46 COCONUT PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



trol of the weevil. These measures include the collection and des- 

 truction of the Black Beetles, the periodical cleaning up of all estates 

 and gardens by the removal and destruction by fire of all dead palm 

 stumps and logs, and the proper disposal of all manure and refuse 

 heaps at regular intervals. But in view of the fact that the Red Weevil 

 has its own peculiar breeding habits, it is essential that definite measures 

 of control be taken against this pest also. 



Remedial Measures. — All young palms up to ten or twelve years 

 old should be visited frequently by the specially trained ' beetlers " 

 or beetle catchers, so that the attack may be detected in its early 

 stages. As soon as the presence of weevil grubs is detected anywhere 

 from the crown to the base of the trunk, the cavity formed by the 

 grubs should be carefully excavated and all dead and decaying matter 

 thoroughly cleaned out, leaving only the healthy tissues. The cavity 

 should then be tarred several times inside and around the edges and 

 finally filled in with mortar or cement level with the trunk. All 

 larva?, cocoons, and weevils removed from the cavity should be killed 

 immediately. A bad attack in the crown can rarely be satisfactorily 

 cured, and in such cases it is safer to remove and dispose of the palm 

 so as to prevent further breeding of weevils and beetles. Older palms 

 should also receive attention perodically, and the preventive measures 

 given below will usually protect these. 



Preventive Measures. — These are specially applicable to young 

 palms up to ten or twelve years of age. Avoid unnecessary wounding 

 of young palms, as all wounds are attractive to egg-laying weevils. It 

 has been found in the Dutch East Indies that eggs may be laid even in 

 wounds a month old. 



Do not strip off old leaves, but allow them to drop naturally. 

 When cutting the leaves for control of Coconut Caterpillar, leave at 

 least two feet of the leaf-stalk on the palm. 



All the wounds made by knives, cart wheels, &c., must be tarred 

 immediately and thoroughly, especially in the case of young palms. 



Palms which are growing on land which is subject to periodical 

 flooding should be mounded up with soil at the base as a protection 

 from weevil attacks. This measure should also be applied to young 

 palms which have their roots exposed. 



