THE COMMON BEAN BUTTERFLY 65 



should be carried out at intervals according to the time 

 of the year, the prevalence of the butterflies being the 

 best guide as to when and how to act under the circum- 

 stances. Should the grubs, however, have made a 

 commencement on the crop, spray the whole with white 

 hellebore, or a weak spray of 1 Ib. of Paris green, 4 Ibs. 

 lime, diluted, for this class of vegetable, with 180 to 200 

 gallons of water ; this preparation, on account of its 

 weak strength, being perfectly harmless to either human 

 beings or stock. 



When the insect is plentiful, large numbers may be 

 caught with a net, and then destroyed ; this to lessen 

 their numbers, and, in the case of the female, to prevent 

 egg-laying. 



In places such as above mentioned, the rows of peas 

 and beans should be sown .in such a way that there is 

 room left for a spray pump and sledge to work freely 

 between the rows ; and, as to the question of it paying 

 to spray these plants, there is no doubt whatever. 



As showing the importance of the pea and bean 

 industry in Victoria, it maybe mentioned that, according 

 to the Government Statist, no less than 12,012 acres 

 were harvested during the year 1906-7, this area yielding 

 286,636 bushels. 



It may be mentioned that these pests have many 

 natural enemies, especially amongst our insectivorous 

 birds, such as u Fly-catchers," "Wag-tails," certain 

 kinds of u Robins," as well as the justly despised 

 Sparrow, all of which destroy vast numbers of the 

 perfect insects annually. 



This insect has a wide range, being found over nearly 

 the whole of Australia, and as Mr. Rainbow, in his 

 excellent new work on The Lepidoptera of Australia, 

 remarks : " Five species of the genus Zizera are known 

 to occur in Australia, and of these the 'Common Blue' is 

 the most plentiful and widely distributed." 



Again, Mr. Waterhouse remarks: " This is the 

 commonest, most extended in range, and one of the 



