94 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OE VICTOKIA : 



watch the case for me, it has been discovered that the 

 female beetle (see Fig. 4) ascends the branches of the 

 tree, having come forth from the soil at night, and, with 

 her legs, folds the leaves of the tree together, fastening 

 them with a glutinous secretion, then depositing her eggs, 

 to the number of 40 or 50, in the manner as shown in the 

 plate, holding the folds of the leaf together until it sticks. 

 In some of these artificially closed leaves the very young 

 grubs have been taken, and these descend to the ground 

 and there ensconce themselves in the cracks or crevices in 

 the roots, descending either vertically or horizontally as 

 the case may be, when they at once commence to tunnel 

 into the roots. The sap is thus drawn from the tree at a 

 time when it is most required. 



Having tested this matter of depositing the eggs in 

 the closed leaves for myself, I can vouch for the accuracy 

 of these facts as formerly ascertained by Mr. Powell. 



These insects, unfortunately, do not confine themselves 

 to attacking apple trees. They have been found to be as 

 severe on pears as apples, and cherry trees are also 

 greatly injured and often killed by them. 



Of all the many serious insect pests with which growers 

 of apples in Victoria have to contend this beetle may be 

 fairly set down as the most formidable. In former years 

 it was known, as a rule, to frequent wattles (Acacias 

 decurrens and mollissima), but on these trees I am not 

 aware, nor can I learn from experienced observers, that 

 it attacked the roots, and it would appear to have done 

 but little damage to these trees, being most commonly 

 found on the young wattles of from 6 to 10 feet high. 

 Fortunately for the grower this beetle cannot fly, so that 

 it cannot be spread broadcast as is the case with many 

 other pests of the orchard, farm, and vineyard. The 

 larva, pupa, perfect insect, and root section are also 

 figured at page 70 of Part I. of this Handbook, but as the 

 lithographing is hardly up to expectation it has been 

 considered advisable to reproduce it in Part II., together 

 with the egg-laying process, &c., the illustrations here 

 given being absolutely life-like. 



