112 CACAO 



to be destructive to cacao, but the evidence, so far, is not 

 of a definite character. It appears fairly clear, however, 

 that some are friends and some are enemies ; but the 

 determination of one from the other, in the main, awaits 

 investigation. Barrett, in 1907, mentions the presence in 

 Trinidad of Tetramorium auropunctatum, Roger (a small 

 yellow ant), Prenolepis longicornus, Latr. (a small active 

 black ant), Cryptourus atratus, L. (a giant black ant). 



Fig. 32. Fig. 33. 



FiQ. 32. — " Borer Beetle," Steirastoma depressum natural aize. 

 Fig. 33. — Larva or Grub of the " Borer Beetle." 



Camponotus atriceps, Sm. (a brown hairy ant), two species 

 of Pheiodole, two of Azteka, and also Odontomachus 

 hirsutiusculus, Sm., Ectatoma ruidum, Rog., and other 

 species of Ectatoma. 



No. 3. The " Borer Beetle " {Steirastoma depressum). 

 — This insect deposits its eggs in wounds, natural apertures 

 or cracks in the bark of branches and stems, and the larvae, 

 as soon as hatched, work their way with great persistency, 

 cutting spiral channels just beneath the bark of the cacao- 

 tree. Its presence is generally first detected when it has 

 already done considerable amount of damage by the 

 exudation of the debris of wood and bark from the opening 

 to the channels. When the larva is small this debris does 

 not attract attention, but when it has grown to maturity 

 its work readily catches the eye. The usual method of 

 treatment is to cut away along the channel or tunnel until 

 the larva is reached, destroy the latter, and then tar 

 the wound. The larva may, however, be destroyed by 



