200 



the period from October to January, when the insects are most abun- 

 dant and cause heavy losses by puncturing the fruit they attack. 

 They have also been responsible for a considerable reduction in honey 

 production in Victoria owing to their swarming on the flowers of 

 Eucalyptus and other plants and abstracting the nectar. Fortunately 

 the bugs only appear in great numbers once or twice in every few years. 

 Recommendations for remedial measures include the use of benzole 

 emulsion (1 lb. to 5 gals, water), kerosene or tobacco sprays. Smudge 

 fires at intervals among the trees and sprinkled with a little sulphur 

 have been very successful in Victoria. A spray tried with good 

 results consisted of 1 quart phenyle and 3 lb. washing soda added to 

 a solution of 2 lb. yellow soap in 40 gals, water. All contact sprays 

 should be applied on dull days towards evening. Shaking the insects 

 from the trees, before sunrise, into a pan of kerosene and water destroys 

 large numbers of them ; kerosene torches have also been used with 

 good results. As the eggs are deposited on stems, grass, weeds, or 

 rubbish on the ground, clean cultivation is of great assistance in 

 exterminating this pest. 



Illingworth (J. F.). Cane Grub Investigation. — Queensland Agric. 

 Jl, Brisbane, xi, no. 1, January 1919, pp. 29-30. 



In his report to the General Superintendent of the Bureau of Sugar 

 Experiment Stations the author lays emphasis on the value of cultiva- 

 tion as a remedial measure for sugar-cane grubs, especially during the 

 oviposition period of the beetles, and hence also on the value of 

 late planting. 



The artificial breeding of parasitic wasps of the genus Campsomerii 

 having proved so successful, it is suggested that good results might 

 follow from their hberation in countries where they would be free 

 from their natural enemies, which are so abundant in their natural 

 habitat as largely to nullify their beneficial effect. The transportation 

 of these parasites would also be rendered easy owing to their lengthy 

 pupal period. 



During 1918 the green beetle, Callodea punctulatus, and Lepidiota 

 albohirta, L. caudata and L. froggatti, emerged in large numbers about 

 the middle of October when the rains occurred. 



Both second and third stage larvae of L. frenchi change with the 

 advent of hot weather during October, the latter pupating after having 

 spent nearly a year in the third larval stage, at the beginning of 

 which they do their worst damage to sugar-cane. Fortunately this 

 species is only troublesome on new land, as the beetles do not oviposit 

 in old fields. 



Weevil in Wheat. — Jl Dept. Agric. S. Australia, Adelaide, xxii, no. 4, 

 November 1918, pp. 351-352. [Received 5th March 1919.] 



The view is expressed that the presence of weevils [Calandra] 

 in wheat is largely due to the change in harvesting methods in 

 Australia, the introduction of the harvester and reaper-thresher 

 rendering possible the beginning of harvest about a week earUer 

 than was formerly the case. As a result of this the wheat is often 



