56 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA. 



to attack the pest from the outset. On the upper part of 

 tlie gum branch in plate, the yonng larvae may be seen 

 m the act of feedhig upon the leaves, and below, crawling 

 up the stem, are the matured specimens. 



Prevention and Remedies, 



This pest being a leaf feeder is fortunately amenable to 

 any treatment that will poison the food on which the 

 larvae feed, and for this purpose nothing is better than 

 paris-green, prepared according to the directions given in 

 our former chapter. In large forest areas, the spraying 

 could not of course be carried out without great trouble 

 and expense, but in avenues or in plantations every tree 

 could either be rendered partly secure from the attacks 

 of this grub, and supposing the caterpillars to be already 

 at work, an occasional spraying with the above would 

 promptly settle the matter. In addition to the poison, 

 and as a preventive, the kerOsene emulsion, or, better still, 

 kerosene sprayed on by means of the " patent kerosene 

 attachment," could be used with good effect. It may be 

 said by some that the height of the trees would be against 

 the success on large trees so treated, but on the continent ; 

 also in America, avenue trfees of the height of 50 or 60 

 feet have been successfully treated by means of the 

 powerful spraying machines (see appendices) in these 

 countries. The necessity for the preservation and ex- 

 tension of our forests must be patent to all thinking 

 persons, but once allow the growth of our young trees to 

 be checked, either by insect attack or from other causes, 

 forests of stunted timber will be the probable result. 

 Figs. V. and VI. represent one of the flies which attacks 

 the grubs of this moth with pupa of same. 



