45° 



Journal of Agriculfiirc. Victoria. [lo July. 1912. 



A NEW PEST TO MAIZE. 



HARLEQUIN FRUIT BUG. 



{Dindymus versicolor.) 

 C. Frencli, jun.^ Acting Govertuuoit Eiito)}iologisi. 

 During the last few weeks letters have lieen received by the Entomolo- 

 gical Branch from Mr. J. A. Bayford, State School. Omeo, Gippsland, 



in reference to insects causing 

 damage to maize cobs. On 

 asking for specimens he kindly 

 forwarded me a supply, to- 

 gether with a damaged maize 

 cob. On examination I found 

 the insects were the well-known 

 Harlequin Rugs, which are 

 natives of Australia. They 

 are occasionally destructive to 

 apples, &c., as they insert 

 their rostrum or beak into the 

 fruit, causing it to become 

 spotted. The markings re- 

 semble the disease known as 

 " Bitter Pit." 



Mr. Bayford says: — '' I am 

 sending a specimen known here 

 as the Soldier Beetle, which is 

 doing much damage. To-day 

 the local surveyor showed me 

 how they were destroying his 

 maize cobs wherever the out- 

 side covering had been loosened 

 in any way that gave them a 

 chance to get at the maize in- 

 side. The maize cobs were 

 covered with the.se insects.'' 



" I am forwarding with this 

 a maize cob from the patch I 

 mentiofled to you. You will 

 notice that the bugs have 

 damaged the end of the cob, 

 and if I have succeeded in im- 

 prisoning anything like the 

 number that was on the cob 

 when I picked it, you will be 

 able to realize how they are 

 svvarming in the garden. 

 Huite a large percentage of the 

 cobs are damaged in the same 

 manner as the one I am for- 

 warding. They have done very 

 much damage in this particular 

 garden, attacking tomatoes, 

 strawberries, raspberries, and 

 MAIZE COB SHOWING UPPER PORTION other plants. Another garden- 



DAMAGED BY HARLEQUIN BUG. owner tells me that they 



