CHAPTER IV 



PESTS 



THE planter should make a study of insecticides. 

 Caterpillars, beetles, moths, weevils, borers, and 

 other insects which attack the palm, either in 

 the nursery or the field, can be kept well within 

 control, and do comparatively little harm, by the 

 ready and frequent use of kerosene emulsions 

 and arsenical solutions, applied by means of a 

 spraying machine, as required. 



Beetles (Species of). 1. Oryctes rhinoceros; 

 2. Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. The two species 

 of beetle which attack palms are quite different 

 in appearance and habits and in their method 

 of destruction, although they are usually found 

 together, and must be treated of separately. 

 One is Oryctes rhinoceros, commonly known as 

 the rhinoceros, elephant, or black beetle. The 

 other is Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, known as 

 the red beetle ; it is a large species of weevil. 



Black Beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros). This 

 beetle belongs to the group of Lamellicornia, 

 the larvse of which live on decaying vegetable 

 matter. In the case of this species, the parent 



