124 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : 



The genus Darala is very liable to attacks by Ichneumons 

 and by closely-allied insects, and, although partly immune 

 from the attacks of most birds, both insect and fungus 

 parasites assist materially in checking the pest. This 

 genus is peculiar to Australia, and is allied to the well- 

 known Gipsy Moth of Europe, a pest which has been 

 introduced into the United States, and in endeavours 

 to cope with it huge sums of money have been spent. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



As with other insect pests, cleanliness in cultivation is 

 absolutely necessary. This gets rid of all spots suitable 

 for egg-laying, and prevents wholesale hibernation. In 

 the summer time it is no uncommon sight to see these 

 grubs travelling across dusty roads ; as the dust accumu- 

 lates on their hairy bodies, they appear much larger 

 than they really are. Immense numbers of them may 

 be destroyed by drawing brush harrows or rollers quickly 

 over them, also by the use of drains or pits dug perpen- 

 dicularly across their line of travel. This plan is a good 

 one to adopt against travelling caterpillars of all kinds, 

 and is a sure and inexpensive method of dealing with 

 the pest in the travelling and grub stage. 



There are much larger species of Darala in Victoria and 

 other parts of Australia, but these do not appear to be so 

 numerous as the one under notice. Previous remarks as 

 to trapping and poisoning the larvae will apply equally 

 well to these species. 



