THE ORCHID REVIEW. 137 
examples of Diaxenes Taylori in the British Museum are ticketed “ Moul- 
mein.”” Whether the larve submitted to Mr. Blandford belong to either 
species of Diaxenes. or even to the genus, must necessarily remain unknown, 
unless the beetle be bred from them ; but it is conjectured, from the habitat 
of the host plant, that it will prove distinct. Should Sir Trevor Lawrence 
be so unlucky as to breed out the beetles in his conservatory, Mr. Blandford 
would be glad to examine them; but, for the sake of the Orchids, he 
recommends that they be carefully looked over, and the affected stems 
destroyed. If any plants are so attacked as to be not worth saving, they 
might be removed to a house which contains no other Orchids, and covered 
with gauze netting, so as to detain any beetles which may breed out, if 
desired to rear them for examination. But it is most important that by 
careful supervision no affected stems shall be left which will distribute the 
insect at large in the Orchid house when they have reached the winged 
state. It might be possible to save pseudobulbs not as yet badly injured, 
by destroying the enclosed larve with a wire or needle, but whether this 
means is practicable or not must be left to the consideration of those who 
have care of the plants. Mr. Blandford adds that he has described a small 
boring beetle (Xyleborus morigerus) which has been very injurious in some 
conservatories to Dendrobia from New Guinea, having probably been sent 
out extensively with the Orchids by a firm of nurserymen, but they are not 
present in the portions sent. 
On splitting the pseudobulb of Dendrobi Phalznopsis sent by Mr. 
Wrigley we found two or three larve, and one beetle was just boring his 
way out. It was not a Longicorn beetle, however, but a small brown 
weevil-like insect, whose very short antennz are broad and flattened at the 
apex, and we suspect either the Xyleborus mentioned by Mr. Blandford or 
a closely allied species. What we suspect may be the same insect has been 
alluded to on more than one occasion in our columns and elsewhere as 
Xyleborus perforans, and it would be interesting to clear up the history of 
this and some other Orchid pests, which seem to be very imperfectly 
known. These insects come home with imported plants, and as soon as 
their presence is detected measures are taken to stamp them out. Nursery- 
men who find affected plants among their importations, naturally do not 
care to advertise the fact, and so information is not easily obtained ; but 
there is a consensus of opinion that several Dendrobiums from New Guinea 
and the adjacent islands are specially subject to their attacks. Those who 
buy plants from this region should be on the alert to stamp them out as 
soon as their presence is detected, and thus prevent the mischief spreading 
