8 BEETLES DESTRUCTIVE TO COCO-NUT PALMS. 
makes, and which are full of slimy sap exuded from the in- 
jured wood. It moves about by the aid of its thickened seg- 
ments, and usually burrows transversely through the tree. 
When full grown it attains a length of a little over two inches. 
The Perfect Insect.—The perfect insect varies a good deal 
in size and colouring. Usually about two inches in length, but 
often not more than one and a half from the tip of the snout 
to the end of the tail. Like all weevils, it possesses a long 
curved snout, which is blunt at the tip, and in the male orna- 
mented with a kind of brush of reddish hairs. The head is 
very small, and usually more or less red. 
The thorax broadest behind and narrowed in front is black, 
with a broad red band in the centre, smooth and polished. 
The wing cases are black, sometimes ornamented with red, 
grooved longitudinally, and squared and blunt at the ends, a 
good deal shorter than the body. The tail is black, edged 
with reddish fur beneath. The legs are strong, rather long, 
black, with a strong claw on the end of the second joint, be- 
sides the two small ones on the feet. The antennz are a 
little shorter than the snout, abruptly bent in the middle, 
and ending in a club. 
It is the smallest of the palm-weevils here, and is easily 
known by the colouring. It flies at night, but is rarely seen 
on the wing. 
Method of Destruction and Prevention.—This insect, as 
has been stated above, is a much more difficult one to deal 
with, but several of the methods in use for the former species 
will be equally effective with the latter. The insects, both 
male and female, may often be found at the base of the leaves, 
and can be extracted with the beetle-spear before the eggs 
are laid. They may also be destroyed by fires, as in the case 
of the black beetle. 
Some planters have recommended cutting away the fibrous 
sheath which surrounds the young stem of the palm, and, as 
they say, trimming and cleaning the palm. But the result is 
attended with a certain amount of danger. For there is great | 
risk that the trimmer will accidentally wound the tree with 
his knife, and the beetle is quick to take advantage of this and 
