26 REPORT ON INJURIOUS INSECTS FOR 1905. 



before a meeting of the Societe Nationale d' Agriculture of France. 

 In the district of Meaux (Seine et Marne), a system of collecting 

 the beetles was commenced, and the data are given in periods of 

 three years, and show a steady decrease. The numbers for 1889 

 are 314,943105.; for 1892, 268,490 Ibs. ; for 1895, 77,506105.; for 

 1898, 229,5 1 5 Ibs. ; f r I QO I . 7359 !bs. ; and for "1904, 53,919 Ibs. 

 This gives us a total of nearly 1,018,000 Ibs., or, say, 454 tons, and 

 the number of beetles may be put down at 500,000,000, or an 

 annual average of 28,000,000. One may perhaps form some better 

 idea of the quantity when it is stated that it would fill two good 

 trains of twenty-three trucks each, each truck carrying ten tons. 



In this case these were collected by women and children, and 

 the cost for the eighteen years amounted to 4,800, which, dis- 

 tributed over 315,000 acres, works out at about |d. for every two 

 and a half acres per annum. 



Rooks undoubtedly destroy large numbers of the larvae, 

 although they frequently damage the crops in so doing. 



Moles also feed upon the larvae, and are most effective 

 enemies, the little harm they do being hardly worthy of mention 

 when compared with the number of larvae they destroy. 



THE CLAY-COLOURED WEEVIL. 



Otiorrhynchus picipes, Fabr. 



This well-known beetle has proved itself a very troublesome 

 pest in gardens and greenhouses. On wall fruits and raspberries 

 it has been unusually plentiful, and, as is well known, in such 

 positions it is most difficult to get rid of. Jarring the raspberry 

 canes, as recommended in last year's Report, considerably reduced 

 the number of beetles, but in the case of the wall fruit such 

 measures are not possible. 



As this beetle is so widely distributed and the source of 

 constant mischief, a number of experiments were tried, which may 

 be briefly summarised. 



Outdoor Experiments. Washing the trees with a strong force 

 of water was practically useless, for, although many of the beetles 

 were washed off, they remained uninjured, and soon made their way 

 back again to the trees. 



Spraying with Paris green, I oz. to IO gallons of water, also 

 proved of little value. 



The most effective remedy was found in placing overnight 

 amongst the branches, bundles of loosely-twisted hay made up into 

 rope-like pieces. When removed in the morning, these were found 

 to each contain two to three dozen beetles. The bundles should 

 be immediately burned on being removed. In addition, tarred 

 bands were placed round the trees early in the year. 



Indoor Experiments. Jarring or tapping the stem of a plant 

 over a tarred board is the most effective way of clearing these 

 beetles off plants in pots in greenhouses or conservatories. 



