PESTS 35 



beetle deposits its eggs in the decaying stems of 

 coconut trees, whether erect or fallen. The 

 larvae also occur in manure pits, cow dung, 

 crushed sugar canes, and other vegetable 

 remains. 



The best preventive, therefore, for this pest is 

 to hunt up and destroy the grub in all places 

 where there is an accummulation of decaying 

 vegetable matter. The larvae or grub is readily 

 distinguishable, being of a fleshy-white colour, 

 with a body of from 2 J inches to 3 inches when 

 fully grown. 



The method of attack of the black beetle is as 

 follows : It flies by night to a palm, and makes its 

 way to the base of a leaf-stalk and burrows into 

 the heart of the cabbage, making a large hole, from 

 which projects a quantity of the fibre of the tree 

 resembling tow. The appearance of this tuft 

 is evidence that the beetle has been at work. 

 It remains in the hole usually all the next day, 

 and may be captured in the burrow. It nibbles 

 in so deeply that, not rarely, it bites through 

 the growing point in the cabbage or bud of the 

 palm. More often the attack is repeated, till the 

 rain getting into the burrows sets up decay, 

 which rots the palm through. In either case, 

 the tree speedily dies. A tree once attacked 

 seems 1^o be very popular with all beetles. 



It is very easy to distinguish trees that have 

 been attacked by this beetle by the peculiar 

 ragged appearance of the leaves. The beetle, 

 in burrowing into the bud, often bites right 



