210 



Insect Pests. 



caterpillars spread out o^■er the liushes and devour the foliage whole- 

 sale. The larvffi shown in the accompauying photograph reach when 

 mature about 1^ inch. In colour they are creamy-white, spotted and 

 marked with black and with orange-yellow at the sides. About the 

 end of June the larv^se are ready to pupate. They then fix themselves 

 by a small mass of silk at the tail end to a leaf or twig or to any 

 substance near the bush, and change in a delicate cocoon to a black 

 pupa with three golden-yellow rings to the body. From this con- 

 spicuous pupa the adult appears in July and August. 



I'eevextiox and Teeatmext. 



iSI"eedless to say all the deljris of dead leaves should be " flared " 

 out of the plantation, in dry weather, where this pest is prevalent. 

 This may easily be done by a paraffin torch. 



[A. V. D. Rintoul. 



FIG. 161.— ICHXEIMOX COCOONS FROM CATEEPILLAK OF 3IAGPIE MOTH. 



Ground l)eneath infested bushes should be well prong-hoed in late 

 winter, and a heavy dressing of soot and lime will often be found 

 beneficial. Some growers have found that smearing cart-grease or 

 Stockholm tar around tlie stems in early spring has prevented the 

 larvae that have left the bushes from returning. "Wliitehead records 

 this as having l)een particularly successful in Gloucester after an 

 attack in 1881. These preventive methods are well worth con- 



