lure the beetle

Flower power may lure the beetle

A group of Apia scientists are pre occupied just now with chrysanthe mums and rhinoceros beetles. A weird combination perhaps, but if the right chemical formula can be developed, the chrysanthemum just might prove the downfall of the beetle, scourge of the coconut palm.

In Suva, in February, Mr. Bill Granger, retiring economic pro gramme director of the South Pacific Commission, said that Apia scientists were attempting to develop a chemical lure which would attract the beetles.

The lure would increase the effectiveness of trapping and poison ing—a major breakthrough in the anti-beetle campaign.

“The chemical lure showing the most promise is related to the chrysanthemum and this is the group we will follow up. The one we tried first was related to the coconut palm,”

Mr. Granger said.

He was confident, he said, that if the commission kept at the work long enough it would strike a useful attractant.

Mr. Granger praised the new arrangements whereby the com missioners of the SPC will agree to recommendations from the territories about the commission’s work pro gramme.

“I think this has given the com mission a shot in the arm,” he said.

“It has encouraged the staff and im proved their relations with the terri tories as a whole.”