Planting in Fiji 485 



has to climb the trunk of the palm. This fact 

 can be taken advantage of by preventing its 

 ascent by means of some contrivance or pre- 

 paration placed around the trunk. Represen- 

 tatives of this family have the power of 

 reproducing a lost limb. 



The Lopaphus cocophagus is much smaller 

 than Phibalocera pythonius, rarely exceeding 

 4J in. in length, and J in. in breadth. The 

 body is slender and brown in colour. The 

 wings and tegmina are very small, and the 

 former cannot be of much use in flight. The 

 eggs of this insect have not yet been found 

 here. 



Probably the most satisfactory, and at the 

 same time least expensive, method of dealing 

 with both these insects, where the damage 

 caused is extensive, would be the following : 

 As has been stated above, Phasmidae are 

 nocturnal in habits, and during the daytime 

 find shelter beneath the folded leaflets of the 

 palms. If broken and fallen leaves of coco-nut 

 trees, as well as all debris, such as husks, loose 

 fibre and cut weeds, &c,, are collected and made 

 into a heap beneath each palm, and when dry 

 set fire to, the smoke will cause the insects 

 to release their hold of the leaflets, and falling 

 to the ground they will either be destroyed 

 by fire or will form an easy prey for birds. 

 There are still many points of interest yet 

 to be discovered concerning these insects, and 

 also the methods for their control. 



