64 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA. 



latter attained their full size (as shown in Fig. 6). This 

 fly, which is closely related to the Ichneumonidce^ would 

 appear to work great destruction amongst these grubs, 

 and the fact that I have not received another specimen 

 for so long a time almost convinces me that the flies 

 have simply either destroyed the whole of the caterpillars 

 in the part of the colony from whence the grubs were 

 sent or have so reduced their numbers as to render their 

 attacks comparatively harmless. 



The genus Hydrusa contains some very pretty insects 

 which, fortunately for the orange growers, are somewhat 

 rare in Victoria. 



In Fig. 8 the fly parasite of the orange-moth grub is 

 given in a highly magnified form. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



In case an orange tree should be attacked by the larvae 

 of this moth, and the same remarks will answer for the 

 treatment of most of the leaf-feeding caterpillars, lose no 

 time. If the fruit on the tree be any size use kerosene 

 emulsion as a spray, but if the fruit be ofi?" the tree or 

 very young, a spraying of either weak Paris green or 

 white hellebore will be all that is necessary, and with 

 ordinary care these two latter solutions may be used with 

 perfect safety, and without the slightest risk of danger to 

 the fruit or consumer. Whilst on this subject, I may be 

 permitted to quote from the evidence given by Mr= J. 

 Fletcher before the Select Standing Committee of the 

 House of Commons, Canada, Session of 1892. Let us see 

 what Mr. Fletcher has to say on this subject, so im- 

 portant not only to growers but to the general public 

 also. 



Mr. Fletcher says : — " The subject of spraying with 

 arsenites is one that has gained very much importance 

 lately through the ridiculous and utterly absurd state- 

 ments made throughout the world in newspapers. It was 

 first stated by an obscure London horticidtural journal — 

 but when vou read the article vou saw at once that the 



