THE COMMON VICTORIAN LOCUST. 31 



been tried with the best results at Mildura and elsewhere. 

 The food is jDrepared by mixing together 35 lbs. of 

 pollard, 25 lbs. bran, 25 lbs. arsenic, 2 gallons of water, 

 and 6 lbs. of treacle. This must be thoroughly mixed, 

 so that every particle of pollard and bran receives a por- 

 tion of the arsenic. The mixture is applied by placing 

 (boys can do this) a tablespoonful at the foot of each 

 vine, supposing a vineyard has to be protected against 

 an invasion, and the locusts, before reaching the leaves, 

 will be attracted by the smell of the mixture and will 

 always eat it in preference to the leaves. Tliis mixture 

 can also be scattered broadcast. 



The so-called locust fungus (Mucor racemosus) which 

 the Entomological Branch of the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment has introduced from South Africa, is now being 

 tried here. (See condensed reports on experiments and 

 preparation of material. ) In Victoria we have several 

 insects which attack the locusts, some of which are shown 

 on our plate, also by a " Trombid Mite," which (see Figs. 

 XIII. -XIV.) cluster on the thighs of the insects, causing 

 at least a much impeded locomotion. In New South 

 Wales two dipterous flies — Masicera pacJiytilis^ Sk.^ and 

 Tachina cedipodce^ OIL — are reported to be great de- 

 stroyers of locusts, and, according to a late valued corre- 

 spondent (Mr. Buggy, of Corowa, M.S.W.), a Braconid 

 fly had attacked from 60 to 70 per cent, of the locusts, 

 many of which were found dead on the ground. Where 

 valuable plants have to be saved, a weak kerosene emul- 

 sion (1 in 30), or Paris Green (1 lb. Paris Green, 6 lbs. 

 lime, and 6 lbs. treacle, diluted with 160 to 180 gallons of 

 water) will be found mostbeneflcial. It must be remem- 

 bered however that co-operation in this, as in most cases 

 of the kind, is absolutely necessary, and as Mr. Peringuey 

 has said — " Locusts are no more a visitation of Heaven 

 than the j^hylloxera, the plague, or the murrain. That 

 they can be successfully coped with is now beyond doubt, 

 but not without the most perfect and unselhsh co- 

 operation." 



