THE VINE CURCULIO. 61 



quite secure from the operations of spray pumps and 

 other machines, save, perhaps, the gas tents, which might 

 well be tried for the purpose. We have seen, too, that the 

 grubs will remain for twelve months or more in the wood, 

 which fact enables us to form some idea of the damage 

 done during the twelve months of their larval existence. 

 We have also to face the possiljility of the larv* tunnelling 

 down the branches into the stem, and from thence into 

 the roots, which would, of course, kill the plant attacked. 

 So far, I have not heard of any stem or root attack, still 

 the group are — many of them — most persistent borers, 

 and thus we must be on our guard. 



When in an orchard or vineyard the presence of this 

 beetle is suspected the plants, where possible, should be 

 shaken over an expanded umbrella. This would not, 

 however, do when the fruit was present, as it would 

 require a short and sharp shake or tap, as before de- 

 scribed, to dislodge any beetles which were present for the 

 purpose of laying. Fortunately, the holes being fairly 

 large, the presence of these grubs, especially on vines, 

 may be easily detected, and if found the affected parts 

 should be removed and at once burned (not stacked), as 

 the grubs, as I have before mentioned, will remain in the 

 dead wood, and will come to perfection, only to again re- 

 sume the work of egg laying. An occasional spraying with 

 kerosene emulsion will frequently prevent the females of 

 many insects depositing their eggs. It is to be hoped 

 that this pest will not make much headway here, still we 

 must be on the watch, as in the early stages of attack, 

 much good may be done towards a mitigation of the 

 trouble. 



This little beetle has a wide range, having been found 

 in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South 

 Australia. There is another species {Orthorrhinus 

 cylindrostris) which as a borer and general destroyer is 

 far more to be dreaded than the smaller one under notice, 

 and this species we hope to figure and describe in Part 

 lY. of the present work. 



