i6 



The Weevil is named Syagvlus intvudens, and is very much 

 smaller than the Vine Weevil, Otiovhynchits sulcattis, with 

 which we are only too familiar already, being about one- 

 third the size, with a much rougher cuticle and a com- 

 paratively larger proboscis. The grubs are white and curved, 

 similar to those of the Vine Weevil, but on the same 

 smaller scale. The damage done by the grub is effected 

 differently to that effected by the Vine Weevil, the eggs 

 being laid, not in the soil, but in depressions gnawed into 

 the frond stalks into which the grubs burrow when 

 hatched, thus destroying the fronds to a much greater 

 extent, the frond, however robust, being crippled or 

 destroyed. The beetles, however, attack the frond laminae 

 in the same way as does the Vine Weevil, viz. by gnawing 

 from the edges. When severely affected, this suppression 

 of proper frond growth by the grub appears to weaken 

 the central axis, and so lead eventually to the entire 

 perishing of even large established plants. That the 

 actual axis of growth is directly destroyed we are inclined 

 to doubt, as on dissecting the material sent we could find 

 no burrowings in its vicinity, though the single grub we 

 found was entangled in the scales of the frond bases 

 {Polysticlmm). We could find no traces of attack upon the 

 roots or undersides of the caudices, as with the grubs of 

 the Vine Weevil. The fronds alone appear to be 

 devoured. As with the Vine W^eevil, it has been found 

 that complete immersion in water of pots or pans, when 

 these are employed, compels the beetles to leave the soil 

 almost immediately and climb the frond stalks, where they 

 are easily captured, thus supplying a means of reducing 

 their numbers w^here such immersion is possible. Both 

 beetle and grub appear to be immune from the action of 

 any insecticide remedy which the plants can withstand, 

 even hydrocyanic vapour failing to kill them, while 

 immersion in water for a long time leaves the grubs 

 unharmed. Under these circumstances it is almost, if not 

 quite, impossible to get rid of the pest if once established 



