Observations on a Borer of Coconut Petioles in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate.

Abstract

Larvae of an unidentified xyloryctid restricted to the islands of Choiseul and Santa Isabel damage coconuts by tunneling in.to the petioles of the fronds. Coconut palms over four years of age are attacked. On young palms the eggs tend to be laid on the youngest fronds and occasionally there is no oviposition for up ,to two months. Biological control appears to be of little significance. Modification of secondary
growth of coconut plantings is seen as a promising line of research on control which is made all the more imperative by possible future unintentional introduction of the pest to neighboring islands.