243 
Report of the Government Entomologist, for the 
Year 1910, 
During the past year the staff of the Entomological division has 
been increased by the appointment of Mr. C. B. Holman-Hunt, b.a., 
as Assistant Entomologist. 
The collections of the department have been greatly increased, 
about 15,000 specimens having been obtained during the year. These 
are now being classified as far as possible. 
The Entomological division has suffered for several years through 
a lack of reference collections, and through there being no cabinets 
wherein to keep the collections. This latter deficiency has now been 
remedied, and as much has been done to obtain as good a reference 
collection as the time has permitted. 
For several months during the past year it was necessary to 
spend a greater time in the departmental offices than was advisable: 
this was due to a considerable decrease in the staff about the middle 
of the year. 
Before the retirement of the late Director of Agriculture some 
five or six tours were made in his company over many of the estates 
in the Federated Malay States, my object being to detect pests 
which might be present. 
In regard to these the worst noted was Ternies gestroi, the most 
prevalent pest in these States. It is, however, kept well under con- 
trol by the managers of estates. 
There are a number of minor pests of which only one need 
be mentioned here ; this is a species of Xylobortis (a small boring 
beetle). It has made its appearance on many of the estates in 
Malaya. 
So far as my experience goes trees are not usually attacked if in 
a healthy condition. An entrance may be afforded for this insect 
either by bad tapping or by bark diseases. Occasionally they attack 
healthy trees, attempting to reach the wood through sound bark. 
A few are successful. The latex is a great protection against the 
attacks of this beetle, and nearly all are caught before an entrance 
is effected. 
Pollarded trees are frequently attacked, more often when care 
is not taken in the cutting and tarring. They form, also, a source of 
contamination for other trees. 
With careful supervision and complete destruction of affected 
trees this insect does not spread. 
1 he small number of the trees affected does not justify the 
introduction of any expensive remedial measures. The loss of a few 
trees when they are attacked counts but little if by their destruction 
the surrounding trees are saved. 
