Dpx. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 871 



Precautionary and Control Measures. 



Precautionary. — Too much importance cannot be attached to the neces- 

 sity' for planting clean and vigorous suckers. In selecting the latter, care 

 should be taken to see that they are strong and healthy, and that they are 

 obtained from a plantation beyond suspicion as to the presence of beetles. 

 In addition, every sucker should be carefully examined for beetle infes- 

 tation before planting, and any sucker about which there is the 

 slightest doubt should be destroyed without hesitation. No precaution 

 in this respect can be too drastic when laying out a plantation, as it often 

 saves much labour and expense later. 



Under the Vine and Vegetation Diseases Act the removal of suckers from 

 an infested plantation renders the owner liable to prosecution. 



Control. — Owing to the mode of the beetle attack, no method of control, 

 such as spraying, dipping, or underground fumigation has suggested itself as 

 practicable. In an infested plantation the necessity for good cultural 

 methods recommends itself as essential, and where these are employed I 

 am of the opinion that damage by beetle can be kept down to an almost 

 negligible quantity. In the Tweed River district more attention should 

 be given to the employment of clean management and better cultural 

 methods. Many j)lanters, I have found, frequently expect their plants to 

 produce a maximum of fruit with a minimum of attention. I have fre- 

 quently seen suckers crowding all over the clumps, no attempt being made 

 to prune them out. This reduces the general vigour of the stool, making 

 it less able to withstand the effects of beetle attack. Observations tend to 

 show also that plants lacking in vitality are more readiiy attacked by the 

 beetle. In an infested plantation the fruit suckers should be lii\iited to not 

 more than live to ensure a more vigorous growth, while the removal and 

 destruction from time to time of old stumps in the centre of the clump 

 will materially assist in reducing the number of borers. As previously 

 stated, I have found that the middle of the clump is usually the centre of 

 infestation. 



If the above methods are carried out, an infested plantation will continue 

 to in-oduce good bunches. 



Where the infestation is beyond control, the banana plants should be 

 dug out entirely and destroyed, as they only serve as ideal breeding grounds 

 for the beetle. 



Trapping.— Tvavving the adult beetles will greatly assist in reducing the 

 number of borers. Traps may consist of strips of banana stem or banana 

 bulb cut in halves. The latter are preferable as they remain attractive to the 

 beetle for a longer period, and being suitable for egg-laying, the female does 

 not wander off after feeding in search of a suitable place to deposit her eggs. 



When the cut surface becomes too dry it can be renewed by taking off 

 a thin slice. It is important also that when the traps have dried up and 

 ceased to be attractive to the beetles they should be replaced. The strong 

 natural odour of these freshly-cut bulbs is very attractive to the beetles. 

 They should be placed cut surface downwards around the infested stool or 

 at intervals between the infested rows. The beetles are attracted to these traps 



