80 BOSE-SLUG. 



usually done, the philosophy of the thing, so that we may work 

 understandingly and therefore efl'ectually. 



The blasted appearance of the foliage of the rose bushes is the 

 work of a little soft, green worm, scarcely noticeable without close 

 inspection, on account of its similarity of color to that of the leaves 

 on which it rests. This insect is generally known as the llose- 

 slug. It is the larva of a small Hymenopterous or wasp-like in- 

 sect, scientifically named the Selandria liosce- 



In conversing with people upon this subject, I have found that 

 many are acquainted with the insect, but very few know anything 

 of those peculiarities in its habits upon which its successful treat- 

 ment depends. If we only hastily examine a rose bush which is 

 infested with these worms, we shall be very likely to fail to dis- 

 cover the agents of the mischief, for the reason that, like the ma- 

 jority of caterpillars, they are night-feeders, and conceal them- 

 selves during the day from their enemies, and from the heat of 

 the sun, by retiring to the under side of the leaves. When we 

 examine the damaged leaves more closely, we Und that it is only 

 the upper cuticle of the leaf that is eaten off; and yet, at the time 

 when we usually look for them, they are upon the under aide of 

 the leaves — all of which is easily explained in accordance with 

 their habits. They rest during the day upon the under side of 

 the leaves, and reserve their appetites for their noctural ft)raging 

 visits upon the upper surtace. 



It is evident from this brief statement that whatever applica- 

 tions are made use of for the purpose of destroying these insects, 

 must be made in the evening after they have exposed themselves 

 upon the upper side of the leaves. I regret that 1 did not take 

 pains, at the proper season, to determine more particularly at 

 what time in the evening they come upon the upper surface, and 

 also at what time in the morning they retire. This, however, 

 any one can easily determine for himself. If it should appear 

 that these worms, or any part of them, remain in concealment 

 until it is quite dark, as we have seen to be the case with the Fail 

 Web-worm described in the second article of this report, then we 

 should have to make our applications by moonlight, or by the 

 light of a lantern, in order to be wholly successful, or successful 

 in the shortest time. 



The long known and established application for the destruction 



