90 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



discovered these "bugs to be the cause of his apple crop 

 having been partially destroyed, by these insects inserting 

 their rostrums (or beaks) into and through the rind of 

 the apple, thereby extracting the juices, and causing the 

 apple to "spot," and become disfigured (see Plate IX., 

 Fig. 1), and he, Mr. Lidgett, has also kindly sent me the 

 specimens of the fruit and insects from which our drawings 

 are made. 



Growers of strawberries have a wholesome dread of 

 Plant Bugs, and in America and elsewhere some kinds, 

 such as the "Chinch Bug," the "False Chinch Bug," and 

 others, are amongst some of the worst pests with which 

 the orchardist has to contend. Fortunately, however, 

 this class of insects do not, excepting in very isolated 

 cases, deposit their eggs in or on the fruit, and thus 

 growers are in a better position to successfully attack 

 them. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



Keep all head-lands and other vacant places as free 

 from weeds, logs, stones, and rubbish of any kind as 

 possible, burning same on the ground if it be practicable 

 to do so. Use lime freely, as fortunately the young at 

 least of these bugs are easily destroyed. Tar- water, say 

 2 Ibs. (coal tar) to 100 gallons of water, is an excellent 

 thing to water with over bare spots or amongst infested 

 plants, &c. Large numbers can also be shaken off into 

 an expanded umbrella or a piece of old blanket smeared 

 with kerosene. When the fruit is ripening, arid these 

 pests attack the apples, so that the trees cannot be shaken 

 with safety to the fruit, burn some damp grass or 

 cow-dung under the tree, when, if the smoke be dense 

 enough, hundreds will drop to the ground, and can be 

 destroyed by beating with a handful of boughs, and 

 benzole, if properly applied (as per directions given in 

 the chapter specially devoted to such matters), is very 

 deadly to insects in general, and bugs in particular ; it has 

 also the merit of being perfectly safe, and leaves neither 



