50 COCONUT PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



measures should be taken to check the pest before it becomes serious. 

 The simplest remedy in an early stage of the attack is to cut off and 

 burn all infested leaves or parts of leaves which show any tract- of 

 the caterpillar galleries. The infested material must be burnt within 

 VI hours of removal from the palms. The cutting and burning of 

 infested leaves is recommended because it is the most effective method 

 of killing the e^>, caterpillars, and cocoons of the pest which are on 

 the leaves. This measure has been scheduled under the Plant Pests 

 and Diseases Ordinance, and must be carried out by all coconut growers 

 who have the pest on their palms. Coconut growers should not wait 

 for the pest to disappear, but must treat their infested palms as soon 

 as any injury is noticed. The cutting of a few leaves at this stage will 

 not injure the palms, and will save their own and their neighbours' 

 palms from serious injury and loss of crop. 



Light Traps. — The cutting and burning of infested leaves will 

 prevent the development of a large number of moths by killing the 

 eggs, caterpillars, and cocoons which develop into moths. There will 

 always be some moths left in an infested area, and these moths can 

 be caught and killed by using light traps. These traps consist of an 

 ordinary bullock cart oil lamp placed in the middle of a flat shallow 

 pan containing water and some kerosene or coconut oil, to cover the 

 water. A mixture of half kerosene and half coconut oil is suitable 

 for the lamp. The pan should be at least 24 inches across, and 

 should be raised about 4 or 5 feet off the ground on a platform made 

 of sticks. The oil on the water is useful for preventing the moths 

 from escaping after they fall into the pan, as they are killed quickly 

 by the oil. 



Acetylene lights may be used instead of oil lamps, but are 

 more expensive. The oil light trap should be used at the rate 

 of at least three to an acre, and should be used at the 

 beginning of an outbreak on every favourable night, except on very wet 

 nights or on bright moonlight nights. The use of light traps is not 

 compulsory, but is recommended as a measure to be adopted at the 

 same time that the infested leaves are being cut. It is important 

 that the light traps should be kept clean so as to give a good light, 

 and shoul be attended to regularly by responsible coolies. They can 

 be stopped as soon as it is found that no more coconut moths are 

 being caught. The coconut moths can be distinguished from other 

 small moths which are caught in the traps by the fact that their 



