545 



at the bases of the wings a few small red gamasid mites have been 

 noticed. It is to birds that we are especially indebted for keeping 

 this and similar insects in check and preventing their undue 

 multiplication. Poultry are especially fond of them. Our native 

 insectivorous birds are well worthy of protection. 



THE CODLIN MOTH. 



The following article appeared in the Journal of October, 

 1901 : " There are still people who believe or state that the codlin 

 moth is, and has, for a long time, existed in Western Australia. 

 Others declare that the statement is malicious, and has at different 

 times been spread by people interested in seeing removed the ban 

 under which the moth and its hosts (the apple, the pear, and the 

 quince) laboured until lately. Whether the first are correct in their 

 assertion, or the second in the motives they cast on their assailants, 

 the fact remains that, even to this date (October, 1901), no authentic 

 case of a codlin moth having been captured in a West Australian 

 orchard has yet been recorded ; and, so far as we know, the statement 

 that the insect has been observed in fruit grown in this State is not 

 founded on facts. As the question of the possible introduction of 

 this pest has now become a topic of conversation which is warmly 

 taken up by orchardists all over the State, I have caref ullv gone 

 through the published experiences of well-known observers, both in 

 the Eastern States and in America, and have sifted from the mass 

 of information thus gathered much that may be of use in impart- 

 ing to apple growers a knowledge of the- habits and the peculiarities 

 of the codlin moth. One of the latest exhaustive reports on this 

 orchard pest is contributed by Mr. A. M. Lea, once Entomologist 

 to this Department, and now Government Entomologist of 

 Tasmania. Apple culture is recognised as a national industry in 

 Tasmania, and Mr. Lea has devoted himself with all the earnest- 

 ness that the question demands in dealing with his subject. From 

 that report I shall cull much of the up-to-date information concern- 

 ing the habits of the codlin moth in Australia. Just as in the 

 course of a few years the oidiuin of the vine swept vine-growing 

 out of existence in Madeira, and then threatened the vineyards of 

 the world ; just, also, as the dreaded phylloxera for a time devastated 

 the vineyards of France, so the codlin moth has of late inflicted 

 incalculable loss to Australian orchardists. As patient and 

 laborious observation has thrown light on the mysterious spread 

 of the two scourges of the vine growers, and led to their being kept 

 in check, so it is not unreasonable to predict that a better under- 

 standing of the habits and behaviour of the codlin moth may some 

 day lead lo methods which will check its spread. Since light has 

 been thrown on the habits of the codlin moth, it becomes more 

 apparent that instead of raising barriers against its dissemination 

 over the Australian fruit-growing areas, our fruit and produce 

 marketing methods have offered every facility for its distribution, 

 even to the most isolated and the most distant orchards. 



