184 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BULLETIN. [XIX. 4 



THE PALM WEEVIL OR GRU-GRU WORM. 



The Palm Weevil Bhynclioplwrus palmariivi see fig. 7 is more or less 

 a secondary pest, attacking as a rule palms that are suffering from 

 fungoid, bacterial or nematode diseases. It is however attracted to 

 healthy trees when they have been scorched by fire or have been cut 

 or bruised. 



The larvae, see fig. 8 destroy the internal tissues in the act of 

 burrowing and feeding. The weevils possibly serve as transmitters 

 of infection from one tree to another. 



Control. — The larvae are internal feeders and when discovered in 

 palms not suffering from any disease should be cut out and the wound 

 dressed with crude oil or tar. 



All palms felled on account of disease or other reasons should be 

 disposed of by burning to avoid promiscuous breeding of larvae in them. 

 Cuts and bruises on the trees should always be dressed with crude 

 oil or tar. 



For further particulars see Circular No. 5 Board of Agriculture : 

 " Preliminary Notes on some Insects affecting the Coconut Palm." 

 (Price 3d.) 



THE RHINOCEROS BEETLE. 



The Rhinoceros Beetle {Strategus aloeus) of Trinidad is not to be 

 confounded with the Rhinoceros Beetle of the East which is an entirely 

 distinct insect with quite different habits and methods of attack. 



Fig. 10 represents male and female beetles of the Trinidad 

 Rhinoceros Beetle. The damage is done b}' the adult insects. Only 

 young palms are attacked as a rule ; the very youngest being preferred. 

 By means of its powerful front legs the beetle burrows down into the 

 ground near the young palm and when it has reached beneath the 

 coconut it works its way upwards through the fibre into the heart of the 

 plant and destroys it by tearing it and feeding on it. Often two beetles 

 are found in a hole where they remain for some days. The holes made 

 by the beetles near the plant are about an inch in diameter and resemble 

 small crab holes. 



The Rhinoceros Beetle is a pest mainly in recently cleared lands. 



Control. — The beetles in the holes can be killed by pouring in some 

 crude oil or carbon bisulphide, the former being preferable. The larvae 

 see fig. 11 live in rotting trunks of trees and in old manure heaps ; by 

 cutting up and scattering all rotting wood, and frequently turning over 

 the manure heaps the larvae can be killed. 



