Séance du 12 Mars 1913. 



PiésidciK'c (le M. A. Alfieiîi 



Communications. 



The Date-Stone Beetle 



by F. C WiLLCOCKS, F. 1-^. S. 

 EnlomoloijlsL lo the Khedivial Afjriciillnral Sociclij. 



This small Anohiid huelle, which Mr. A. Andres, 

 Assislanl Enloinologist lo llie Khedivial Agriculliual 

 Society, lells me he thinks is (Axcotnjpes daciiìlipcnla, 

 was Connd in the stones of « Ami y » and «Aglawy» 

 dates recently hrought to me l)y my laboratory assis- 

 tant — Said ElTendi Bahgat — from Sharkia Province. 



A stone infested by this insect will be fonnd lo 

 be perforated by a small circnlar hole, and as further 

 evidence of its presence, a quantity of pale coloured 

 dust may I)e ol)served inside the date itself. This dust 

 is composed of excrement, antl matter excavated from 

 the stone. If the latter is cut in two longitudinally, 

 Ihe circular entrance hole will 1)C found to lead via 

 a short tunnel into an excavated chamber of irregular 

 shape and varying dimensions, which may l)e packed 



