Enemies Of

The Beetle

Aspects of New Campaign in FiJi

THE possibility of controlling

Fiji’s newly-arrived Rhinoceros Beetle by parasites has re ceived much consideration lately.

The Zanzibar wasp is regarded with hope by some people. But the experts say that the Fiji infesta tion is so light that the wasp, if introduced, probably would die from starvation before it could be estab lished. It feeds on the Beetle’s grubs.

Others suggest that Fiji’s old friend, the giant toad, might be useful. The toad was introduced originally to clean up certain pests which threatened the sugar r cane; and it did a satisfactory job. These pests are well under control; but the toad now roams the country side in thousands, without a job.

The experts think the toad might eat the larvae of the Beetle; but can the toad find the larvae under compost and rubbish heaps and in rotting logs? Only time will tell.

Other possible enemies of the Beetle are the mongoose (brought in to deal with rats, and now very numerous in Viti Levu) and the two predatory insects introduced for the control of the banana borer and the common fly.

The entomologists of the South Pacific Commission’s team, which is to take over the war against the Beetle in the South Pacific, are ex pected to deal with these and simi larly interesting questions.

The newly-established Rhinoceros Beetle Eradication Board members were announced in Suva in mid- May. They are the director of Agriculture (Mr. C. Harvey) as Chairman, Mr. H. B. Gibson, Mr.

J. M. Hedstrom, and Mr. W. G.

Johnson.

The Board will be financed in its work by the recently announced copra tax of £2 per ton, plus 1/8 per ton on copra bought by local millers, with a £1 for £1 Government subsidy.

The Board will direct anti-beetle measures, and keep in close touch with the research work now being organised by the South Pacific Com mission.

The total “catch” of the pest in Fiji up to mid-May was 42 beetles, 33 pupae, 564 grubs and about 150 eggs.

When the Board held its first meeting in Suva on May 24, one of the first subjects discussed was the possibility of reducing to “an es sential minimum” all contact be tween Viti Levu and other islands of the Fiji group.

The Board considered the total prohibition of export of all root

vegetables from Viti Levu; quaran tine methods within the group and from overseas; the South Pacific Commission’s programme of assis tance in the emergency, with par ticular reference to biological control.

Among outstanding performances by Coronation Day voluntary com mittees must be noted the printed programmes produced by the Pub licity Sub-Committee of the Suva organisation. The cover s—most artistic productions in blue, red and gold—were printed in London, and brought out by air; but the actual programmes—for the day’s proceed ings, and the Government House Ball—were the work of Suva busi ness men and the Fiji Government Printer. Nothing better could have been done, in design, lay-out and printing, in the Empire’s capital cities.