27i 



Selangor State Museum, 

 Kuala Lumpor, May 31st , ryoj. 



To the Editor 



Agricultural Bulletin. 



DEAR Sir, — In the " Agricultural Bulletin " for January of the 

 current year, I observe a note by Mr. R. PEARS on the damage 

 caused to Para Rubber by a beetle identified as AstycJius chrysoch- 

 loris. 



The species, which I have found widely distributed in the Peninsula 

 both in cultivated land and in high jungle was first brought to my 

 notice as an agricultural pest by Mr. S. ARDEN, Superintendent, 

 Experimental Plantations. Selangor. 



On May 3rd, 1902, Mr. ARDEN wrote from Batu Tiga to the 

 following effect — <f So far the damage is limited to one or two trees 

 from which most of the young leaves have been eaten, the trees 

 having much the same appearance as though they had been attacked 

 by caterpillars. I caught between 20 and 30 specimens on one tree 

 and as there are coffee and bananas close by unaffected, this seems 

 to show that this particular tree is to their liking." 



A few days later I found several trees affected on the Sungei 

 Ren gam estate and specimens collected on that occasion were 

 identified by Mr. F. V. THEOBALD of the British Museum as the 

 widely spread weevil, Eumeces squaniosus ) Fabr. 



The insect is only injurious in its adult state, when it is a voraci- 

 ous feeder on young leaves, while the grubs feed on decaying leaves 

 and other vegetable matter and may often be found at the foot of 

 the affected plants. 



In destroying the pest, advantage may be taken of the well known 

 habit of the family of shamming death on the slightest alarm. 



In medium sized trees a vigorous tapp'ng of the trunk will cause 

 the majority of the insects to fall to the ground and remain still 

 when they may be taken up and burnt. In the case of larger tree 

 the branches may be agitated by the use of a long bamboo. 



It is especially important that vigorous steps should be taken on 

 the first appearance of the insect as its power of increase are very 

 great while the great destruction of leaf caused by a comparatively 

 small number may seriously check the development of the trees 

 even if they are not actually killed. 



I am, etc., 



HERBERT C. ROBINSON, 



Curator, Selangor State Museum. 



