311 



and in large orchards into which the beetles are migrating in large 

 numbers, it is advisable to begin by spraying the trees most susceptible 

 to attack, since, during the season of 1915, the maximum injury occurred 

 immediately after the first arrival of the beetles. In no case should 

 the sweetened arsenate of lead be used with Bordeaux mixture as a 

 combination spray, or scorching of the fohage is likely to result. 

 A bibhography of 25 works is appended to this paper. 



Froggatt (W. W.). The Rutherglen Bug {Nysius vinitor, Berg.).— 

 Agric. Gaz. N.S.W., Sydtiey, xxvii, no. 4, April 1916, pp. 270-272, 

 1 plate. 



After having been comparatively harmless except in restricted areas 

 for some years, Nysius vinitor, Berg. (Rutherglen bug) has been one 

 of the most serious insect pests in New South Wales during 1915-lG, 

 being common also in South Australia and Victoria where similar 

 damage over very large areas was done. N. vinitor was first recorded 

 in the vineyards at Rutherglen in 1888. It is closely alhed to Blissus 

 leucopterus (chinch bug) and is among the worst of the native insect 

 pests of New South Wales, When the bugs attack potatoes, tomatoes, 

 etc., their presence is soon known by the drooping of the leaves and by 

 the final destruction of the fohage or ripening seeds. In the orchard 

 they damage fruit in all stages of development. The eggs of these bugs 

 are generally found upon the stems of grass and weeds, or among 

 rubbish on the ground, in which the young larvae also shelter. They 

 can then be easily destroyed by burning off the weeds or spraying the 

 infested areas with red oil emulsion. When, however, the bugs have 

 entered orchards or gardens, control is more difficult. Where only a 

 small area is infested, the bugs can be driven away by Ughting a smudge 

 fire to the windward of the trees, but this may have to be repeated 

 several times, and it will only move them on. Catching the bugs is a 

 better method, and in the early morning, while they are semi-torpid, 

 they should be jarred into a pan of water and kerosene. A 9-foot 

 sheet of galvanised iron can be converted into a shallow pan by turnino- 

 up the ends and sides. This should be filled with a gallon of water 

 to which a pint of kerosene is added. The thin scum of oil kills every 

 bug as it drops in. A sheet may be used instead of a pan, but has to be 

 rolled up and dipped in kerosene or boihng water to kill the bugs. 

 Unsatisfactory results were obtained with light traps. An acetylene 

 lamp with reflectors or an electric hght might attract the bugs, but the 

 cost would be very high. The present high price of benzole precludes 

 its use in any quantity as a contact spray. Other contact poisons, 

 such as kerosene, blue oil emulsion, or tobacco and soap, can often be 

 effectively used, but spraying must be thorough and from the centre 

 of the tree. Kerosene torches have been recommended and may be 

 effective if carefully used. 



ZiMMER (J. T.). A Few Factors in Insect Control. — Philippine Agric. 

 Rev., Manila, Yin, no. 3, 1915, pp. 169-175. [Received 25rh April 

 1916.] 



Insects may be divided into those which are beneficial, neutral, and 

 injurious, though none of these groups are stable, since an insect may 

 be injurious at one stage of its hfe-history and beneficial at another. 



