42 INSECT PESTS 



smooth. The same measures should be adopted for 

 either. The Wheat Midge confines its operations to 

 the wheat flowers only. 



Wheat, as might be expected, is subject to the careful 

 attentions of many insects besides those already de- 

 scribed. There is, for instance, the Mole Cricket (Gryllo- 

 ialpa vulgaris), belonging to the Orthoptera, and which 

 is one of our largest insects in this country. It is more 

 than two inches in length when full grown, and it leads 

 a subterranean life, tunnelling about, by means of its 

 powerful fore-legs, in the soil at the roots of plants. 



Mole Crickets like sandy soil best, and they are not 

 strictly limited to a vegetarian diet, feeding to a consider- 

 able extent upon other insects and worms, but in the carry- 

 ing out of their " earthworks " they make no bones about 

 gnawing through any roots that impede their progress. 

 The sexes pair in the middle of June, about 350 eggs being 

 laid in a neat little smooth round cell, connected with 

 the surface by means of a curved gallery. Contrary to 

 the general rule of insects, the mother cricket Hves on 

 to nurse up her offspring, which she does with great 

 care. Not to spoil her children with too much attention, 

 however, Mrs. Mole-Cricket is in the habit of eating 

 numbers of them from time to time. In fact, the rule 

 in their household is, " Just behave yourself, or mother 

 will eat you." This odd propensity curbs the undue 

 increase in their numbers, or there might be dire results. 

 The young mole crickets are just Hke small black ants 

 at first, and feed voraciously on the tender rootlets of 

 the wheat. They have a natural enemy, too, as well as 

 the unnatural one above described, in our little furry 

 friend, the Mole himself, who is said to be very fond of 

 them, quite as fond, indeed, as if he were their own mother! 

 With regard to natural deterrents, it has been found that a 

 very slight dressing, of paraffin and ashes will drive them 

 away, as these Crickets have a keen sense of smell, and 

 paraffin is particularly abhorrent to them. (See Plate 9.) 



