FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB. 1 1 1 



hatched is small (about |" long) growing rapidly until it reaches 

 a length of 1 .', to 2 inches, the latter length being but seldom seen, 

 as at that stage it burrows a hole into the heart of the tree, when 

 and where the most serious trouble begins. The heart is followed 

 for about four inches to six inches when after some weeks the 

 insect having undergone its metamorphosis issues forth as the 

 perfect beetle. 



The perfect insect : The beetle is particularly fond of soft and 

 thick-barked trees, such as the wild Chataigne (Pachira aquatica, 

 Aubh, this is it's favorite resort) Forest Mahoe (Stercalia cariboea, 

 R. Br.) Cannon ball tree (Couroupito guianensis Aubh) and our 

 cultivated cacao. They do not seem to destroy any of the forest 

 trees named, probably from the fact of their being attacked when 

 fairly well grown, but unfortunately for the planter, when the 

 female beetle resorts to the cacao groves, she selects the young, soft 

 and juicy trees (say those from two to six years old), with the result 

 that they are killed if not attended to. While the grub carries on 

 its work of obstruction under the bark of the tree, the perfect 

 insect eats round the bark, say at a depth of 1/16" depriving the 

 plant of a good deal of its vitality. She first of all eats systema- 

 tically along and around each branch, generally beginning at the 

 fork and eating upwards to the tops of the branches. She spends 

 most of her time on one tree, and if not caught, will move on to 

 the next nearest, and so on ad infinitum if left to her own sweet 

 pleasure. The dry season is particularly favourable to the beetle, 

 as during that time it lays its eggs. It is curious how fond the 

 beetle is of returning to any plant that, through some chance, 

 escapes destruction after its first attack. It is known to select 

 such trees in p reference to any other. This I suppose is due to 

 the sweet gum which flows from recent wounds and which, as is 

 well known possesses some peculiar attraction to the beetle. The 

 months in which this pest is at its worst are February to May, 

 both inclusive. The flight of the beetle is very short about 20 

 yards and slow, so that it can be easily caught whenever seen. 

 Following trimmings of the Fucare - Immortel, the ravages made 

 by it are well marked, there being at such a period at least twice 

 the usual number of trees affected. It is therefore necessary for 

 the planter to have his trees frequently examined when the 

 trimming of the Immortels is over. 



Treatment : The beetle seems to have but few natural 

 enemies : I have noticed only the Cacao-pickers, Aery wrongly 

 called Mangeur de Cacao, the Tick-bird or Merle Corbeau and the 

 big-billed Qu'est-cc-qu'il-dit. Ants seem to kill the young grubs. 

 Heavy rains are an agent in destroying the larvae before they get 

 under the bark. In the dry season hand-picking is very useful. 

 The presence of the grub can always be known by the frass (which 

 in entomology, means the debris of the stems and bark ejected 



