INSECTS, MITES, ETC 2l§ 



with a fine sprayer. See also the remedies for Celery 

 Fly. 



Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpa vulgaris).— Mole crickets 

 are sometimes troublesome. They feed on the roots of 

 border plants aiid grasses on the lawn. The adults are 

 about 2in. long, have velvety-brown coloured bodies, six 

 legs, the front ones of which are shaped like those of the 

 mole, and a pair of hairy, ratdike tails. They burrow^ 

 under the ground like a mole, hence the name of *' mole 

 cricket." The females lay from 300 to 400 eggs each, in 



^sm 



NARCISSUS FLY, LARVA, AND CHRYSALIS. 



a specially-constructed nest about Gin. below the surface. 

 The young are at first about the size of ants, and hve in 

 communities until they have cast their first skin ; then 

 they disperse. Mole crickets live in their burrows by day 

 and come forth at night, when they chirp and sing. The 

 adults fight and eat each other, and the female often 

 devours most of her progeny. 



Remedies. — Paraffin oil and soapsuds poured in their 

 burrows will generally kill them. Digging in a soil fumi- 

 gant in winter would also destroy them. 



