26 REPORT ON INJURIOUS INSECTS FOR 1906. 



about fourteen days. At first they feed above the ground, and are 

 exceedingly destructive, as they usually bite the plant just between 

 the stem and the root, later they destroy the tops of different plants, 

 and as winter approaches they go below the surface, feeding upon the 

 roots. 



During the winter they may continue to feed, or they form an 

 earthy cocoon, in the cavity of which they remain until the following 

 spring, when they again commence to feed. Pupation takes place 

 usually early in June, and the moths emerge about twenty-eight days 

 later. 



FIG.' 3. Male and female Turnip Dart Moths. 



PREVENTIVE AND. REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



The preventive measures ate few, such birds as the starling, rook, 

 jackdaw, magpie, plover, and partridge undoubtedly destroy large num- 

 bers of the larvae, and should consequently be encouraged. 



Handpicking the larvae is most effective. Curtis 1 mentions that 

 Lord Suffolk " cleared a field of eight acres of swedes by hand- 

 picking : a boy followed each hoer, and collected upwards of 1,000 

 daily. Above 16,000 were picked at an expense of less than two shil- 

 lings per acre." 



Watering with various fluids, the application of lime, and soaking 

 the seeds in various substances have been tried, but none have proved 

 of much value. 



Recently I have experimented with Vaporite with excellent results ; 

 indeed, I am of opinion that this is the best remedy we have yet for 

 this and allied pests. 



THE CODLING MOTH. 



Car-pocapsa pomonella, Linn. 



A full account of this pest, together with preventive and remedial 

 measures, was given in my Second Annual Report (1905), and I have 

 nothing to add to it. 



i Farm Insects, p. 124. 



