VEGETABLE GROWING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Ill 



T. 



Army Worm Moth (Cirphis unipuntcata). 



"he army worm moth winters in the soil as a pupa, as a partly-grown 

 grub, as an adult moth, and in the egg stage. The female moth may lay up 

 to UOO eggs in a season (usually depositing them on grass leaves). From 

 theiU eggs myriads of caterpillars appear. The eggs hatch in about ten clays, 

 <ind\in three or four weeks the worms or grubs are full grown, wl^en they 

 burr themselves in the soil, change to the pupal stage, and after two weeks 

 emerge again as adult moths. The grubs feed and move about much more 

 freely in the daylight than other cutworms. 



The Army Worm Moth (Cirphis unipunctata). 

 In the caterpillar stage, this moth is one of the worst pests of crops and grass. 



When in the crops, the most effective method of destroying " army 

 worms " and other night-feeding cutworms is the use of poisoned bran bait 

 mentioned on page 131. 



Where there is no danger to stock, poisoning the grass or a strip of the 

 crop before the advancing caterpillars is effective ; for this purpose use the 

 following spray : 1 Ib. of arsenite of soda, 4 Ib. treacle, 16 gallons water; 

 or 3 Ib. of arsenate of lead to 50 gallons of water. 



The Banded Pumpkin Beetle (Aulocophom). 



This beetle is perhaps the worst of all leaf-eaters that attack garden crops. 

 Tt usually makes its appearance just as the plants have made a good start, 

 and if the season be favourable the infestation becomes so serious that the 

 whole bed will soon be destroyed unless steps be taken to prevent it. 

 Fortunately, the beetles are not often so numerous as this, but they must 

 seriously reduce the returns in almost every season. In an ordinary season 

 they appear about the middle of October, and are at their worst until the 

 middle of November. They swarm on the upper surfaces of the leaves, eating 



