Insects Injurious to Coffee. 



137 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO COFFEE, etc. 



Beetles Damaging Coffee- Berries. 



Two samples of coffee-berries damaged by small beetles have been 

 received during the past year. One was sent by a correspondent in 

 London with the foUowiEg information : " I enclose a small sample 

 of coffee taken from a bag recently in, from Costa Eica, and shall 

 lie glad if you can tell me the life-history of the creatures with the 

 coffee, and whether they are likely to spread to other goods in the 

 warehouse, either coffee or cocoa or goods of a kindred nature." On 

 examination the sample was found to contain a number of live 

 beetles, and most of the berries were greatly damaged. 



C A B 



Pig. 16. 

 B, Coffee damaged by (A), Arxoctrm fasciculatus, De Geer (cf and 9) ; C, by Scolyti, sp. (?) 



The beetles sent are known as Arccocerus fascicidatus, De Geer 

 (Fig. 16, a). Their life-history is well known. They are cosmo- 

 politan and abundant in the Old and New Worlds. 



The larvfe live in coffee-berries, and will attack cocoa, ginger and 

 other commodities, as also will the adult beetles. 



It is well known in Central America, in India and the Cape of 

 Good Hope, but does not seem abundant in Europe. It has also 

 been found on Tamariscus gallicus and in and on packages of 

 Tegenaria. The larva is short and cylindrical, with distinct legs and 

 about one-fourth of an inch long ; its movements are slow. It has 



