282 PROTECTION AGAINST INSECTS. 



The principle involved is to provide artificial breeding-places 

 on areas where by careful contraction of stumps natural 

 breeding-places are about. The larvae are thus fixed in definite 

 localities, where they can easily be destroyed. Van Oppen in 6 

 years (1886 1891) protected 268 acres of felling-area in this 

 way, and on 1,373 poles found 91,400 larvae, the cost being Id. 

 per acre, or l$d. per pole. 



iii. Traps made of pieces of bark lying on pieces of cloth 

 may be distributed about the felling-areas and cultivations 

 between the months of April and September, and must be 

 renewed two or three times during this period as they become 

 dry and cease to attract. 



The best size is from 12 to 16 in. long X 6 to 8 in. wide. 

 They are placed with the bast downwards and sometimes 

 several one over the other, and pressed down with clods or 

 stones to keep them moist. They must be searched daily for 

 the beetles. From 25 to 50 are required per acre, according 

 to the abundance of the insects. Coniferous bark, and, by 

 preference, that of the Scots pine, should be used. 



Children collect the beetles better and at a cheaper rate than 

 adults. It is a good thing to place fresh pine twigs from the 

 youngest shoots under the bark to attract the beetles, which 

 will be found eating these twigs when the bark is lifted up. 



Wide flattish bottles containing a mixture of acetic acid, 

 wood-tar and turpentine may be placed in the ground, the 

 tops level with the surface and covered by a piece of bark. 

 The beetles are attracted by the smell, creep under the bark, 

 and fall into the bottles. 



iv. Cultivations may be searched over for beetles by 

 children or labourers engaged in plantation work just before 

 the midday or evening rest, with good results, and at a very 

 slight expense. 



The above remedial measures, if steadily pursued, will render 

 the attacks of these insects of no importance. The beetles 

 should be killed by crushing on a hard surface or by scalding. 



In Germany, Hylobius pinastri, Gyll, a smaller species of 

 weevil, does similar damage to that caused by //. abietis, and 

 should be dealt with in the same manner. II. pineti, Fabr., 

 attacks young larch in like manner. Neither is British. 



