457 



their emergence from the pupae for about three weeks. The immediate 

 destruction of weeds, particularly Atriplex, Amaranthus and Con- 

 vulvulus is urged, as oviposition is effected on these and they 

 provide the first food for the caterpillars. An outbreak of caterpillars 

 of Euxoa segetum is also to be expected, the chief remedy against which 

 consists in the destruction of weeds on the fallow land kept for 

 winter sowing. 



Novak (A.). Xpyiiiii, KaKi* BpeAHTenb, 6opb6a Cb hmmis h cnocoSbi 

 ero HCnOJIbSOBaHifl. [Cockchafers as peste, their control and 

 methods of utihsation.] — « K))KHOe X03flMCTB0.» [Southern 

 Husbandry], Ekaterinoslav, v, no. 11, 28 June 1916, pp. 233-240. 



The cockchafers on the wing in May belong to two species, Melolontha 

 ynelolontha {vulgaris), found in South-Western Russia, and M. hippo- 

 castani, spread all over Russia, except the Crimea and Siberia. 

 Two other species are on the wing in June : Polyphylla fullo, found 

 only to the south of the hne Kovno-Samara, and Amphimallus {Rhizo- 

 irogus) solstitialis, found everywhere. These insects attack both 

 deciduous and coniferous trees, particularly birch, oak, beech, maple, 

 lime, poplar, nut, rose, vine, apple, plum and, among coniferous 

 trees, pines, spruce, silver-fir and larch. The remedies against these 

 pests are divided into preventive and destructive. The former include 

 (1) the injection into the soil of odoriferous substances, such as kerosene, 

 naphtha, crude naphthahne, etc., to drive away the larvae and also 

 to prevent oviposition ; (2) the formation of a layer over the soil to 

 prevent oviposition, for which purpose the ground is covered with 

 half an inch of hay or straw and then heavily watered, the watering 

 being repeated not less than three times during the time the insects are 

 on the wing. The destructive remedies include insecticides against the 

 adults, such as Paris green and arsenic ; the poisoning of the larvae 

 by injecting carbon bisulphide, Paris green, arsenic, barium chloride, 

 etc., into the soil ; and the collection and destruction of the larvae and 

 adults. The great numbers of beetles which are collected by the last 

 means can be utilised in various ways. For manuring purposes, they 

 are placed in a pit, preferably in chalk or hard soil, and treated with 

 freshly slaked Ume until a semi-Hquid substance is obtained ; sifted 

 earth is then added and the whole stirred with shovels and again treated 

 with lime ; after being left for about three days, a manure rich in 

 nitrogen will thus be obtained. As food for poultry, the beetles may 

 be mixed with an equal volume of bran. To obtain oil from them, 

 they are crushed in barrels or tubs until a completely homogeneous 

 dough is obtained, which, after the addition of water, is left for three or 

 four months. The oil rises gradually to the surface and is removed. 

 It can be used for ordinary lamps, giving a good flame without odour 

 or smoke ; about 20 htres of oil are obtained from 100 htres of beetles. 

 To extract the fat, the beetles are killed with chloroform or formaUn 

 and then placed in a glazed earthenware vessel into which a narrow 

 pipe is inserted, reaching to the bottom of the pot ; the vessel is 

 covered with a fid, having a hole for the passage of the pipe, and when 

 this is heated on a slow fire, the fat will gradually flow out from the 

 pipe. This becomes thick after coohng and may be used both for 

 lubricating and illuminating purposes. 



(C322) B 



