ArrangeiiKMits were then made that an officer of the Depart- 

 ment, namely J'rot'essor Baker, sliould thoroughly investigate the 

 attack by an early vi.><it : hut advance information to the effect that 

 tlie (Tovernment of the Philippines intended to recall him interfered 

 vith the plans in such a way that the next inspection in Malacca 

 only took place in December, when the writer was fortunate enough 

 to liiul the pest. — a beetle, — mature and on the wing. Tliis beetle 

 proves to be Froiiwcollicca runiin;/ii. 



rruinecolhccd ciiniiiigii is about 10 nun. long, a flat bright 

 uml)ci- beetle shaped as dra\v]i on p. ;5, wliich by day can be found 

 resting on the shade<l side of cocoiuit leaves or sometimes on the 

 leaves of other plants. Its food in maturity as well as when im- 

 mature is the leaf oi' the coconut, the grub may also be found in 

 the leaves of the Xi])a ])alm and in the leaves of the Sago palm, 

 but. so far in Malacca never abun(biiitly. 



The mature insect is apparently not of wide liight for it 

 spreads only a little to isolated groves of coconut palms behind 

 tJie continuous fringe that skirts the sea. However tliat it can live 

 at a distance from the sea is proved by its appearance recently at 

 Bringin sonu' foui' miles inland; and doubtless if sufKciently search- 

 ed for it would be found at other inland places. 



Latterly it has spread along the coast to Pangkabui Balak at 

 a distance of 14 miles from Malacca, as the crow flies. It seems 

 to have in it the ])Ower of spreading further, and freely so long as 

 the belt of coconuts is more or less continuous. 



In the Philippine islands, this insect is a minor pest. Mr. 

 (". K. Jones in the PhUippine Journal of Science, Section D. viii.^ 

 p. 127, after describing it. says that it has many enemies, pre- 

 dacious and parasitic, ami that it is probable the parasites keep it 

 in check. At present we have no knowledge that it has any enemies 

 in Malacca, but this is because observation has not yet been made. 

 This much, however, can be said (i) that something appears to 

 ha\-e caused the pest to die down in the neighbourhood of Malacca 

 Railway Station and (ii) that a few dead larvae may be found 

 easily within the attacked leaves. 



Jones describes the larva as cream-coloured; but I find it 

 in colour between orange and umber. Jones states that the tubercles 

 at the side of the body give rise to setae of six hairs each; I find 

 nothing so regular, but a few hairs down the sides of the body. 

 Jones states that the pupa is hairy ; but it appears to me rather 

 to have a coating of microscopic bristles. Exce])t on these small 

 l)oints my obsei'vations agree Avith his; and T may conclude by 

 <pioting him, as T am convinced that the insect in Malacca is his. 

 Jones states " This beetle belongs to the subfamily Hispinae of 

 the faniilv Chrysonielidae. wliich contains our worst leaf-eating 

 beetles. Then' is little doubt that this species or representatives 

 of this subfann'ly. occui- in all coconut-growing countries. Frogatt 

 reports a species of the family as l)eing a most serious pest in the 

 Solomon islands. The eggs are deposited singly on the underside 

 of the leaflets and generally on the lower leaves of young palms. 



