TO July, 191 2.] The Olive 407 



and about an inch across the back or dorsal surface of the wing cases. 

 The beetles are of a reddish-black or brownish-black colour, varying to 

 almost solid black in some of the older insects. They usually appear 

 about November and continue their ra\-ages through the summer months, 

 disappearing again about March. 



As far as the writer can ascertain, it appears that little information 

 is available regarding the life history of this particular pest under our 

 conditions. In all probability its life history is similar in many respects 

 to that of some other members of the same family with which we are more 

 familiar. That is, the eggs are laid close to the surface in sheltered 

 parts of the soil, chiefly around the base of those trees or plants that 

 provide the food of the mature insect. The larvae hatch out and live 

 on adjacent roots, pupating in early spring, after which the beetles soon 

 make their appearance. In some cases the adult insects have beeri found 

 hibernating in crevices around trees or other hiding places during winter. 



Owing to the meagreness of the information 

 regarding the habits of this insect, there is not 

 sufficient evidence to show whether the larvae live 

 on the roots of the plants attacked by the beetle. 

 or on decaying vegetable matter, or on the roots of 

 weeds and' grasses. This lack of definite know- 

 ledge regarding the habits of this pest is a disad- 

 vantage in undertaking any means of combating 

 its destructive work. It appears to be fairly certain 

 though, from the habits of the aduft insects, that 



a portion of its life has been a subterranean one. ^____^ 



The nocturnal habits, the strong aversion to bright ^^^ ,q ^^^ curculio 

 daylight, and the instinct in seeking a hiding place beetle (magniiicd). 

 in the soil, seem to point that way. 



This insect cannot fly. In consequence its distribution has been 

 somewhat restricted. In some of the Olive groves where it is present its 

 attack is confined to limited patches, but there is always a tendency to 

 spread, even if slowlv. • , , u 



In Fig. 19 is depicted a few terminals of twigs picked by the writer 

 at random, in one of the largest South Australian plantations._ They 

 give a fair idea of the u^ual nature of this insect's attack on olive trees. 

 The beetles crawl up the trees when darkness arrives and, reaching the 

 terminals of the branches, usually cling from the underside or edge of the 

 leaves and eat into them from the margin, giving them a jagged, irregular 

 appearance somewhat similar to that due to the attack of the leaf cutting 

 bee The attack depicted on the above plate is not a very bad one. In 

 extreme cases all the green fleshv cellular tissue of the leaves is consumed 

 and nothing but the stalk and ribs are left. The remnant of the leaves 

 left in such cases on such trees as figs presents an appearance somewhat 

 like those of melons that have been badly attacked by the black banded 

 pumpkin beetle. r u 1 u-^ 



Treatme7it:—i:\xh should be based on what we know of the habits 

 of the insect and .should be carried out in the most economical and eftective 

 way possible. It should be borne in mind that the beetles do their work 

 at night, that they are chewing insects, that they cannot fly, and that 

 they take shelter during the day under any cover adjacent to their host. 

 The fact that they are nocturnal feeders present some difficulties in the 

 way of treatment. It .seems like hitting in the dark trying to combat a 

 jest that makes its attack at night. This disadvantage is, however, 



