Orchid Beetle. 



475 



and some of them were evidently dying. There were 

 small round holes, rather smaller than No. 6 shot, 

 in the stems or pseudo-bulbs, and on splitting these 

 lengthways galleries, made apparently by a boring 

 insect, were found in them. Some of these galleries were 

 simple, running up and down the stems, others had 

 branches at right angles, but in most cases only one short 

 branch was noticed. Beetles were found in various parts of 

 the galleries and branches, together with larvae and pupa?, 

 though the latter were generally at the ends of the branches. 

 Occasionally a solitary beetle was discovered on the outside 

 of a stem, boring into it in order to establish a fresh colony. 

 It was clear that the beetles within the stems were injur- 

 ing the plants by exhausting the sap, and feeding upon 

 their soft tissues. The owner of the orchids stated that 

 he had not one-tenth of his Dendrobiums left, and many of 

 those remaining were much injured by the drastic treatment 

 adopted to get rid of the invaders. The beetle appears to be 

 partial to Dendrobiums, and especially to Dendrobium 

 Phalcenopsis . A few other instances of the infestation of 

 orchids by the beetle have been notified in this country, 

 though at present it is by no means common ; but it is feared 

 that it will become so, as it is imported with orchid plants 

 from various countries. In the present case it is believed 

 that the orchid plants were imported either from New 

 Guinea, or Ceylon, in which latter country the beetle is well 

 known to exist, as well as in most tropical and sub-tropical 

 regions. Mr. Blandford states that it has not been recorded 

 from any country in the European geographical region. 



The female beetle has wings, is slightly larger than the 

 male, and not quite so broad, being rather less than the tenth 

 of an inch long. The beetle is shiny brown, or chestnut 

 coloured, when full grown. Immature beetles are of a paler 

 hue. The short five-jointed antenna? are terminated by 

 clubs. 



The insect bores a hole in the stems of the orchid plant — 

 it was seen at this work — and when it reaches the centre of 

 the stem, or thereabouts, it makes a gallery with a branch, or 

 branches, but owing to the soft, sappy nature of the orchid 



