Fiji Beetles Rushed

To Guam Call for Help Against Borer-Weevil

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA. August 24.

THE United States Navy recently sent a request through Honolulu, to Fiji, for a consignment of Plaesius javanus beetles to cope with weevil-borer in newly established banana plantations on Guam.

A Fijian laboratory assistant from the local Department of Agriculture went to Waimaro and in five days collected 460 beetles, which were brought to Suva, fed on fresh beefsteak and packed in moss for the plane journey from Nadi to Honolulu, by Pan-American Airways.

At Honolulu, the beetle-box was trans ferred to a Navy plane which left within half an hour, reaching Guam 22 hours later.

The time taken to move the beetles from the banana plantations of the Waidina River, Viti Levu. to Guam, was five days.

The entomologist at the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association’s experimental station (Dr. Pemberton) has written to the Director of Agriculture, Fiji, saying: “I do not know of a similar instance in which a beneficial insect has been trans ported from one country to another, over such a long distance, so quickly and sat isfactorily. We wish to thank you most heartily and to congratulate you on the service you have rendered us in this pro ject.”

Plaesius javanus beetles were first brought to Fiji from Java in 1913 by the then Government Entomologist, Mr. J. F.

Jepson.