Phillips. — On Moth-destruction. 633 



its eggs it dies, and myriads of the dead moths cover the 

 paddocks. With regard to orchards, it will be sufficient if 

 fifty to a hundred moths are caught each night. Such a 

 slaughter for a few years would have a very considerable effect 

 upon all moth life in the district. The lamps would act like 

 poisoned grain upon the rabbit-pest. Not that poisoned grain 

 conquers the rabbit-pest, nor will this apparatus conquer the 

 moth-pest. It will only sweep off excessive increase — perhaps 

 free our gardens and orchards. Nature has its own proper 

 check for all living things, and I hope Mr. Koebele will be 

 able shortly to introduce the proper natural enemy for the 

 codlin-moth. 



This being the case, what harm am I likely to do by pro- 

 mulgating this plan of moth-destruction ? I shall be glad to 

 hear from our worthy Director, Sir James Hector, Mr. Mas- 

 kell, Mr. Hudson, and other members of the Society their 

 opinions, as I should not like to adopt any wrong measure of 

 clearance. My own opinion is that we have introduced many 

 harmful grubs into the colony without their natural enemies, 

 and that I should do no harm by clearing off excessive increase 

 in the moth stage. 



I shall try the apparatus among my turnips and cabbages, 

 and see whether the orchard, garden, and turnip-fields cannot 

 be cleared from night-moths of all descriptions. Day-moths 

 will require a different treatment ; but it is the moth stage of 

 all caterpillars or worms that I propose generally to attack. 



I may not be able to do much good myself, but other per- 

 sons may assist me towards the object in view. The task is 

 a gigantic one, but we may succeed in assisting Mr. Koebele's 

 action in introducing the natural enemies. Man being the 

 highest check, this apparatus may always be of use as one 

 method of reduction. As different kinds of moths come out 

 in succession during the summer, the apparatus should be 

 always ready for use. It should be kept well oiled, to prevent 

 the tin from rusting. The dish should be hung to the tree by 

 four strands of wire, and the lamp suspended in the centre. 

 The lamp will not attract the little beetles, which sometimes 

 swarm in such vast numbers in spring, producing a curious 

 humming noise on a dark night, in any oattield or where ground 

 has been freshly ploughed ; but I hope to devise some plan 

 for reducing their numbers also. Entomologists may not ap- 

 prove of this kind of destruction, but agriculturists must protect 

 themselves. 



