CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



.59 



ON THE RAVAGES OF THE COOROOMINEA 



OR 



COCOANUT BEETLE. 

 By J. Capper, Esq., C. M. R. A. S. Sf M. S. S. 



\_Read on the 1st August, 1845.] 



The beetle which bears the above name, and of which 

 specimens are on the table, though but very little known to 

 Europeans, except of late, has long been an object of hostility 

 to the Singhalese, from the ravages which it at various sea- 

 sons commits on their favourite plant, the Cocoanut. From 

 all that can be gathered from native headmen, it would 

 appear, that in the Western Province, at any rate, this insect 

 was never seen in such extraordinary numbers, as has been 

 the case during the past eighteen months; otherwise it were 

 difficult to imagine, how such vast tracts of Cocoanut trees 

 as line the shores of the Western and Southern Provinces, 

 should have reached maturity with so little apparent injury. 

 The writer was very recently through some large fields of 

 Cocoanut plants, varying in extent from 50 to 150 acres, 

 and about 2 years and 3 years old : in these, he did not 

 discover a single young tree, untouched by the Cooroominea : 

 They had all been more or less bored through, and had lost 

 their centre leaves, besides being greatly mutilated by knives 

 and catties in getting out the beetle ; for if left in, it will 

 find a way out very soon, to go in search of another plant. 

 Nothing can wear a more miserable, and disheartening ap- 

 pearance, than a field of fine young Cocoanut plants, with 

 deep wounds in their sides, their leaves cut through in all 

 directions, and laying scattered on the ground. 



Unfortunately for the cultivator, this beetle pursues its 

 labours of destruction only in the night time, and much more 

 so on dark wet nights, than when the moon is up, and the 



