46 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [vJ'^^'xxxiv 



fniit trees, garden plants, such as lupins and geraniums, tree 

 lucerne hedges, and other trees. Cherry Borer (Maroga), native 

 host, wattles. The grubs bore into apricot, cherry, and other 

 fruit trees. Uracanthus Borer, native host, wattles. This 

 small longicorn beetle has recently attacked cherry and plum 

 trees. Apricot Beetles (Belus). — These weevils have become 

 pests of apricot trees ; native host, wattles. Amongst other 

 wattle tree pests which have become orchard and garden pests 

 are looper caterpillars, Pinara Apple Moths, and many others. 



Mr. D. Best defended the wattle, but stated that the 

 breaking of branches, &c., allowed openings for these pests 

 to deposit their eggs. 



Mr. J. Gabiiel stated that when looking for fishing bait he 

 invariably went to the wattle trees for it. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland corroborated the last speaker, and 

 added that the blue gum proved also a suitable host for many 

 of the pests referred to. 



Mr. J. Cronin was given a warm welcome on his first appear- 

 ance at a Club meeting, although a member of many years' 

 standing. In many points he agreed with Mr. French, but 

 could not condemn the wattle wholesale. He said a great many 

 of our wattles were immune from pests, and mentioned that, in 

 the Goulburn Valley, where no wattles had probably ever 

 grown, as soon as orchards were established the pests were as 

 prolific as elsewhere. While he thought the Black Wattle was 

 not worth growing near cultivation, especially in such districts 

 as Wandin, Lilydale, Doncaster, &c., yet the destruction of 

 every wattle in the country would not eradicate the evil. It 

 was too late. They were too firmly established — not only on 

 our native plants, but on the numerous introduced exotic weeds 

 and other vegetation. Clean cultivation was the only remedy. 



Mr. G. F. Hill agreed that the wattle was a great factor in 

 propagating pests, but there was little hope of co])ing with the 

 trouble by the destruction of the wattles. The only means 

 was to light them with the recognized methods. 



Mr. E. E. Pescott, F.L.S., referred to the habits of adaptation 

 of these pests, where the balance of nature had been upset by 

 the destruction of the natural enemies, the birds. No methods 

 of combating them were of any use but spraying and similar 

 means. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard expressed the opinion that the destruc- 

 tion of their natural food was the reason for these insects 

 attacking garden and orchard growths. 



Mr. J. Stickland instanced the scarlet gum as having proved 

 a very suitable host for the pests in question, in addition to 

 the wattle. 



The president, in closing the debate, said he thought Mr, 



