626 RUBBER 



as have been induced by canker. Where entry has been 

 effected in the tap root at some distance below ground 

 the procedure is more obscure. These beetles are not in 

 the habit of burrowing into the soil. A probable explana- 

 tion is that the egg in such cases has been deposited at 

 the collar of the tree, and that the young larva, failing 

 to penetrate the healthy bark, works its way downwards 

 until it reaches some point where a decayed or broken 

 lateral root affords it an opportunity of penetrating to the 

 wood without running the gauntlet of thelaticiferous cells. 

 Although, when once it has effected its entry, the grub 

 is capable of causing fatal injury to the tree, I have so 

 constantly found indications of canker and other fungal 

 diseases associated with the presence of the borer that 

 I am inclined to believe that its normal mode of entry 

 is through a diseased area of the bark. Fortunately, 

 instances of damage by this borer are comparatively 

 few. But in consideration of the fact that a single grub 

 may be responsible for the death of a fine rubber tree, 

 and that an individual beetle may infect many such trees, 

 it will be prudent to give the matter some attention before 

 it becomes really serious. Remedial measures must take 

 the form of the collection of the adult insects. The 

 destruction of each individual beetle of this species may 

 possibly save the lives of a dozen rubber trees. It is 

 unlikely that they occur in any considerable numbers, and 

 it would be useless to employ coolies solely to collect the 

 insects. But a small reward might be offered for each 

 beetle of this kind that may be brought in by the tappers 

 or scrap collectors. If, as I believe, the eggs are 

 deposited in wounds and cankered patches of bark, it will 

 be important to safeguard these possible points of entry 

 by cutting out all diseased areas and tarring the exposed 

 surfaces. The same treatment should be applied to 

 accidental wounds. Tapping wounds, especially those 

 made by the paring system, are so constantly disturbed 

 that there is little chance of the pest being able to establish 

 itself in those spots. 



An undetermined Cerambycid larva has been found in 

 stems of Hevea in Java.. 



Another Longicorn that has acquired an evil repute is 



