46 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : 



kinds, we have some of the very worst of our insect 

 enemies, as the apple-root borer, plum-weevil, grain- 

 weevil, and a host of others, and in tropical countries the 

 large palm weevils (Calandra, &c.), do enormous damage 

 to the native, also to the introduced vegetation. The 

 genus Belus, at least so far as the Victorian species are 

 concerned, are all timber feeders, and many of them 

 assist materially in the destruction of many of our euca- 

 lypti or gum trees, and doubtless other trees as well. 

 The beetles as given on our plate being absolutely life- 

 like, so that there need be no difficulty in detecting them 

 w^hen seen, and as they are easily destroyed by crushing 

 or immersion in scalding water it behoves all growers to 

 be on the look-out, and to endeavour to destroy as many 

 of the perfect insects as possible. It may be as well to 

 explain that four of the figures as shown in the plate are 

 included, so that orchardists and others may know that 

 the whole genus are more or less destructive, and should 

 always be destroyed when seen. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



In this case, as in most others of a similar kind, pre- 

 ventive measures are unboubtedly the best, as once the 

 eggs are deposited, it becomes a matter of extreme 

 difficulty to deal successfully with the trouble. There 

 are many things, such as painting the trees with lime and 

 sulphur mixed, spraying with kerosene emulsion and like 

 materials, which may act as a deterrent to the female when 

 about to deposit her eggs. A piece of old blanket spread 

 under the trees (when in fruit) will, if the stem be tapped 

 sharply with a cloth-enclosed mallet, be found most useful, 

 as this will dislodge, not only these insects, but others of 

 a destructive nature, the object of using the blanket being 

 to enable those catching the beetles, say in bright sunny 

 weather, as on calico or like material the insects can 

 easily crawl out of the traps, whilst if flannel the small 

 hook-like tarsi, or claws, become entangled, and their 

 means of locomotion greatly retarded. 



