IX PESTS 175 



a semicircular form, that the work of this insect is 

 readily distinguished from the depredations of cater- 

 pillars. It is not very common or occurring in large 

 numbers, and usually attacks Koses of free and 

 strong growth. Still, it has the habit of continually 

 coming back to the same plant for its supply of up- 

 holstery, and may be found a pest in certain places. 

 The bee may be easily caught in a butterfly net, or 

 when laden can be traced to its nest, which can then 

 be destroyed. 



" Scale" insects {Aspidiotus) may often be found 

 on the shoots of neglected wall-Eoses. Finger and 

 thumb or a solution of soft soap will soon remove 

 them. Red spider (Tetranychus) is not likely to be 

 found on Roses anywhere but under glass, and the 

 remedy for this is a moister atmosphere. There are 

 other insects which occasionally do damage to 

 Roses, especially chance visitations of caterpillars 

 which naturally prey upon other plants, but these 

 cannot fairly be included among the pests of the 

 Rose. 



Protective Insects. — There are a few flies and grubs 

 which actually do good by preying upon well-known 

 pests, and thus acting as allies and friends of the 

 Rose grower. It is important that these should be 

 known, for it is well that we should be able to 

 recognise and spare our assistants, though the 

 enemy is in such overwhelming majority that the 

 advice to suspect and destroy all insect life is 

 common and even safest in cases where the friendly 

 forms are unknown. 



Ichneumon flies form one of the strange pro- 

 visions of Nature for keeping in check the undue 

 increase of insects. These flies lay their eggs in the 



