2^0 



In the imago or perfect state, they feed on tlie leaves of trees, while 

 their grubs direct their attacks to the roots. 



It is evident that prior to the introduction of Citrus and other culti- 

 vated plants into the West ladies, these insects must have lived upon 

 some indigt^nous planter plants ; and in this connection it may be ob- 

 served that I have seen them feeding on the leaves of the Trumpet 

 tree (Cecropia peltata). 



So far as I am acquainted, the attacks of the beetles themselves on 

 the leaves of Citrus are unimportant, as they only nibble the edges of 

 the leaves, effecting no real injury to the foliage But the larva, which, 

 when mature, measures about three-quarters of an inch in length, and 

 is a soft, white, fleshy, footleas grub, with a brown head, is accused of 

 doing serious damage to the roots of orange trees, where it is found to 

 attack the outer tissues (fig. 3 side view of larva : fig. 4, view partly 

 of underside). 



Apart from what has been stated above, nothing more is known of 

 the habits and life-history of tht se insects, but it is probable that the 

 females lay their eggs in the ground close to one of the roots of the 

 tree and the eggs hatching, the little grubs find their way 'o the roots. 



But besides the larva of the Orange Weevil, I hav^ found the grubs 

 of two species of Lamellicorn beetles feeding within the decayed roots 

 of orange trees. One is a very large, whitish, fleshy grub, and is pro- 

 bably that of Strategus iitanus. 



From my observations, however, I am led o believe that it is only 

 when Citius trees become diseased that, any of these underground 

 grubs attack the roots, and then ior the purpose of feeding on the 

 dead and decaying tissues only. 



There is a very prevalent and mysterious disease that affects (citrus 

 trees, and which I feel certain is responsible for the injury done to 

 them that is generally attributed to the attacks of the Orange Weevil. 



The first signs that an orange tree shows of being affected by this 

 malady is a paleness of the foliage, which afterwards becomes yellow, 

 and numerous shoots or gormandizers arise from the trunk. 



The disease strikes to the heart of the tre-", taking its rise at the end 

 of the tap or main root, working its way upward through the middle 

 of the trunk, and eventually in the same way spreading to the branches 

 and lateral roots. 



Should ts tree in an advanced stage of the disease be dug up, it will 

 generally be found that the tap root has rotted off ; and if the trunk, 

 larger branches and lateral roots be split open lengthwise, the centre 

 or heart-wood will be seen to be dead, and of a brown colour, and pro- 

 bably the habitation of a colony of Duck Ants, which will be found 

 in long narrow passages or burrows throughout the the dead portion of 

 the tree 



But itappetirs that the Duck Ants do no real damage to the tree, as 

 they also only follow in the wake of the disease, obtaining an entratce 

 from beneath the ground up througi the decayed tap root, eating 

 their way along through the dead wood only, in the centre and 

 branching portions of th-- tree. 



There are instances where orange trees have been deserted by Duck 

 Ants after they have eaten away all the dead wood in the centre of the 



