PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY THE PINE WEEVIL. 55 
after which it was found that three times a week was sufficient, 
owing to the small number of weevils remaining. 
Older Plantation Younger Plantation 
(8 to 9 acres). (20 acres). 
To 28th April, ; : 4 iy 
65h May, : 7 144 69 
», 12th May, : : 265 73 
» 19th May, : ; 437 38 
», 26th May, : j 278 133 
», 2nd June, ‘ 3 134 53 
» 9th June, , : II5 65 
5, 16th June, ; , 64 29 
», 23rd June, : 4 18 8 
» 30th June, ; 7 12 7 
= tgth July, ; : 1 ° 
Totals, as 5 1472 492 
On wet or damp days the weevils frequented the traps 
in greater numbers, and they remained in a semi-dormant 
condition. On bright mornings they betake themselves 
earlier to the plants, and when this is the case it will 
pay to spend say a couple of hours, after the traps have 
been gone over, in hand picking them from the plants; 
and I may say that occasionally I considerably augmented 
my catch by this means, as many as three being sometimes 
picked from one plant. Great care must, however, be exercised 
when picking the weevils from the plants with the hand. 
If the plant be roughly taken hold of, or in the least shaken, 
the weevils at once draw back their antenne alongside the 
proboscis, draw their legs up underneath their bodies, and drop 
to the ground. When on the ground they remain quite motion- 
less, as if dead, and as their colour corresponds closely with 
that of the soil it is a difficult matter to detect them. 
In the vicinity of plantations infested with weevils, wagtails 
should be preserved, and encouraged as much as possible, as 
they greedily devour these insects, picking them off the plants 
and eating out their insides. 
