366 



Froggatt (W. W.). Insect Pests of the Strawberry. — Agric. Gaz. 

 N.S.W., Si/dney, xxvi, no. 2, February 1915, pp. 133-137, 1 pi. 



In the coast districts of New South Wales at least four species of 

 Rhynchota are commonly found in the strawberry beds, where they 

 either feed upon the ripe fruit or taint it. The Pyrrhocorid, Dindymus 

 versicolor (the harlequin fruit bug), and the Lygaeids, Nysius vinitor 

 (the Rutherglen bug) and Oxycarenus lectidaris (the coon bug) feed on 

 the fruit. N. vinitor is one of the worst pests upon all field crops and 

 ripe fruit, and though rarely recorded on the strawberry, it should be 

 looked for on account of the enormous numbers that appear in early 

 summer. 0. lectidaris is a closely allied species with very similar 

 habits. Dictyotus fleheius (the brown ground bug) crawls about the 

 strawberry foHage and imparts a very objectionable taint to the fruit. 

 Clean cultivation and the clearing of the ground along the fences, 

 are a great help in keeping these pests away. In large gardens, straw- 

 berry beds in the centre of the ground are much less subject to in- 

 festation than those on the boundary. In New South Wales there 

 are several Carabids attacking ripe strawberries, and one of the large 

 Clivina, which usually frequent damp situations, is very common in 

 the beds. If numerous, these beetles should be trapped by sinking 

 clean milk or jam tins level -with the soil. Anoplognathus analis (the 

 shining cockchafer) has been found infesting strawberry beds. The 

 adults feed upon the fohage of various species of Eucalyptus, and 

 sometimes swarm on the introduced Schinus molle (pepper tree), 

 grown largely as a shade tree in all parts of Australia. They lay their 

 eggs in vegetable mould or earth thickly impregnated with humus, 

 upon which the larvae feed. AVhere the soil is friable, it is possible 

 to dig out a large number of these white grubs with a smaU fork 

 without seriously disturbing the infested plants. The application 

 of such dressings as kainit or nitrate of soda is recommended, for they 

 not only damage the larvae and pupae, when in contact wdth them, 

 but promote the growth of the roots. For several years previous 

 to its description by Pascoe in 1873, Rhinaria perdix (the strawberry 

 weevil) had been known to strawberry growers in Tasmania and" 

 Victoria. It is now said to be almost unknown in the latter State 

 and not a very serious pest in the former. The present is believed by 

 the author to be the first report of its occurrence in New South Wales, 

 where it would seem that the beetles are fully developed and leave 

 their winter quarters, in the crown of the plant, between the end of 

 August and the early part of November, and during that time they 

 deposit their eggs in the crown, the hfe-cycle being apparently com- 

 pleted in a year. If, in an infested area, all the plants are dug up 

 and burnt, it would mean very shght danger of infestation the next 

 season in freshly planted beds. Clean cultivation is necessary, and 

 trapping with pieces of board laid among the plants will give good 

 results. 



The Use of the Hydrometer in connection with Lime-Sulphur Sprays. — 

 Agric. Gaz. N.S.W., Sydney, xxvi, no. 2, February 1915, pp. 149- 

 152, 4 figs. 



The notes given in this article are largely based on the work carried 



