distinguish cause from effect. 
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Fuller) said it would seem that it is: 
simply a disturbance by the insect causing malformation. 
Mr. RITCHIE said that a species of Lycidocoris (L. modestus) 
damaging coffee had been reported from the Congo on deeply shaded 
coffee. 
Mr. HARGREAVES stated that the presence of deep shade is. 
the chief factor in the prevalence of Lycidocoris in Uganda. 
In reply to a question by Mr. Fuller, he said that the 
bugs suck the juice from the young shoots and leaves, causing 
spotting; the leaves and terminals eventually die. The damage to the 
leaves is similar to that caused by Helopeltis on tea. 
198