I |<> THE FARMERS' HANDBOOK. 



Yellow Monolepta Beetle (Monolepta rosce Blackb.). 



This is not an introduced pest, but a native of our North Coast river 

 districts. The little beetle is about ] inch only in length, with yellow body 

 and legs, and with a bright cerise patch on each shoulder, as well as a 

 single cerise spot near the middle of each elytron. 



This pest at'acks the silks and the tassels of maize. It is also a serious 

 pest of the orchard, attacking blossoms and foliage of citrus, stone, and pip 

 fruits indiscriminately. The beetles also swarm on certain species of wattle. 

 The pepper tree (introduced) is also a favourite food both in winter and 

 summer. 



Careful observation of the dates of the appearance of this beetle indicates 

 what it has a very lengthy adult life. It is its habit of infesting fruit, 

 wattle, and pepper' trees chat enables it to survive through the winter. Its 

 absence from early October to early January indicates that the beetles are 

 then hidden in the larval stage, probably feeding in the scrub. 



In view of the above facts, to attack the beetles when on fruit trees, 

 pepper trees or wattles, suggests itself as a logical if indirect method of con- 

 trolling the pest in the maize crop. Unfortunately, owing both to their 

 hardiness and th"ir extreme activity on the wing (for they rise in clouds 

 with almost the speed of flies on being disturbed;, the beetles are not readily 

 killed. Good results have been obtained by the use of certain sprays, 

 applied under strong pressure, care being taken to apply them also to the 

 ground upon which the beetles which have been brought down have fallen. 

 If the beetles are attacked on pepper trees or on fruit trees not in bloom, 

 kero-ene and soap emulsion (1 part kerosene to eleven water) or resin and 

 soda (1 In. resin and | lb. washing soda to 8 gallons water) are perhaps the 

 best sprays to use. For fruit trees in blossom a benzine and soap emulsion 

 (1 part in, say, 4-0 water) is the safest. Perhaps the best method of control, 

 however, is dusting with arsenate of lead powder mixed with lime dust (1 lb. 

 powdered arsenate of lead to 20 lb. lime). Such treatments are especially 

 effective if they are used at night or in the early morning, for it is at these 

 times that the beetles are least active. 



Underground Maize Beetle (Pentodon australis Blackb.). 

 The adult beetle damages maize by eating the germinating seeds and 

 also seedlings. 



Slender Seed-corn Beetle (Clivina sp.). 

 The adult beetle of this species is occasionally reported as damaging the 

 crop in a similar manner. 



Aphis. 

 Aphides suck the sap of leaves, stem, and cob sheaths. Spraying with 

 a nicotine extract wash will kill them, but such a measure is not generally 

 considered to be profitable. The aphides are usually controlled by the useful 

 aph's-eating ladybird beetles, and only in some seasons appear in destructive 

 numbers. 



Sugarcane Borer Moth (Phragmatiphila \Nonagria\ truncata Walk.). 

 This species bores into the maize stems, but is more serious as a pest of 

 the crop which gives it its name. 



Coccids (Dacfylopius sp.). 

 A species of mealy bug is found occasionally at the bases of leaves and 

 cob she-it hs, where they suck the sap. They are attended frequently by a 

 small ant. 



