317 
l" The roots are attacked by. a Cockchafer grub, 
Lepifkota pmguxs which attacks roots of all kinds of trees 
including Hevea. 
One correspondent had lost 3,000 plants in one clear- 
mg, apparently all young trees. The grub burrows in the 
giound and bites through the roots. He recommends the 
use oi “vaporite” a patent insecticide sold by the Strawson 
Company. It is dibbled into the soil 1 to 1.1 oz. at about 
the distance of 6 inches from the stem, and gradually dif- 
fuses a, vapour through the soil which destroys the insects. 
, Nitrate of soda, applied at the rate of from 1 to 2 oz. 
ror each plant was also found effective. 
termites do not affect the Ceylon trees as thev do 
here, as 1 ermes gestroi does not occur there. 
A longieorn beetle grub burrowing into the root is also 
recorded. It burrows up the tap root into the stem which 
breaks off at or below the level of the ground. On the 
stem, the Bark-eating Caterpillar ( Comoeritis ' plena ) is 
mentioned. It rubbles the bark and resides in a silken well 
composed of bark fragments and their own exeretar. It 
really does no harm as it only eats the outer cork, ( it or 
an allied species is not uncommon here). It can be brushed 
oft the tree by hand. The short hole borers are mentioned 
but In all cases at present, these insects can only attack 
dead wood, patches oil trees killed by some fungus or some 
such injury. A bark eating beetle (Moechotypa vernici - 
colli *) was accused of girdling young Hevea s nibbling tie 
lark in a ring round the stem. It was found however that 
the trees attacked were already dry from the attacks of a 
fungus. When the animal was allowed to bite a healtbv 
young tree, the latex choked its mouth and it fled and would 
not try again. The Cut- worm {Agrotis segetum) an omni- 
vorous moth caterpillar was reported as damaging seed- 
lings, but seems generally to prefer other herbage. 
Locusts of different kinds attacked the young bark, 
and the leaves. Poisoned baits are recommended made of 
1 part Paris green 2 parts Salt and 10 parts fresh horse- 
dung with sufficient water to make the mixture soft without 
being sloppy. 
The ends of stumped plants, constantly die back for 
a short way leaving a dead stick on the end and small bees 
and wasps sometimes use this to put their nests in, burrow- 
ing down the pith. The only possible danger from this is 
the continuation downwards of the decay. This may be 
obviated by stumping immediately above the node, and in 
any case the dead bits when dry should be always removed. 
