11 



often resists for years, but the branches are weakened and eventually 

 break. The adults, which are nocturnal, also cause a loss of sap through 

 boring exit holes, and H. cinereus is therefore very injurious if present 

 in numbers, as is the case in old fig trees. Cutting and burning infested 

 branches is the only method of control, and very old trees are best 

 destroyed entirely. It is possible that Iphiaulax Jlavator, the Braconid 

 parasite of the oak Hesperophanes, H. pallidus, also attacks //. cinereus. 

 In the extreme south of France another species, H. sericeus, is found 

 on the fig. Morimus funereus {tristis) is the largest Longicorn found 

 on the fig, and is a southern species, the adult being nocturnal. The 

 larva lives indifferently in the cypress and the fig. It is only slightly 

 injurious, the injury being similar to that of Hesperophanes, but much 

 less severe. The larva of Haplocnemia (Mesosa) curculionoides is found 

 in the poplar, Ume, walnut, elm, cherry, and especially in the fig. 

 Branches of medium thickness are mostly attacked. Though found 

 throughout France, it is most common in the south, but this Longicorn is 

 not a serious pest. Hemerophila nemorana has only lately been regarded 

 as an enemy of the fig. Another species, H. pariana, is known in 

 France as a pest of apple and pear trees, etc., but H. nemorana is pccuhar 

 to the fig. The caterpillars feed on the underside of the leaves, often 

 leaving the upper epidermis intact. They also attack the fruits and 

 do more harm to them than to the foliage. Pupation takes place in 

 a white cocoon placed on the veins of the leaf. Two generations occur 

 annually, and the second generation is most to be feared, the autumn 

 figs being destroyed in large quantities, considerable loss having been 

 sustained in the past few years in the Var and in Herault. The insect 

 is found throughout South Europe, in Asia Minor, North Africa, the 

 Canaries and Madeira. Many Hymenoptera, especially Ichneumons, 

 parasitise H. nemorana. No real control measures have been attempted as 

 yet, though this pest takes a large toll of the French fig crop. Ceroplastes 

 rusci is not peculiar to the fig, but in North Africa, Provence, Italy, 

 etc., it infests this tree to such an extent as to endanger the crop. 

 A period of infestation is followed by one during which only a few 

 Coccids are to be found on the fig; the multipUcation of natural 

 enemies accounts for this. They include the CoccineUid, Chilocorus 

 bipustulatus, the Chalcid, Sciitellista cyanea, and the Noctuid, Euhlernma 

 (Thalpochares) scitula. Trabut states that C. bipustulatus produces a 

 bitter flavour in the fruit. E. scitula feeds on the Coccids exclusively, 

 and does not eat the leaves. Where natural control does not suffice, 

 spraying with the alkaline polysulphides usual in Coccid control is 

 recommended. Another scale found on the fig is Lepidosaphes ulmi 

 [Mytilaspis concliiformis). It does great damage in North Africa, and 

 is found on the branches, not on the leaves. Among other pests, Psylla 

 ficus may be mentioned. The most celebrated insect found on the fig 

 is the Chalcid, Blastophaga psenes, but its action is beneficial, as it is 

 an agent in caprification. 



Cook (A. J.). A foe to guard against. — MtJily. Bull. Cat. State 

 Commiss. Hortic., Sacramento, iii, no. 9, September 1914, p. 372. 



County horticultural commissioners are urged to watch for the 

 western rose chafer, Macrodactylus uniformis, which apparently is 

 present in Arizona. It is considered that this Cetoniid beetle, if once 

 introduced into California, would become a very formidable pest. 



