324 PROTECTION AGAINST INSECTS. 



and exceptionally the seedlings of broadleaved trees. The 

 little one-year-old seedlings are usually bitten off by it in 

 April and May close to the coUum, never deeper than 1 in. 

 under ground. The larva then feeds on the root, the lower 

 part of the stem, and lastl}' on the needles. In June, when 

 the plants are somewhat older, they are bitten off at about 

 the middle of their height, and the stem and roots gnawed. 



Two-year-old seedlings usually have their weaker side 

 shoots bitten off, more rarely the leading shoot as well, and 

 some of the needles are eaten ; the bark may also be gnawed, 

 but such plants commonly recover from the injury they have 

 received. 



The damage is iigually done at night, when the caterpillars 

 crawl along the surface of the ground from one plant to 

 another ; during the day-time they proceed under ground. 



Poor sandy soil in plain districts is most frequented by this 

 pest. 



This insect has recently become very injurious in North and 

 North-east Germany. It is tolerably common on the coasts 

 of the British Isles, but is rarely met with inland, and has 

 attracted little or no attention as an injurious species. 



d. Profective Rules. 



i. Areas both in nurseries and in the forest which are to be 

 sown up should be thoroughly weeded in the previous year, as 

 the $ will not lay her eggs except among grass and herbage. 



ii. For planting-out, not seedlings of the first year, but 2- to 

 3- year-old plants with balls of earth should be emploj-ed, as 

 the caterpillars find it difticult to bore tlirougli the firm earth 

 of the balls. 



iii. Trolection of enemies. 



e. Remedial Measures. 



■Pigs may be driven into [ilaces where this pest has appeared. 



The ground may bo ploughed up or trenched with hoe or 



spade, and the caterpillars collected and destroyed. In quite 



loose sand the plants may be lifted by hand, and those 



uninjured or slightly injured replanted. 



