THE SILVER-STKIPED VINE MOTH. Ill 



Prevention and Remedies. 



This is a pest which I am disposed to think need not 

 cause our vignerons much apprehension, as they are 

 fortunately not numerous, and, being large, are easily seen 

 and destroyed. 



Wlien a vine is found to have had its leaves badly torn 

 and jagged, as if they had been cut with blunt scissors, 

 look under the plant, when black droppings about three 

 times the size of an ordinary onion seed may be seen, this 

 being a sure indication of the jDresence of one or more of 

 these large caterpillars. 



In some cases the whole of a vine on a trellis or 

 verandah will be found to have been stripped of its 

 leaves during the niglit. It is therefore necessary to look 

 carefully before retiring to rest ; an ordinary lantern and 

 a pair of good sharp scissors being all that is required 

 for this somewhat cruel but effective means of protecting 

 the vines, and getting rid of the culprits. 



The larvae of most hawk moths travel somewhat rapidly, 

 and are active in their movements. Few people who 

 are unaccustomed to the work would care to handle one 

 of the splendidly-coloured larvae of our largest and finest 

 Australian species of the family, Ccequosa triangularis^ 

 because when taken in hand these huge grubs lash out 

 light and left, and to the uninitiated must appear very 

 formidable animals to tackle. 



When the caterpillars have stripped one vine, they 

 often travel along the ground and pass by several vines 

 before ascending another plant to resume the attack. 

 Their motive in thus acting has not, to my knowledge, 

 been satisfactorily explained. 



When leaves of the vine have become fairly firm, spray 

 with a weak solution of one of the arsenites, as for the 

 common vine moth. This must be done, however, before 

 the berries are of any size. 



Hand-picking, together with the use of the scissors, is 

 after all the best method of dealing with a pest of this 

 kind. The larvae, pupce, and perfect insects are easily 



