391 



These grubs attack and feed upon the roots, am I often cause great 

 havoc to the plants. Tire perfect Beetle feeds both upon tin- foliage 

 and roots, and is nocturnal in its habits, burying itself in tin- soil in 

 the dav time. Remedies: 1. Loosen tlie soil frequent I v so as to 

 H'ive facilities for birds to find the grubs, to which the insectivorous 

 kinds are very partial. Magpies and crows are very 

 fond of these grubs, as are also fowls. '2. The Beetles, 

 being nocturnal, may be trapped in large numbers 

 when active hy means of floating- lights placed in 

 dishes tilled with water. 8. When the insects are 

 very numerous it will be advisable to destroy 

 affected plantations, and fresh ones should not be 

 made in or near the same spots for a year or two. 



C'derpillars. Various species of Caterpillars aiv 

 troublesome, and often cause serious damage to the 

 foliage and fruit. These insects are most numerous 

 in the early part of the summer, though they often Strawberry Beetle, 

 make their appearance in spring and autumn. 

 Some kinds are known as '-Leaf-rollers.'' because 

 in feeding they fold up the leaves, the edges of winch they fasten 

 together with their fine silken threads. This peculiarity adds to the 

 difficulty of dealing with the insects, as remedies in the form of 

 powders or liquids do not readily reach them. Remedies: Lime, 

 soot, or finely-powdered earth dusted over the plants frequently. 



Crown 7Iorer.T}\\s insect (Tyloderma fraffona) is 

 a small Beetle belonging to the ( 1 urculio family. 

 It is brown, about an-eig'hth of an inch in length, 

 and half that in breadth, the back being covered 

 with numerous dark stripes and spots. The grubs 

 of this insect bore into the crowns of the plants, as 

 their name indicates, and destroy both leaves and 

 flower stalks. There is no absolute remedy for 

 these pests, though they may be kept in check to 

 some extent by dusting the crowns of the plants 

 with lime or soot occasionally. When a plantation 

 is affected by this pest the wisest plan is to destroy 

 it. as soon as the crop is removed, as then the bulk 

 of the grubs is still in the crowns of the plants. 



Strawberry Beetle. This is a very destructive insect in Strawberry 

 plantations, and is found in many parts of Australasia. The Beetle 

 is Miiall, of a drab colour, with black and white mat-kings, belonging 

 to the Weevil family, and is known scientifically as Hhiwaria perdrix. 

 The larva 1 are yellowish- white in colour, and slight 1\ larger than the 

 one shown by the illustration in the crown of a plant. Both in the 

 larva and perfect state this insect is very injurious to Strawberry 

 plants, and it also preys upon "Raspberries, though to a less extent. 

 In its larva state the insect bores into the crowns of the plants and 

 causes their destruction. The perfect insects feed upon the stalks of 

 both leaves and flowers, in which they make channels, as shown by 



i i i i i j m i T-* j T i 1*1 j 1 i 



appearance in the early 



Strawberry 



Crown Borer. 



the illustration. The Beetles make their 



