INSECTS, ETC. 



181 



Turnip Saw-Fly (Athalia Bpiiiarum).— The female 

 insect, by means of its ovipoisitor, or organ which aids in 

 the laying of eggs, cuts small slits in the leaves of the 

 turnip plants, and in each slit lays an egg. The female 

 Athalia lays from two to three hundred eggs in a season. 

 The eggs ai'e hatched in from four to ten days. The black 

 larvae (known as " Niggers ") feed upon the leaves of the 

 infested plants, which they reduce to mere skeletons of 

 fibres. In about twenty-one days the larvae retire to the 

 ground, where they spin cocoons, in w^hich they are trans- 

 formed into pupae. In about three weeks the perfect 



TUENIP SAWFLY (ATHALIA SPINARNUiM). 



1, Leaf attacked by larvie; 2, Larv»; 3 and 5, Tupfe; 7, S 

 magnified. 



insects appear, but if the pupae are formed late in the 

 seaison they pass the winter in the cocoons already alluded 

 to, turning to the perfect state in the following spring or 

 early summer. The perfect insect is a black-and-yellow 

 fly, with short feelers or antennae. 



Remedies. — A new birch broom or a few small boughs 

 tied together and drawn over the rows of plants will dis- 

 lodge the larvae. Once detached from the leaves, the 

 larvae appear to have no power to regain their position on 

 the foliage. Spray the foliage with "Abol " Wash or 



