THE BANDED PUMPKIN BEETLE. 127 



to say that I have found that the two makes of the 

 arsenates of lead, viz., the ordinary and * Swift's,' are 

 very effective when the beetles attack the foliage. At 

 this season of the year, I dare say, the beetles attack the 

 flowers in preference to the foliage, and thus a spray 

 could not easily reach them. I have observed that the 

 beetles are very sluggish in the early morning, and the 

 easiest method of coping with the pest is to sweep the 

 beetles at this time, with the hand, into a shallow vessel 

 containing hot water and kerosene." 



Mr. O'Neil, of Hill View, Cowra, N.S.W., writes: 

 ' By this post I am forwarding some beetles, which are 

 very numerous here in the orchards. I have made 

 enquiries about them, and find that they do much 

 damage. A number attack peaches or nectarines, and 

 eat -them clean to the stone ; or, if they start a hole 

 in one, and then leave, the fruit so attacked rots. They 

 also bite off the green grapes, leaving nothing but the 

 bare stalks ; and they do great damage among melons. ' ' 



Mr. Tryon, Government Entomologist of Queensland, 

 says : 'The pupae of these beetles are below ground." 

 Hence it is that in suitable weather these pests, like 

 the "Green Beetle" and many others, simply swarm, 

 spending their short lives in eating and in the 

 perpetuation of their kind. 



Before closing this chapter, I may mention having 

 just received from Inspector E. Wallis, of Wangaratta, 

 the following as being the quickest and best remedy yet 

 tried against this beetle: "Crude oil of tar, half pint ; 

 soft soap, half lb.; caustic soda, one ounce; five gallons 

 of water. Boil one pint of water, and in it dissolve the 

 soap and soda ; add oil of tar ; agitate well ; now add 

 remainder of water; cool, and use." 



Spreading a sheet of newspaper under pumpkin leaves, 

 and now and again shaking the plants, causes the beetles 

 to fall, and they can be picked up from the paper and 

 destroyed. This device can be used at any time, even 

 during the hottest part of the day. 



