66 
more again in the rotten dead stumps and roots of sago and ser- 
dang palms, and most numerous in a coconut tree from which the 
top has fallen away through their ravages or a decayed stump of 
the same tree. Here the grub will be found covered in a cocoon 
made of the fibre and so well does it conceal itself in this way 
that it is practically not noticeable to the ordinary view and is 
only discovered when the inside of the tree or stump is scooped 
out which I need scarcely say must be done very* efifectuallv other- 
wise one or two of the cocoons may escape observation. 
Black Beetles. — It is on account of their great numbers thajt these 
beetles are so much to be feared, and their borings, as I have stated 
previously, afford a means for inroad by the dangerous red beetle. 
There absolutely seems to be no limit to the beetles and their grubs 
provided the breeding places are sufficiently abtfndant and these com- 
prise not only those mentioned in connection with the red beetle but 
a great many more, such as, underneath and in dead palms of several 
kinds, sawdust, paddystraw, coconut, cofifee and paddy husks and 
refuse heaps of all descriptions. The grubs especially can simply be 
found in thousands in quite a small dung heap. When the beetles 
reach maturity they leave their breeding grounds and it is then they 
make for the coconut trees and commence thair ravages slightly 
above and near the top of the cabbage boring their way downwards 
and lay their eggs at the end of the cavities so formed. Owing to 
their constant and continual onslaughts they do great damage to the 
trees, nipping as it were the leaves and the stem that bears the fruit 
just at tfie time they are forming; the leaves in consequence after- 
wards present a jagged or frayed appearance and what is more 
serious the stem often is killed, and if it does shoot out probably 
bears little or no fruit. There is difficulty in ascertainingh ow far the 
beetle can travel in one stage of its journeyings which it makes at 
night, but I should say no great distance and about a mile would, 1 
think, be an extreme limit. However it manages to fly to plantations 
considerable distances away from one another and this may be ac- 
counted for by its finding several breeding haunts intervening to avail 
of during its flight. 
Destruction . — The only way to exterminate and get rid of these 
pests is to diligently search out and thoroughly destroy all the breed- 
ing grounds already described and everything that is likely to harbour 
them must be burnt. Some advantage is to be gained from this 
burning, for provided the heaps are not placed too close to the trees 
so as to harm them, the smoke most undoubtedly does good as it 
tends to form and harden the fruit on the stem producing heavier 
crops. Attention must also be given to the trees themselves which 
should be searched periodically and all the beetles extracted. For 
this purpose a stiff bit of wire about iS inches long with a barb at 
the end is usually used and in addition to this after the beetle has 
been extracted it will be found efficacious to put a few drops of 
“ Zotal’’ into the cavity and also, by means of a small brush, smear 
over the entrance to the hole with the same composition. This pre- 
paration if applied in the way I have indicated will not harm the tree, 
on the other hand experiments have shewn that it gives a decided 
