PKACTICAL FOBESTKY. 



scribed solutions will rapidly exterminate the fly ; but such 

 work is laborious when a large brake or long hedge of the 

 thorn has to be gone over. 



The Larch Aphis (Adelgis laricis) and Giant Sirex (Sirex 

 gigas] are both, more or less, harmful to the larch. The 

 latter is a formidable and splendid insect, that is, however, 

 not very abundant in this country. 



Generally, too, felled trees, or such as are somewhat sickly, 

 are chosen by the female in which to lay her eggs. These 

 are deposited beneath the bark by means of the powerful 

 ovipositor, and in course of time the whitish cylindrical 

 maggots make an appearance, and with their strong jaws 

 form large borings in the affected tree. 



Cutting down and burning infested trees is the only 

 practical remedy. 



The Cockchafer (Melolontha vulgaris) is usually pretty 

 abundant, and does most damage by eating the leaves of the 

 sycamore, beech, oak, cherry, and many other trees. It will 

 also eat the roots of most young trees, but those of pines in 

 particular. 



The insect is about 1J in. long, and of a chestnut-brown 

 colour on the upper part of the body, while the head and 

 some other parts of the body are of a bronzy green, and 

 thickly covered with yellowish-white hairs. 



In April and May the eggs are laid in a hole in the ground 

 about 5 in. deep, and the grubs are hatched in July. They 

 are of a dirty- white colour, and much wrinkled. In this state 

 they, however, do but little harm ; but, after having changed 

 their skins and remained in a torpid state during winter, 

 come to the surface in spring and eat the roots of almost 

 any plant that comes in their way. They again burrow 

 deeper at the approach of winter, coming to the surface 

 again in spring, and, when full grown, are about 1J in. long, 

 and almost J in. in diameter. The perfect insects do not 

 live more than about twelve days, and are easily known by 

 their heavy, awkward flight towards the evening. 



The Spruce Gall Aphis (Chermes abietis). This is a 

 common insect, and one that renders many fine young spruce 

 tiees very unsightly by reason of the cone-like excrescences 

 that are formed at the instigation of the insect on the shoots 



