128 PEAR. 
they spin an oval dark-coloured or black cocoon, from which the 
Sawflies come out in the following summer. The earliest date at 
which I am aware of having received attack is June 14th. 
The flies (see figure, p. 125, for shape and size) are shining black ; 
antenne rather longer than thorax; legs black or fuscous, the front 
ones somewhat lighter at the lower parts; wings stated to be “‘ rather 
deep fuscous, with the apex pale; neryures and costa black; stigma 
brown, and in the second submarginal areolet a small fuscous cloud.” 
Iam not able to describe the flies from life myself, as, though the 
“slugworms”’ are sent in quantities, I have rarely had the Sawflies, 
and the differences in description of colour of the legs given by 
different entomologists, even where it is absolutely certain it is the 
same species which they are describing, are suggestive that the 
colouring is variable. 
PREVENTION AND Remepres.—These consist in shaking down the 
Sawflies when they are resting or egg-laying on the leaves, taking 
care that they shall fall on tarred cloths, or some means be taken to 
prevent their escape. 
Skimming the surface of the soil during winter, and destroying 
this with the contained cocoons; and (to destroy the slugworms) 
syringing with any trustworthy insecticide, or thorough good dustings 
with some caustic powder, which will kill the grubs. Lime is said to 
answer well; but I have had perfect success with dusting well with a 
mixture of soot and lime. So far as I saw, not a ‘“‘slug” survived, 
and a good syringing down with water the following day cleans the 
powder off the leafage. If only a slight dusting is given, the slugworm 
can moult it off, and to do any good the dressing must be very soon 
repeated; but my gardener did the work so thoroughly that there has 
been no trouble since. 
Recipes for all the above methods of treatment will be found in 
the preceding pages, by reference to the Index. 
“Oblong Leaf Weevil;” “Downy-brown Leaf Weevil.” 
Phyllobius oblongus, Linn. ; P. (Nemoicus) oblongus, Stephens. 
The ‘“‘ narrow-bodied”’ brown Leaf Weevil, scientifically Phyllobius 
oblongus, is a common kind in this country, and is known on the 
Continent as being at times very destructive. But here it is not so 
much noticed as the bright green kinds of Phyllobius, the genus to 
which it belongs, which sometimes, as in May, 1888, do damage over 
hundreds of acres by devouring the leafage of orchard trees, as of 
Apples, Plums, Cherries, Nuts, &e. 
