VELLOW-BOX BORERS. 73 



apple, pear, plum, and other similar fruit trees would 

 be moie palatable than that of the astringent bark of the 

 eucalypts and acacias. 



Fortunately, so far as we are aware, neither of these 

 beetles has as yet attacked orchards, or, in fact, any intro- 

 duced trees ; but as the smaller one, at any rate, is common 

 in parts where there are but few if cny gum trees in the 

 neighbourhood, it is reasonable to believe that it must 

 breed in one of the Acacias, which plants largely comprise 

 the arboreal vegetation of the more aiid parts of Australia. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



As a rule, neither of these two beetles is to be found in 

 saplings, so that a watch should be kept on larger forest 

 trees, and, where the sawdust appears, the parts attacked 

 should if possible be removed. In parts where these occur 

 plentifully, a good many of the perfect beetles, both male 

 and female, may be captured by means of a strong light 

 thrown against a blanket or a sheet stretched between the 

 trees or poles. The blankets are best, as the hooked tarsi, 

 or feet, become fastened in the blanket, and hence the 

 beetles are more easily captured, whereas, when calico is 

 used, they simply fly up against it, and, recovering, soon 

 take wing and are off. 



Our gigantic spider (Voconia) is very destructive to 

 beetles that hide themselves under bark or logs, the 

 numerous wing-cases, legs, and other remains testifying 

 to the slaughter going on. 



