21 
Scolytidos. 
1. Xyleborus perforans, Woll.—This insect was found for 
the first time attacking 1 coconuts at La Digue. Nuts suffering 
from a fungus disease were found to have cracked longitudinally 
just before maturity and to have harboured the boring beetle 
in question. Only three coconut palms were found to bear nuts 
attacked by the beetle and the three trees were destroyed and 
burnt. 
2. Crassotarsus externedentatus, Fairn.—Was found at¬ 
tacking Pterocarpus indicus (Sangdragon) branches. The 
attacks of this insect are secondary only, the branches of ‘Sang¬ 
dragon have first to be cut down before they are attacked. 
3. Xyleborus semigranosus Blandf.—Attacks cinnamon, 
albizzia lebbek and Eugenia jambos ; secondary attacks 
only. These insects are so numerous in Seychelles l that cinna¬ 
mon bushes which are peeled for their bark are attacked a few 
days after they are cut down even at a distance of several 
miles from i ifested localities. 
4. Xyleborus abruptus samp.—Attacks Cashew (Anacar- 
dia), Albizzia lebbek and Eugenia jambos and is known only 
from Seychelles where it is very common ; secondary attacks 
only. 
5. Eccoptopterus sexspinosus, Mots.—Attacks Eugenia 
jambos. This tree which was so common formerly in Seychelles 
is suffering heavily from attacks of the boring beetles in 
question. It is an insect known as a pest of rice plants in 
Burma. 
Crassotarsus externedentatus, Fairu was also found attacking 
stems, twigs and boughs of ficus nautarum newly cut down. 
The adult insects work its way inward from the underside 
portion, of the stem or bough lying oa the ground in a damp 
place. The attack begins a fortnight after the branches have 
been cut down, when no more latex runs out and the tissue is 
sufficiently decomposed. On the upper side of the stem no 
attack is made at the time, the latex being present a month 
after date of cutting. The eggs of the insects are laid in 
clusters and not singly as in other cases. A greater number 
of larvee were found close to the pith of the wood. Left on top 
of a boulder in dry season and exposed to the sun, branches of 
ficus nautarum are not attacked. Wood cutters are inclined 
to believe that the beetles do more havoc at the time of full 
moon and for this reason they avoid felling any trees until that 
period is over. 
Bostrychydoe Tenebrionidae & Gwrcuhonidae. 
6. Binoderus biforeolatus, Woll.—Attacks bamboos of all 
kinds except dendrooalamus gigantea (Giant bamboo). Is ;iho 
a grain beetle and attacks flour. Dr Guy Marshall remarks that 
its habits are probably as varied as those of the verv nearly 
allied D. minutus which has been recorded from bamboos. 
7. Rhizonertha dominica F.—Attacking lentils. Tenebrio- 
nidae. 
8. Tribolium castaneum Hbst.-—Attacking lentils. Cur- 
culionidae. 
9. Calandra orizse.—Attacking rice and maize. 
10. Discalandra formenti F. (Calandra stigmaticollis Cvll). 
-—Attacking green coconut leaf stalks at La Digue. 
A great quantity of grain mostly rice and maize is lost in 
the Colony without any attempt being made at disinfecting 
them with carbon bisulphide or sulphur fumes or hydrocyanic 
acid gas in order to destroy the beetles. It is not known 
generail'' : that 1 lb of carbon bisulphide is sufficient for the 
treatment of one ton of grain contained in air tight boxes or 
chambers. The grains are not to be exposed for more than 
36 hours. The germinative power and the industrial value of 
the grain is impaired when the actiou of the gas is too 
prolonged. Mr D. D’Emmerez de Charmoy, Entomologist, Mauri¬ 
tius, has advised treating heaped grains by carbon bisulphide 
in the following way. To introduce the fluid into the heap, 
a rod is fixed loosely into an ordinary pipe or bamboo and 
pushed down into the heap, the rod is then withdrawn and 
the lie i poured into the pipe or bamboo stick. 
The study ot boring and grain beetles has also been stalled 
this y ar in order to avoid possible introductions in the 
future insects which are likely to become injurious to cinna¬ 
mon, c onut and other plantations. 
