13H KEPOKT OF THE ENTOIMOLOGICAL SECTION 



lieiiicJidl measure. — The only methocl whicli can be reconiuiendefl of dualiny with 

 an attack, is that of cutting out and destroying the larvte when the plant shows 

 signs of being infested. 



The Melon Leaf Beetle 



Aulacopiwra fureicollt!^, Kiistei' 



Plate IX., fig. 6 



Melon Leaf This beetle is frequently found, in company with the plant-eating lady-bird, Epilaclina 



chri/someUua, Fab., devouring the leaves of melon plants. The larval stage has not 

 been seen. 



Preventions and remedies. — Clean cultivation will do a lot towards lessening the 

 numbers of both these pests, and where plants are attacked a dressing of a mixture of 

 Paris green and flour, in the proportion of one to ten, dusted over the foliage, will either 

 poison the beetles or drive them away. 



DlAMOND-lSACK MoTH 



Plutella maciiiipennis, Curtis 



This pest has a world-wide distribution, occurring in Great Britain, New Zealand 

 and many other countries. In the northern provinces of the Sudan it is frequently 

 found attacking cabbages. 

 Diamond- back Description and life history. — The eggs, white, cylindrical bodies, are deposited on 



the under-surface of the leaf of some plant belonging to the Nat. Order Gruciferse. 

 The larvae, on emerging, feed on the soft tissue of the leaf, generally leaving the upper 

 epidermis intact. These caterpillars are green in colour, spindle-shaped, and when 

 full fed about 13 nun. in length. When alarmed they drop from the leaves and hang 

 suspended by silken threads which enable them to regain their places when the danger 

 is past. The pupie are white to j'ellowish, with darker markings as the imago within 

 develops, and are enclosed in a whitish silken cocoon attached to the leaf, usually in 

 the angle at the junction of two veins. The moth is about 7 mm. in length and has a 

 wing expanse of 13-14 mm. In colour it is a greyish-brown with a light irregular stripe 

 on the posterior margin of the forewing. When at rest, the wings are closed, and these 

 light stripes together form two or three diamond-shaped pale areas, to the presence of 

 which the insect owes its popular name of " Diamond-back Moth." 



Plants attacked by this pest present a peculiar and characteristic bleached appearance, 

 owing to the habit of the larviE of leaving uneaten the upper epidermis of the leaf. 



Preventive and remedial measures. — As this caterpiller feeds only on plants belonging 

 to the Nat. Order Cruciferse, no wild plants belonging to this order should be allowed 

 to grow in or near a garden in which it is proposed to cultivate cabbages, turnips, 

 radishes, etc. 



In gardens, where only small areas of cabbages, etc., are cultivated, the best method 

 of dealing with an infestation of these caterpillars is to sprinkle the plants with boiling 

 water by means of a watering can, fitted with a fine rose. This remedy is recommended 

 by Mr. W. W. Froggatt, Government Entomologist, New South Wales. On large areas 

 where this may not be practicable the young ])lants should be sprayed with paraffin 

 emulsion. 



Moth 



