1G6 [December, 



interior of the canes had been converted into a mass of ravelled fibres, containing 

 cylindrical cases, about three inches in length, formed by the large fleshy grub of 

 a species of the CureulionidcB, which, although perfectly destitute of legs, has 

 the power of turning itself round and round, and by this means, wlien about to 

 change to the pupa state, it forms a sort of case or cocoon out of the loose fibres of 

 the cane in which it has been feeding. The larva bores downwards through the 

 centre of the cane, completely destroying it. The samples were packed in wheat 

 straw, and some of the grubs, having been shaken out of the canes, formed their 

 out of the straws with which they came in contact. Before doing this, how- 

 ever, they attacked the sides of the wooden box containing them, and although it 

 was constructed of stout deal, five-eighths of an inch thick, gnawed their way 

 nearly through in some places. I opened one of the cases, and found therein a 

 living larva. I was thus enabled to witness its rotatory movements, which were 

 very vigorous, and continued for a long time together. This larva changed to a 

 pupa at the end of August. The pupa was at first very active, rotating itself in the 

 same manner as the larva liad done, but it became quiescent after about a fortnight, 

 only moving when roughly handled, and produced a male weevil on the 27th 

 September. I then of)ened the other cases, and found another living specimen of 

 the weevil, a female, fully developed, in one, but in all the rest the occupants were 

 dead and shrivelled larvae. I sent the first specimen to Mr. E. Janson, who kindly 

 compared it with the various species of Rhynchophorus in his own collection, and 

 also with those in the British Museum. He informs me that it did not accord 

 satisfactorily with any species, but that it appeared to be very nearly allied to 

 H. Oermarl, Perty {noxius, Gyll.), a species widely distributed throughout the 

 Southern States of the Union, the West India Islands, and Brazil ; but that it 

 differed from that insect in its glossy texture, the extraordinary depression of the 

 scutellar region of the elytra, and its rufous anterior tibiae. The latter character 

 was, however, probably due to immaturity as the second specimen had all the tibiae 

 jet-black, like the body. The male has a crest on the rostrum, as usual in this genus. 

 The spines of the tibiae were extremely sharp, enabling the beetle to cling with great 

 tenacity to the fingers, when it was handled, and in so doing, it caused considerable pain. 



From the information forwarded to me, it would appear that the weevil is only 

 destructive to the sugar canes in dry seasons, when they are in an unhealthy con- 

 dition, and sickly from want of moisture. It committed temble havoc in Demerara 

 last March and April. As soon as the rains commenced in June, it ceased to be so 

 troublesome, and tlus was attributed to the return of the ants to the cane field, for 

 they destroyed great numbers of the grubs. The weevils usually deposit their eggs 

 in the stumps or stools, left in the ground when the canes have lately been cut, and 

 the grubs bore downwards into the substance of the stumps, utterly destroying them 

 and the young shoots, which should spring from their sides to produce a fresh crop 

 of canes. They also appear to attack the top of the standing canes as well. When 

 the specimens sent were collected on 4th July, many of the beetles were seen 

 flying about in the air. 



Besides the canes containing the weevil-grubs, specimens of the small shoots 

 were forwarded to me which had been bored by the larvae of a moth, probably the 

 Phalceiia saccharalis, Fab. It has been called Diatrxa sacchari, Guilding, and 

 Froceras saccharophagus, Boyer, at least it is probable that the same insect is meant 



