12 REPORT ON INJURIOUS INSECTS FOR 1904. 



Handpicking the abortive buds and burning them very often 

 proves effective. The sprayfluid mentioned under the Black 

 Currant Gall-Mite was also recommended, 

 i 



TYROGLYPHUS, SP. ON MUSHROOMS. 



In Worcestershire a mite belonging to the genus Tyroglyphus 

 has proved a most serious pest, exceedingly destructive and 

 present in countless numbers. Not only were they found clustered 

 around and feeding upon the mycelium underground, ultimately 

 destroying the plants, but they also attacked the fruit bodies. In 

 some cases they were found thickly clustered on the gills or lamel- 

 lae, which were partly destroyed, giving the mushrooms an 

 unsightly appearance, while in other cases the pileus was riddled 

 with holes or excavated on the dorsal side. 



Numerous experiments were made hoping to find a remedy 

 but none proved effective. Amongst the various experiments 

 tried may be mentioned : 



a. Covering the beds with flower of sulphur. 



b. Fumigating with sulphur, also with bisulphide of carbon. 



c. Scattering tobacco dust over the beds. 



d. Dusting with pyrethrum powder. 



e. Spraying with paraffin. 



/. Soaking the beds with boiling water. 

 g. Keeping the beds very damp. 



Experiments a, b, c, and d, were little, if any, good. e. 

 Spraying with. paraffin killed large numbers of the mites, but in- 

 jured the plants also ; /. Keeping the beds very damp proved to 

 be the most satisfactory measure, for whilst keeping down the 

 number of mites it allowed the plants to make very fair 

 progress. Soaking the beds with boiling water soon killed the 

 mites, but killed the mycelium also. 



Finally all the teds were drenched with boiling water, re- 

 moved, and deeply buried. The place was then well swilled and 

 brushed out, and for some weeks chickens were allowed to have the 

 run of it. It was then re-stocked, and when last inspected no 

 mites were to be found. 



MYRIAPODA. 



MILLIPEDES. 



Quite a large number of species of millipedes, all of which are 

 more or less injurious, have been received during the year from 

 various correspondents. 



The two commonest species met with are Polydesmus 

 complanatus, Linn., which has been reported attacking Vegetable 

 Marrows, Potatoes and Beans, and Blaniulus guttulatus, Bosc, 

 a serious pest to strawberry growers. The snake millipedes 

 (lulus terrestris, Linn., /. pulchellus, Koch, and /. niger, Linn.) 



