187 
As far as can be gathered from the i on the specimen-tubes sen 
the ** root-borer " of the orange appears to be the larva of Meiatianios 
denticollis, nen Dr. Easmon’s Piin PE of the larva with the 
adult beetle 
This pian is s eylindrienl- -circular in cross section, entirely horny, dirty 
yellow, six-legged, t brown, the eleventh segment of the body 
stouter, rough, ‘and darker, shortly 'spined above on its hind margin, the 
last segment short, forming a transverse shield, hard and rough, with a 
marginal series of : spiny tubercles and two hook. -shaped spines projecting 
back wards. 
I should doubt this larva being a borer in wood, as Dr. Easm 
account seems to suggest. It more likely burrows in REA like zs 
worms and guaws the roots. 
e is no information at my disposal which will enable me to make 
any suggestions upon it. One or two species of its particular. family 
( Tenebrionide) have root-gnawing larve, but very little is known about 
them 
The habits of the insect must be investigated, and speaking on pure 
a priori grounds, I would suggest that particular attention be paid to 
those of the imago itself. Root-feeding larve are always difficult to 
get rid of by direct methods. But the ae of Tenebrionide 
slugglish in many cases, and fly little. It might be possible to devise 
some method of attracting them, or some species of trap, such as is done 
for other non-flying beet tles s by means of holes, trenches, or ditches in 
which they will collect and from which they can be removed and killed. 
Until further investigation is made, it is not possible to say more about 
this species. One species of Bostrychus (B. iniquus, Lesne) has been 
sent, in the form of a single example, from decaying orange wood. The 
Bostr ychide are often injurious wood borers; but it is reasonable to 
suppose that this species would have attracted attention if it were of 
importance. Its occurrence is peobübly nsidoutal 
In addition to the insects injurious to coffee forwarded from Aburi, a 
small collection of insects has also beeu received from Mr. Cyril Fi ties 
manager of the Soto Coffee Plantations, Colony of Lagos, West Africa 
specimens are accompanied with short explanatory notes 
diel y, but very little can be said about these examples, which in 
most cases are not identifiable. Some pa rticulars, which include the 
git given by Mr. Punch, are furnished in the hope that they 
may lead to further study of these insects in places where they occur. 
E nite acter 
Am 
Poderide, which iuh some mis the very lowest insect orms. The 
species sent is about ,'; of an inc long. Mr. Punch describes it in the 
following note as an Meant: it is, however, a true insect : 
Very troublesome all the year round to coffee. It affects whole 
exereted by the caterpillars. The mites hatch both inside the berries 
and between the folded seo E 
The slide forwarded co a dried example of what might be a very 
caterpillar, but terr is ade connexion whatever between it and the 
