10 April, 1916.] 



Insect Pests. 



217 



of the neglect of his neighbours. The following remedies have been 

 successfully used against these pests: Tobacco water in summer; and, 

 for a winter spray, red oil has given excellent results. 



Recent experiments against red spiders on garden and vegetable 

 plants with the insecticide, " Fixo Pest," have been very successful. 

 The plants should be watered slightly before the powder is dusted on 

 the top and underside of the leaves; this prevents the powder from 

 falling from the leaves. The red spiders are usually on the underparts 

 of the leaves, so that the various solutions must be sprayed in an upward 

 direction. Sulphur dusted on the plants may be used with good effect. 



The Kutherglen Bug. 



The tiny insect called the Rutherglen bug, or Rutherglen fly, is a 

 true plant bug, and it sometimes appears in countless numbers during 



the hot weather. During 

 November and December, 

 1915, and January of this 

 year, these bugs have ap- 

 peared in millions in most 

 parts of Victoria, and have 

 caused growers of fruit, especi- 

 ally peaches and apricots and 

 tomatoes, considerable losses. 

 The insects were also respon- 

 sible for the falling off in the 

 honey production of the State, 

 simply swarming in the 

 eucalyptus and other flowers, 

 and abstracting the nectar. 

 Fortunately for orchardists 

 and others who have flower 

 and vegetable gardens, these 

 insects only appear in such 

 vast numbers once or twice in 

 ten or more years, it being 

 about eight years since a simi- 

 lar visitation took place. Like 

 all other bugs, it is furnished 

 with a kind of beak, with 

 which it pierces the flowers and 

 fruits. It then commences to 

 suck the juices; the flowers 

 turn dark-coloured, and the 

 fruit shrivels uj). The egg6 

 of this bug are deposited 

 amongst rubbish and weeds, 

 or under tlie soil. This insect can be kept in chevk by the benzole 

 emulsion or tobacco sprays. Tlie recent experiments of trying to rid 

 the or<-liards by smudge fires has liecn very siucessful in Victoria and 

 elsewhere. When a gentle breeze is blowing, make smudge fires at in- 

 tervals amongst the trees, and sj^rinkle a little sulphur on them. Do 

 not place fires too near trees. 



Fig. 5. — Rutherglen Bug (My.sius viitilor). 



