36 COCONUT CULTIVATION 



through the folded leaf in the cabbage, so that 

 when it is unfolded the top is found to be bitten 

 symmetrically off, or each leaflet is perforated 

 regularly. By these appearances it is easy to 

 tell whether a tree has been attacked or not, and 

 so to judge of the state of the plantation. 



Method of Destruction. The usual method of 

 destruction of this insect in the trees is to employ 

 men to examine the bases of the leaf -stalks of the 

 palms frequently, and to search for the beetles. 

 They are provided with a flexible iron or copper 

 wire terminated by a barb, with which the beetle 

 is speared in its burrow and drawn out. A tree 

 once attacked should be frequently examined, as 

 it is more liable to future attacks than those 

 which have never been attacked. So long as 

 the beetle is killed by spear, there is no real 

 need to extract it; in fact, it is, to a certain 

 extent, advantageous to leave its remains in the 

 hole, as no beetles will again enter the hole 

 while the dead one is there. In any case, it is 

 advisable to plug the holes with bits of rag or 

 tufts of fibre dipped in weak carbolic acid, as 

 this will deter beetles. One coolie per 100 acres 

 is usually sufficient for beetling. 



Red Beetle, or Weevil (Rhynchophorus 

 ferrugineus). This is far more destructive than 

 the black beetle. Like the latter, though, it is 

 nocturnal in its habits, flying at night to deposit 

 its eggs in the coconut tree. By means of its 



