THE HOLY BUG 71 



Prevention and Remedies. 



Wherever these insects are known to be prevalent, 

 spray the young shoots of citrus fruits with a very weak 

 kerosene emulsion, say one in 30 or 35, this to act as 

 a deterrent, as these bugs do not relish kerosene in any 

 shape or form. In the winter months these insects 

 largely hibernate, so that there would be no occasion to 

 use the above mentioned precautions except with the 

 approach of the warm weather ; still a constant 

 watchfulness is, in such cases, always necessary. 



In cases where the insects have already commenced 

 operations, large numbers of them may be killed by 

 sharply shaking the trees into an expanded umbrella, or 

 a piece of blanket, spread beneath the trees ; but this 

 must be done before the sun gains much power, as, 

 when the weather is hot, the perfect insects will take 

 flight, leaving only the young ones to be dealt with. 

 A bucket of scalding water is about the cheapest and 

 most effectual remedy against those captured. 



Spraying with as strong an emulsion as the young 

 growth of the tree will permit is also a good remedy, 

 and will, if persevered with, soon clear the orchard of 

 these troublesome pests. 



These bugs have but little fear from the attacks of 

 insect enemies, the large Voconia Spider and a formid- 

 able member of the order Diptera (Asilus) being about 

 the only insects which I have observed to occasionally 

 venture to attack these high-smelling members of the 

 insect world. 



In the case of the smaller kinds of plant bugs, a good 

 plan is to mulch the trees with grass, or something of 

 the kind, and, as the tiny insects hibernate at night 

 beneath the mulching, rise before the sun, and, with 

 plenty of help, burn the mulching, insects and all. 

 This, however, must be done before the sun becomes 

 strong, otherwise the insects hitherto concealed will 

 rapidly take flight, only to renew operations when the 

 warmth sets in. 



