608 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Oct., 1916. 



plants in one night, and tliat on one evening alone he collected no less 

 than 638 of these weevils. The perfect insect measures about ^ inch 

 in length, greyish or dark-brown in colour, with a somewhat V-shaped 

 marking on the wing-cases. Many experiments have been carried out 

 for the destruction of these insects, and the arsenate of lead has given 

 the best results. Another good plan, which has been tried with much 

 success, is the placing of pieces of newspaper under the leaves of the 

 plants at night, and for the grower to go out at intervals with a light ; 

 the beetles, startled by the light, immediately fall into the paper, and 

 may then be destroyed. 



Rose and Raspberry Scale. 



White scale infests roses and other plants belonging to the same 

 order. On some plants the scales are so thickly clustered that the 

 stems look as if they had been whitewashed. The female insect is pro- 

 tected by a circular, hard covering. On removing it, hundreds of young 

 scales will be noticed. These, shortly after being hatched, commence 

 to suck the juices from the plants, which causes them to become sickly, 

 and if not attended to will die. The following remedies will prove 

 eflfectual : — Prepared red oil This should be used after pruning, or, 

 better still, before pruning, as pieces of the prunings are often left on 

 the ground, and the young scales will leave them and go back to the 

 old plants. Kerossne or benzole emulsion could also be used. Scrubbing 

 the stems of the rose plants with a scrubbing or other hard brush 

 dipped in soapy water, to which is added a little kerosene, is effectual 

 in ridding the plants of this scale. 



The Gum Scale. 



This is one of the commonest scales in South Australia. It is gene- 

 rally found on young eucalypts, but is often found on other tall trees 

 also. Fortunately, it is rarely found on fruit trees; only one instance, 

 as far as I know, of its having been found on apple trees, is recorded. 

 The larvae vary in colour from yellow to light red, and when hatched, 

 crawl all over the twigs. The fully-grown female scale is enclosed in a 

 rounded, cotton-like sac, being in colour from creamy white to yellow, 

 sometimes dull red ; these scales are attached to the twigs, and so 

 closely are they packed together that, in some instances, it is impossible 

 to &3e the stems or twigs to which they are attached. Sugar and 

 mahogany gums in gardens and plantations near Melbourne are often 

 attacked by these insects. Ladybirds, and the scale-destroying moths, 

 help to keep this pest in check. In New Zealand, this scale was very 

 bad in the plantations. A consignment of ladybird beetles was sent 

 over and liberated, and in a very short time most of the scales were 

 killed by these useful insects. As a means of keeping it in check, the 

 red spraying oil, sprayed on the trees in summer, has given splendid 

 results. Kerosene emulsion is also recommended. 



The Vine Scale. 



This is an introduced species, being common in England and else- 

 where, and causing no end of damage to plants. It is probably the 



