Diseases 273 



same as with the rhinoceros beetle, but if this 

 fails, as none of the authorities which we have 

 consulted seem to have any remedy to suggest, 

 the safest plan would be to carefully cut down 

 and burn the tree, since it is apparently 

 doomed, taking care in doing so that no pests 

 are allowed to escape. Needless to say that 

 every beetle or larva seen must be instantly 

 killed, lest it makes its escape whilst the tree 

 or portions of it are being carried through the 

 estate. 



Mr. Ridley considers that the red beetle is 

 almost more destructive than the rhinoceros. 

 He describes it as being nocturnal in its habits, 

 flying at night to deposit its eggs in the coco- 

 nut tree. Ferguson's Manual contains much 

 useful information on this and other pests that 

 we cannot include in this book. 



The shot-hole coco-nut weevil 1 seems to 

 puncture the palm from top to bottom with its 

 exit holes ; doubtless these insects would be 

 susceptible to the same general treatment as 

 that given to the Asiatic palm weevil. They 

 are generally found in diseased trees, and Mr. 

 Banks does not consider them a serious menace. 



The four-spotted coco-nut weevil only attacks 

 dead trees of very small size, and Mr. Banks 

 reports that it is only met with in coco-nuts ; 

 it is not in any sense a menace to healthy 

 trees. 



Continuing his notes in the April (1906) 



1 Mr. Banks gives no scientific name to this pest. 

 18 



