251 



contorted, their presence may easily be detected. All such shoots 

 should be immediately gathered, or if quite freshly attacked the 

 larva: can be killed before they have done any damage. I wish to 

 thank Mr. BURN MURDOCK, Conservator of Forests, Federated Malay 

 States at whose request these pests were studied, for the kind assis- 

 tance afforded me while investigating these diseases. 



H. C. PRATT. 

 Government Entomologist, F. M. S. 



TWO ENEMIES OF HEVEA. 



In the Bulletin du department de V Agriculture aux Indes Neer 

 landaises VI p. 46, are described attacks on Hevea brazihensis by 

 a Borer, and by Acari, both in the Experimental Gardens of 

 Tjikeumente, in Java. The borer is described as attacking fatally 

 a 7-year old tree. The trunk had lost a portion of its bark and the 

 exposed wood had been pierced by numerous little holes leading to 

 canals, and the bare portion the tissues had developed a thick callus, 

 only one tree had been attacked. No insects were found to which 

 the damage could be attributed, but small beetles and larvae were 

 found which were considered to be secondary attackers. Near the 

 damaged tree had been some Castilloas destroyed by Epepscotes 

 luscus which showed damage similar to that of the Hevea. The 

 description certainly does not agree with that of an attack by 

 epepscotes or any other iongicorn beetle which make straight solitary 

 vertical tunnels in the trunk, of considerable size. The account 

 ^Sgests that the borers were Scolytidce attacking wood already 

 Wled by some accident, common enough in injured rubber trees, 

 and n °t necessary fatal. The callusing of the edges of the wound 

 strongly confirms this showing as it does that the damage was ot 

 old standing. 



The Acari had attacked leaves of seedling Heveas. The leaves 

 ycame contorted and generally speaking a symmetrical when larger. 

 J* quite young leaves did not develop, and the bud seemed 

 ^1 fen all the plants in the beds were attacked. Under the 

 folded edge of the leaf in the under side were numerous acari ot 

 of which a rough sketch is given. The author points out that 

 *7>Ping the young plants for planting out, the shoots cut off 



o destroyed will prevent the acari from spreading. The attack* 

 \ A an on y° un g Plants was pointed out a long time ago by 

 S^!f® N ' a "d probably many of the deformed leaves one sees 

 222 ft ,n the "^series are due to this animal. Flowers of sulphur 

 an*h hr ? u £ h the nursery would probably be- as good a remedy as 

 Sbutit would certainly be advisable to top the seedlings 

 an d burn the tannine > 



