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tree, near the head, and makes a large cocoon of the fibre of the wood, and thence 
when its transformation is complete, the beetle easilybursts its way out. 1 he Malays 
think that the beetle bores in at the place where its cocoon is found, makes the!cocoon* 
or nest, and thence sends its grubs to bore the tree, thus reversing the real course of 
events. . . . , 
The presence of this beetle, or rather of its grub, in a tree, can only be known by 
hearing it bore, or suspected from the death of the tree without obvious cause. 
’ M^ore information is wanted as to the Oryctes with reference to its seasons of ac¬ 
tivity, and its seasons for breeding; and as to the Calandra, with reference to its place 
for depositing its eggs. This place will be found to be either some crevice in the bark, 
or some deep spot' under cover of a leaf sheath, or possibly the ground at the root of 
the tree. 
The steps to be taken to prevent destruction of cocoa-nut trees by these insects 
are in my opinion as follows :— 
1. All beetles of both kinds I have described should be destroyed when found. 
Possibly it might be advisable that the Government should offer a small reward for 
their destruction. 
2. No dead cocoa-nut trees, or rotten stumps should be allowed to remain in or 
near cocoa-nut plantations, and trees not dead but irrecoverably damaged and de¬ 
formed by the ravages of beetles should be cut down and burnt. It is very important 
that this step be insisted on in the case of natives who have perhaps a few cocoa-nut 
trees, of which they are utterly careless, near large plantations. It should be made 
penal for any one to allow a rotten cocoa-nut stump, or a dead tree, to remain on his 
property in the neighbourhood of other trees. 
3. Careful daily inspections should be made of trees, especially young trees, in 
order that the entrance of the Oryctes may be seen at once, and the beetle be extract¬ 
ed and killed. 
4. No heaps of manure, or any material known to serve as breeding ground for 
the Oryctes should be allowed to remain in or near cocoa-nut plantations. 
5/ If a tree be found to be attacked by the grub of the Calandra, it should be cut 
down at once and effectually destroyed, in order that all the grubs that may be in it 
may be killed. 
Additional information on points I have alluded to above will simplify some of the 
remedial measures. 
I have, &c., 
MAX. F. SIMON, 
Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer, S.S. 
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