form for the use of planters engaged in cocoa-nut palm growing, who, 

 according to the Commissioners, appear to be generally " unacquainted 

 with the various stages in the existence of the Weevil ; " and to serve 

 as a guide towards obtaining a more thorough knowledge of the insect's 

 habits and of the class of measures most efficient in keeping it in check. 

 The present paper has been written and is published as the result of 

 that decision. 



As the insect under consideration, as well as the species im- 

 mediately allied to it, is confined to tropical or sub-tropical regions, 

 and no observations whatever can be made in this country upon its 

 habits or life-history, the present account is of the nature of a com- 

 pilation, and the accuracy of much of its information depends upon 

 and is limited by that of the records supplied by investigators in 

 tropical countries. That informal ion lient in some 



respects, and the responsibility of adding to and correcting it rests 

 with those engaged in cocoa-nut growing, who have opportunities for 

 testing fli. sMti mentis made. 



However, the comparison of accounts written by individual observers 

 both of this insect and of allied species is most valuable in order to 

 bring out the importance of certain facts and to check erroneous con- 

 clusions arrived at by persons who have no previous experience of such 

 questions to guide them. 



In order to keep the text free from technicalities, which are confusing 

 to a non-scientific reader, these have been reduced to a minimum, and 

 terminology and systematic description'-- have been relegated to a 

 final section, while a certain amount of information which is already 

 familiar to the cocoa-nut planter is given to complete the account for 



of de-eriptive facts. 



The order adopted is as follows : firstly, a summary of the materials 

 upon which the following ■ a dly, • description of the 



life-history and habits of the Palm Weevil in all its stages ; thirdly, a 

 discussion of the economic features of its attacks ; and lastly, practical 

 Highest ions. 



At the end is a list of those works and reports in which the life- 

 history of the Palm Weevil is mentioned at greater or less length, and of 

 some others to which reference is made. It has not been thought 

 necessary to give a list of all the older works on insects in which this 

 insect is referred to. Such accounts are frequently copied from some 

 other source and are of no value. A fuller list will be found, if desired, 

 in Schonherr's Q\ ultonidum. 



The Palm Weevil of Central and South America ( liln/iichophnri's 

 jHilmnnim, Linn.) is one of the tropical insects, with which zoologists 

 have been longest familiar, lor Mdile. Merian, in her remarkable 



because ii seed- on th.it tree. In the trunk of the palm tree swarm 

 certain worms feeding on the pith. A.t first no larger than cheese- 

 maggots, they grow like the one here represented. Certain folk grill 

 them, and consider them a most savoury morsel. From this worm 



