56 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



purpose, the same, with other interesting matter, being 

 shown on the plate accompanying this article. The 

 punctures are placed in bead-like form, very close 

 together, so that the branches of the tree are perfectly 

 riddled with holes ; the apertures, after the eggs have been 

 deposited, being closed with a white flocculent matter. 



Mr. Buckton remarks that many kinds of Tettiigida 

 (which I may remark are allied to the Cicada) are 

 known to ruin sugar canes in India and other tropical 

 countries. It would appear that this is no new pest, as 

 some of the older orchardists have assured me that many 

 years ago the punctures on the dying trees had been 

 observed, but the cause of the trouble had not been then 

 determined. Unfortunately it has been ascertained that 

 the natural home of this insect is in the wood of young 

 gum-trees (Euafypi)\ so that its exact range cannot 

 .well be estimated. 



It is truly a pitiable sight to see a once magnificent 

 tree ruined, or nearly so, by a so insignificant-looking 

 insect, this being another bad example of an indigenous 

 insect having abandoned its natural food for the more 

 palatable fruit-trees of our own orchards. 



It may be added that this was discovered by means of 

 covering parts of the affected branches with muslin. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



In orchards spray with kerosene emulsion as a 

 deterrent, as, if simply a weak spray be used, it would 

 in all probability prevent the female from puncturing 

 the bark for egg-laying purposes. If the orchard be 

 situated near to a gum forest, the trees in the orchard 

 must be carefully watched ; but, should the pest get a 

 foothold, spraying with resin compound would be the 

 best remedy, the resin sealing up all the punctures, and 

 thus the eggs will be prevented from hatching, and 

 thereby lessening the number of perfect insects to 

 continue reproduction. 



