W. Samoa's Rhino Beetles

Are More Destructive

Dr. Paul Surany, of Nairobi, Kenya, who is insect pathologist of the South Pacific Commission, has been in Western Samoa lately in vestigating the ravages of the rhino ceros beetle on the spot.

Visiting coconut plantations in all parts of the territory, he examined and collected a large number of beetles, larvae and eggs for later study. He found differences in local beetles from East African beetles, and believes the Western Samoa species to be more destructive and more likely to kill coconut palms than those in other countries of Africa and Asia.

Dr. Surany favours control of the rhinoceros beetle through biological means, and he is working on the problem of eradicating the beetle by disease-causing organisms.