116 THE REPORT OF THE. No. 19 



mends as a remedy, the dusting of tlie plants in tlie evening with white helle- 

 bore, or with Paris green mixed with 50 times its weight of common flour, 

 or some other dry diluent. 



The Oblique-banded Leaf-eoller, Archips rosaceana, Harr. (Fig. 54). 

 This widely distributed leaf-roller, the caterpillar of one of the tortricine 

 moths, is very common in Ontario and has a great range of food plants. 

 At Ottawa the larvae have been particularly abundant on apple, and in 

 flower gardens we have found the species on roses, climbing honeysuckles, 

 geraniums, spiraeas, and many other plants. The caterpillar besides rol- 

 ling up the leaves very often has the habit of tying together the upper leaves 

 and buds of flowering plants and then destroying the flowers. When full 

 grown it is about three-quarters of an inch in length, green, with a darker 

 green dorsal vessel ; the head black in front, brownish at the top, as is also the 

 top of the first body segment; the feet all black. This leaf-roller, although 

 common and widespread, has never occurred in gardens in Ontario to re- 

 quire much attention. Handpicking as a rule will serve as a remedy, but 

 if the caterpillars should appear in numbers spraying with some poiso 

 would soon destroy them. 



e 



i 



Fig. 54. Oblique-banded 

 Leaf-roller moth. 



Ants (Fig. 55). Enquiries are frequently made for information con- 

 cerning ants which infest garden plants of many kinds. It is generally 

 believed that these insects do harm to plants, but this is not the case. In 

 most instances, if close observation is made, it will be found that plant lice 

 are present and are the real cause of the injury. The relations of ants to 

 plant lice are very interesting. It is well kno^vn that ants are protectors 

 of plant lice; they are very fond of the sweet honey dew which is emitted 

 by them, and certain kinds even actually colonize them on plants near or 

 inside their nests. Some ants indirectly, therefore, are very injurious, al- 

 though they do not themselves feed upon plant tissue. When they 

 are seen to be running about on plants, a search should be made for their 

 nest which will, in all probability, be located in the earth close by. When 

 this is found a tablespoonful of bisulphide of carbon should be poured into 

 it and the opening immediately closed up by stepping on it. The fumes 

 from this liquid will penetrate quickly into all parts of the nest, and not 

 only kill the adults but the larvae as well. This material is very inflam- 

 mable and care must be taken not to bring a light near it. Another remedy 

 is to pour scalding water into the nests. 



Red Spider. Although chiefly a greenhouse pest, these minute 

 mites are often found doing considerable damage to the foliage of plants 

 in flower gardens, particularly during hot, dry seasons. The presence of 

 these small creatures on the plants is easilv detected by the leaves losing 

 their colour, having a white, bleached appearance, and becoming stunted. 

 These mites live by sucking out the juices from the leaves and in this way 



