GARDEN PESTS IN NEW ZEALAND 



GUM TREE WEEVIL (Gonipterus scutellatus). Both the adults and 

 larva? of this Australian weevil attack eucalyptus foliage, particularly 

 bluegum, in most parts of Xew Zealand, the adult weevils eating from 

 the leaf margin, as well as devouring tender shoots, while the larvae cut 

 elongated holes from the leaf surface. 



The weevil (Fig. 11, 3a), which is of a tawny to brownish-black 

 colour, and clothed with yellowish-white and golden hairs, measures 

 from a quarter to one-third of an inch in length; it possesses a short 

 snout on the head. The eggs are yellowish, and are packed in a hard, 

 black capsule (Fig. 11, 3b), attached mainly to the surface of young 

 leaves. The larva? (Fig. 11, 3c) are legless, like those of all weevils, 

 and yellowish at first, when they are studded with small black dots, and 

 have a dark stripe along each side. Frequently these young larvae are 

 seen with a tail-like thread of blackish excrement projecting from the 

 posterior end. The plump, fully-developed grub is yellowish-green, with 

 a wrinkled skin, and is slug-like in general appearance. Pupation takes 

 place in the ground. This insect over-winters in the %dult stage, and 

 large numbers of the weevils are very often to be found beneath loose 

 bark on the tree trunks during the winter. Control depends upon the 

 use of an egg parasite which has been established in certain localities 

 of the Dominion. In the case of small ornamental trees, spraying with 

 lead arsenate* to which laundry soap has been added should be effective. 



EUCALYPTUS TORTOISE BEETLE (Paropsis dHatatw). This is another 

 Australian insect restricted so far to the East Coast districts of the 

 South Island, where it attacks eucalyptus foliage in company with the 

 weevil. The beetle (Fig. 11, 4) is tortoise-shaped, varies in colour from 

 reddish-yellow to reddish-brown, with darker markings on the back, 

 which is pitted by minute depressions, and has a length of from one- 

 third to half an inch. Like the weevil, this beetle passes the winter 

 beneath loose bark. 



The eggs are conspicuous and cigar-shaped, being laid in clusters, 

 lying more or less on their sides, upon the foliage. The larva is rather 

 plump, and pointed posteriorly; it possesses legs, while at the tip of the 

 body is a sucker-like false foot. The general Colour is yellowish, varying 

 to a rosy-pink, there being a darker stripe down the back, while along 

 each side is a similar one above a row of black dots. 



PEAR AND CHERRY SLUG, OR SAW-FLY (Calirad Umacina). -- The 

 slug-like larvae of this insect are very abundant upon hawthorn foliage, 

 and if not controlled do considerable damage to cherry, plum, pear, and 

 peach. These larvae (Fig. 11, ob) are very often called leeches, and 

 devour the epidermis, exposing the skeleton of the infested leaves; they 

 are slimy, of a dark green, though orange-coloured immediately after 

 a moult, and the head end is much enlarged, giving a clubbed shape to 

 the body, along the under side of which are several false legs. Pupation 

 takes place in the ground. The adult (Fig. 11, 5a) measures about a 

 quarter of an inch long, is rather thickly set, black in colour, and 

 possesses four transparent wings. The female deposits her eggs in the 

 tissue of the foliage by means of a saw-like ovipositor hence the name 

 "saw-fly" which is thrust through the lower epidermis of the leaf, when 

 a pocket is formed to receive the egg; each egg pocket forms a little 

 pimple on the upper surface. This insect is very easily controlled by 

 spraying foliage infested by the larvae with lead arsenate. 



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