84 



may be controlled by introducing the fungus, Cephcdo<iporium lecmiii, 

 leav'-es bearing infected scales being pinned on the branches ol: the 

 trees, or by spraying with kerosene emulsion prepared by dissolving 

 \ lb. laundry soap or fish-oil soap in 1 gal. boiling water, 2 gal. kerosene 

 being added to the hot liquid ; and Zeuzem coff'eae, Nietn., (coffee 

 borer), the caterpillsir ol which begins boring in young twigs, moving 

 on to stouter branches as it grows. It can be held in check by cutting 

 out and burning infested branches or by passing a sharp wire into the 

 tunnels. 



GuRNEY (W. B.). The Insect Pests of m.a,ize. —Agric. Gaz. N.S.W., 

 Sydney, xxix, no. 9, 2nd September 1918, pp. 641-6C0, 11 figs. 



Some 25 species of insects have so far been recorded from New South 

 Wales as attacking maize in the field, as well as the cobs and shelled 

 grain in store. Among these are two species of moth larvae now recorded 

 for the first time as attacking maize in New South Wales. These are 

 the native species of sugar-cane boring moth {Phmginotvphila {Nonogria) 

 iruncata, Wlk.) w^hich bores in the stem, and Pyroderces {Batrachedra) 

 rileyi, Wlsm. (pink corn- worm), which is common on the ears, attacking 

 the grain and top of the ear. It also attacks the ears in store, but is 

 not serious in shelled and bagged grain. The damage done by it is not 

 at present so extensive as is the case in some of the southern United 

 States of America. No remedies against it are practicable except 

 harvesting the cobs at the earliest opportunity and then fumigating 

 in store. This is best done by removing and destroying the husks and 

 then placing the cobs or shelled grain in a tightly-closed bin and 

 treating with carbon bisulphide at the rate of 4 to 6 lb. per 1,000 cubic 

 feet of space, or 1 to 2 lb. to 100 bushels of grain. Fumigation to be 

 effective must be done at a temperature above 70° F. 



From March to June 1918, the ear worm {Heliothis obsoleta, F.), 

 infesting the cob, and the army-worm (Cirphis unipuncta, Haw.), 

 attacking the foliage and cobs, were much in evidence in the field, 

 infestations of the former affecting 28 per cent., and of the latter 

 86 per cent, of the crop. The caterpillar of C. unipuncta eats the 

 foliage, sheath and silk of maize, in the case of young plants stunting the 

 growth or even destroymg the plants. Probably a native of America, 

 it is now established as a pest in Australia, Europe and Asia. Tlie 

 eggs, to the number of 700 from a single female, are laid in rovrs against 

 the bases of the leaf-blades and hatch in 8 to 10 days, the larvae 

 reaching maturity in 3 or -1 Aveeks. They then pupate in the soil, an 

 inch or two below the surface, the pupal stage lasting about 2 weeks in 

 summer. It is probable that some of the moths hibernate, and some 

 of the partly grown larvae, as well as late pupae, may also hibernate 

 in the soil. Remedial measures include the ploughing and cultivation 

 of the soil in winter to expose the pupae to birds, predaceous insects 

 and the weather. Infested patches of rank grass and weeds near the 

 fields should either be cut down and burnt over in early spring, or 

 sprayed with 1 lb. l*aris green or 2 lb. leiid arsenate to 50 gals, water, 

 stock being kept away from the sprayed patches. When the cater- 

 pillars are moving in masses in a definite direction a steep furrow 

 may be cut in front of them into which they fall, being then killed 

 by a log dragged along the furrow or by spraying with oil, soap and 



