BY DAVID SHARP. 



925 



distinct. Thorax about as long as broad, at the sides the outline 

 is a little incurved, the margins excessively tine ; there are 

 numerous coarse punctures on it, but there is also a large angular 

 smooth space extending all across it. Elytra with very regular 

 series of deep punctures; just about the middle the 5th and 6th 

 series diverge so as to allow two additional series to be inter- 

 calated behind this spot. Under surface polished and shining. 



Oxycephala loiigiasima, Gestro, from Aru, is nearly as elongate 

 as B. froggatti. 



A number of specimens of this beetle were received from ]\Ir. 

 J. G. O'Malley, manager of Kukada Plantation, New Britain, 

 with the information that they were a very serious j^est. He 

 sa3^s : — " If something cannot be done to abolish or check this 

 plague, I fear man}^ thousands of acres of young palms will be 

 destroyed. The insect deposits its eggs upon the young shoots of 

 the plant upon wdiich the larvi^ feed. There are fully 50,000 

 plants ravaged by this pest." 



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