Fiji

Rhino Beetles Reach Fiji The First is Intercepted

SUVA, February 23.

ALIVE, female rhinoceros beetl was found under a hatch tarpaulin in the ship Thorsisl by a Fijian worker, Jonetau Rokoua, at Suva, on February 25 Another Fijian, Tomasi Cuvu, re cognised the beetle as the dreadet enemy of the copra industr throughout the South Pacific, ani took it to the Agriculture Depart ment.

This is the first known liv rhinoceros beetle to reach Fiji, ant the knowledgeable Tomasi has bee:

A second live rhinoceros beetle was found in a house near Suva early in March. See page 14,

given his full due of praise by Gov ernment officials, the press and th public.

The Thorsisle had come to Suv from Apia, where she had been load ing cocoa beans. The fact that a! overseas vessels in Apia Harbou lie well out from the shore show how serious is the danger of th accidental introduction of coconi] palm destroyer to Fiji.

Since the discovery of heav beetle infestation at Vavau, Tongj a year ago, strict precautions hav been taken in Fiji. As this is night-flying insect, all ships fror Samoa and Vavau are required t lie well out in the stream ever night they spend in Fiji ports. Ship ping interests have been restiv under the restrictions, but ther are now signs of a strong deman for the utmost precautions to b taken against the threat to one c Fiji’s three chief industries.

Officers of the Agriculture De partment have pointed out that i the beetle had not been intercepts aboard the Thorsisle, it could easil; have found its way onto the Suv wharf reclamation, with seriou consequences.

Thanks to a persistent campaign in press and radio, people in Fi: have become rhinoceros-beetle conscious. There is a tendency t bung all sorts of inoffensive but un familiar bugs into bottles, and seni them to Senior Entomologist B. / O’Connor. But the officials welcom this evidence of interest amon people of all races, and inquiries ar never dismissed as trivial. The polic has borne good fruit.

Mr. Vernon Wheatley and hi family returned to Norfolk Is. fron New Hebrides in March.