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Selangor State Museum, 
Kuala Liimpor , May 31st, igo4. 
To the Editor 
AGRICU LTURAi • BULLETI N . 
DEAR Sir, — I n 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 Astychus chrysoch- 
loris. 
The species, which I have found widely distributed in the Peninsula 
both in cultivated land and in high iungl * was first brought to my 
notice as an agricultural pest by Mr. S.' ArDF.N, Superintendent, 
Experimental Plantations, Selangor. 
On May 3rd, 1902, Mr. ARDEN wrote from Batu Tiga to the 
following effect — “ 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 f found several trees affected on the Sungei 
Rengam estate and specimens collected on that occasion were 
identified by Mr. F. V. Theobald of the British Museum as the 
widely spread weevil, Eumeces squamosus , 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 brandies 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 . 
