OBLONG LEAF WEEVIL. 8B 



(horns) are twelve- jointed, and elbowed ; the club elongate ovate ; the 

 proboscis short ; eyes rather prominent ; legs yellowish or brown. 

 This kind differs from the Otiorhynchus beetles mentioned in the 

 preceding paper in being ivinged. 



From other species of Phyllobins beetles, which are for the most 

 part beset with green scales, it is easily distinguishable by the gi'ey down 

 on its wing-cases. 



Like others of the genus which feed on the leaves of trees and 

 bushes, and sometimes do great mischief to orchard leafage, these 

 have been especially reported as doing harm to Apple and Pear in the 

 more southerly part of England ; and in the past season Mr. James 

 Thorpe, of Coddington Hall, Newark-on-Trent, was good enough, on 

 May 30th, to forward me the following note from his gardener at Ard- 

 brecknish, eleven miles from Inverary, Argyllshire, which adds a very 

 northern locality to those troubled by the infestation of this species : — 



^^ Ardhrecknish, May 28th. — The beetles still keep coming in 

 swarms, although I have killed thousands. I have given them a 

 double strength of ' Gishurst,' four ounces to the gallon ; this did for 

 a good many : they don't mind soot or lime. Last night I boiled a lot 

 of water, and after syringing they came on the ground ; having the 

 water boiling, I put it on them with a fine rose. This cooked them, 

 so I shall do this every night. I hope we shall be able to keep them 

 from the other trees ; they have not got beyond the door yet. They 

 are very hard to kill." — (H. Toogood.) 



In Mr. Thorpe's letters from Coddington Hall he mentioned that 

 the attack did not seem to be known in this part of the country ; but 

 he remembered that one of the Apple trees in Scotland was stripped 

 of its leafage in 1897, and that doubtless the beetles had bred again in 

 increased numbers. The attack reported was on Apple trees. 



The method, as described, of destroying the vast number of beetles 

 syringed down seemed to be effectual and practicable without any 

 great expense ; my only doubt about it was how far the scalding 

 water might affect the roots of the Apple trees which lay near the 

 surface. But as, after the application by a rose, and also after sinking 

 some little way through the ground, the water would not be in 

 absolutely boiling state when it reached the rootlets, it might fairly be 

 hoped it would not hurt them ; and there is certainly very great 

 horticultural benefit in an application which can be used on ground 

 (not cropped) beneath the trees as a broadscale treatment sure to kill 

 the pests before they can fly away. 



Mr. Thorpe mentioned also that his gardener at Coddington Hall 

 considered an application of paraffin, one wine-glass to two gallons of 

 water, likely to be of service. This he was in the habit of using to 

 prevent attack. 



g2 



