21^4- [September, 



OliPHXINAB. 



Aer/idimis (juianensis Westw. — Suddie, Essequibo. 



ApHODIIjVAE. 



Ataenius opaciis Harold. — Taken on one occasion in a trap-light, 

 Botanic Gardens, Georgetown. 



Melolonthinae, 

 Barybas bifoveolatus Curt. — Mazaruni K. 



Dynastinae. 



Megasoma actoeon L. The largest beetle in British Guiana and of 

 fairly common occurrence all over the Colony. The male, in average- 

 sized specimens, has a wing expanse o£ 8 inches and a total body length 

 of just under 4^ inches. As far as I know no one has yet succeeded in 

 definitely establishing a relationship between certain immense Scarabaeid 

 larvae which are occasionally found in trunks of decaying forest trees 

 and the adult form of this beetle. They are the largest Coleopterous 

 larvae found in the Colony. The female is smaller than the male and 

 has no horns. I once succeeded in keeping a male alive for several 

 weeks on a solution of sugar and water which it readily imbibed. 



Strategus aloeus Fabr. — This beetle is a pest of young coconut 

 palms in the Colony. It has been given the local name of "cockle." 

 Only the adult beetles actually damage the palms. Plants up to about 

 two years old are damaged by the adults boring down into the soil in 

 close proximity to the roots and gradually destroying them and the 

 heart of the palm itself. They often penetrate to a depth of several 

 feet. It is usual in large plantations to employ a man whose sole duty it 

 is to watch for " cockles " and destroy them either by carbon bisulphide 

 or by pouring a quantity of water down into their burrows which causes 

 them to come to the surface. The species is widely distributed all over 

 the Colony. The larvae are usually found in small colonies in the 

 decaying stumj^s of trees. 



The following note concerning the larval and pupal stages has been 

 made by Mr. L. D. Cleare, Jnr. : — 



" Larvae from Mango root brought in 19.vii.lo. Placed in jar contiiiniiig 

 leaf mould. Buried itself. Moistened from time to time. Pupated 22-23 x.lT) 

 about 3 inches below the surface on the bottom of the jar in a cell about 

 iixlf inches. The cast larval skin was packed close in one end of this cell 

 and was at the caudal extremity of the pupa when the cell was opened. The 

 pupa appeared to lie most of the time on its back. 



