6 52.. 7 



PREFACE. 



During the past season there has been more than usual 

 variety in the amount and also in the kinds of insect infestations. 

 In a few instances these have been more than usually numerous, 

 in some less observed than is ordinarily the case ; a few species 

 that are very rarely noticed were reported, and also one or two 

 observations of extension of locality of somewhat serious infesta- 

 tions have been given. 



Amongst attacks that were unusually present, Aphides, or 

 " Blight," were especially named ; and later in the year wide- 

 spread loss was caused in many places to Cabbage growers, and 

 also in private gardens, by the visitation of caterpillars of different 

 species of Cabbage butterflies {Pieris), which appeared almost 

 in flocks, and set on foot little short of complete devastation. 

 Amongst fruit attacks, that of the Pear Gnat Midge {Diplosis 

 pyrivora), causing destruction of the young forming Pears, was 

 much more prevalent than in any year since 1883, when its 

 presence was first recorded in this country. 



Amongst infestations which have been very little noticed 

 previously is that of the Pith Moth {Laverna atra), of which the 

 maggot destroys entire bunches of Apple blossom-buds by tun- 

 nelling up the shoot immediately beneath the cluster. This 

 attack has probably long been present, but not distinguished 

 from another very similar in its effects, and it being brought 

 forward may be certainly expected to enable orchard growers to 

 get rid of it to a great extent. The "Ground Beetles" {Ptero- 

 stichus and other allied kinds, which have been so injurious for 

 the last few years to Strawberry fruit, and for the ravages of 

 which simple remedial measures have now been reported, see 

 pp. 124-126) again appeared as a field crop pest to Mangold 

 roots; also the "Pigmy Mangold Beetle" {Atomaria linearis), an 

 insect almost too small to be noticed excepting in the collections 

 of hundreds or thousands in which it attacks the germinating or 

 young Mangolds, again showed itself. Potato haulm has for 

 some years been occasionally reported from various localities as 

 being seriously injured by the tunnelling of a moth caterpillar 

 for many inches up the stem, and from last season's observations 

 this appears to be the work of Hydroecia micacea; but two species 

 may be present, and as one of these would be very easily kept in 

 check, but not the other, more information is needed. Hops in 

 a few places were much injured by the Clay-coloured Weevil 



