The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-03-04
BAD C0COANUt
BEETLE IN SAMOA

HNINH'INi ~ f"iff ~ ~"
fttafff N fbs beetle iH tHHH. ahf
f.laatitf ihsi its dspaftmsni 81 aah
esifHfa mlfti fits ihiafmaiioh ~ fe
fafa fo fhn rasi fof ihs behshi "
ths bsapis ah tbt ltitnd. aia1 ne fs
raft eat accompanied BY specimens
~ ihs mais shf female adaii beetles
shd ihs larvae
We sppahd q cow ~ letter fsoeieed
from ere department
Department IT AsficuiiHfe,
once NJ me ssofeisfr.
Washihsion. be. nee %. 1910
Tire Honorable me Secretary n State
sif have tho honor 10 aoknowl
edge ihs receipt n youf letter u The
isih ~ December, enclosing copy
N n despatch from W. Mason Mit
eheil t consul ~ Apia. Samoa.
dated November 8. IN which be- gives
al account 0f the fagaaes ~ a beetle
10 the cocoanut trees IN Samoa, trans
Uniting specimens and photograph of
NE insect IN question
IN reply, beg 10 inform YOU that
The eutomolosist Of this department
has examined the beetle sent BY Mr.
Mitchell. and has determined u 10 be
Ofyctes fhin0cefoa linnaeus, one Of
the scarabaeids. belonging 10 a sub
family which is characterized by hav.
Ing In the male sex q large horn on
the head. The insect IN question Is
Of East Indian origin. II has spread
10 the Philippine Islands and TO some
of the Malay archipelago. II IL mani.
testify a recent importation In the Sa'
moan Islands from some place In the
far East II f. most likely TO have
been brought In soil IN India, where
Il occasionally does considerable dam
age to toddy. cocoanut and other
palms. the only remedy IN use Is
searching for the larvae In heaps Of
decaying vegetation or In decayed
trees. Mr.. Mitchell seems to be FAINT
liar with the larvae, which Is a soft,
fat grub. None of the experts OF the
bureau of entomology have ever
studied the insect I'm It's native home
and Il seems to them that remedial
work should be directed against the
grubs. The exact character OF the
breeding places must be determined
and the larvae then destroyed by spad
ing or by the free use OF kerosene, or
better, of a greatly diluted kerosene
soap emulsion which may be prepared
in accordance with the formula given
on page 16 OF the enclosed circular
mo. 124 OF the bureau of entomology
have the honor to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
w. NJ. HAYS,
Acting Secretary.
Formula Of Kerosene Soap Emulsion
Kerosene local oil, lamp oiD: Gal
Ions 2.
Whale oil soap or laundry soap;
Pound ".
Water: Gallon 1.
Dissolve the soap In boiling water;
then remove vessel from the fire. I'm
medIately add the kerosene, and thor
oughly agitate the mixture until a
creamy solution results.
The stock solution II well made
will keep for some months. In order
to make n 10 per cent spray (the
strength for trees in folIage), add to
each / gallon OF the stock solution
about o 2-3 gallons Of water. For q
per cent emulsion (for use on dor
mant trees and plants) use, about
2.3 gallons OF water for each ] gal
lon OF stock emulsion, Agitate the
mixture in all cases after adding the
water,
Consul Mitchell is also in receipt
OF letter from the Vreeland Chem
loal Company of New York City, who
having read his report on the rayagei
OF the beetles In Samoa, are onerini
their insecticide In the form OF al
arsenate OF lead which Ia claimed tC
be the greatest insect destroyer
known.
Any further information in regard
TO this inseotloide will be cheerfulll
furnished at the American consulate
NOT AGAIN.
A farmer going over his land th'
other day caught village loafer' &C
companled by his dog, trespasslng II
field, and after threatening hin
with certain prosecution IN case III