FOREST PROTECTION 77 



pieces of fresh bark from Scots Pine or Spruce (kept in place 

 by a stone being laid over each) are laid in lines at regular 

 intervals over the area. The weevils collect under these, 

 and are easily caught. Renewal of the bark becomes 

 necessary after it has lost its resinous odour. Another method 

 adopted in free, sandy soils is that of surrounding new planta- 

 tions with small trenches, about eight inches deep, having 

 perpendicular sides. The sluggish weevils, which prefer to 

 crawl rather than use their wings, fall into these narrow 

 cuttings, and are gathered and killed. 



SMALLER PINE WEEVIL, Pissodes notatus. This insect closely 

 resembles Hylobius abietis, but is smaller and has not the 

 toothed femur characteristic of the latter. The larvae live 

 under the bark of two- to ten-years-old Pines, which may 

 die in consequence. It is not so universally distributed as 

 the last. Remedy lies in uprooting the attacked plants and 

 burning them, in order to check the continuance of the 

 pest. 



COCKCHAFER BEETLE, Melolontha vulgaris. From the date 

 of egg-laying to the emergence of the mature insect four years 

 are occupied. During nearly the whole of that long period 

 the grubs are busily engaged devouring the roots of young 

 trees, grasses, and other plants. Scots Pine and other coni- 

 fers suffer more particularly. Finer roots are bitten through, 

 and from the larger ones the bark is eaten away. Upon the 

 Continent it is no uncommon experience to have large tracts 

 that have been carefully stocked with strong plants, turned to 

 barren wastes through the repeated depredations of the grubs 

 of this insect. 



The beetle eats the leaves of broad-leaved trees, and even 

 the needles of Larch and Spruce, as well as the male cones 

 of Scots Pine. But any damage which it does is of small 

 importance compared to that wrought by the larva. Both in 

 the nursery and in the open, the grubs are greatly to be 

 feared, especially in countries having a hot, dry summer. 



As a means of prevention, the avoidance of large clearings, 

 which are selected for oviposition in preference to smaller 



