INSECTS AND OTHER ENEMIES. {J 7 



bulb swells and becomes club-shaped at the part where the maggot is 

 feeding ; these larv^ when they are matured change into a fly, the, 

 swollen part of the bulb opens, and the flies are liberated and become 

 distributed about the house, when, if they are not destroyed, they 

 multiply and soon infest the healthy plants. They appear to live 

 chiefly amongst the Gattlei/as. They remain in the bulb until it is half- 

 grown, which must, of course, injure the plant, and then they leave it. 



The remedy to be adopted is this : as soon as the bulb is perceived 

 to be swelling more than is natural to it, proceed to cut the growth away 

 close to the old bulb, and thus destroy it at once before any mischief has 

 been done. There is then a chance of getting another growth A\'ithout 

 it. This will be found to be the only effectual method of exterminating 

 this enemy. It is annoying to have to cut away the young growth, but 

 it is better to do so than to get other plants infested in the same manner. 

 In the case of imported plants the insects will not be in the bulb, but 

 distributed among the old stems, and if not destroyed at once they will 

 be ready to enter the new shoots while young and tender. When the 

 fly is full grown it pierces the foliage and young growths with its 

 ovipositor, and lays its eggs, which soon change into maggots, these 

 latter feeding on the growing bulbs and deriving their sustenance 

 from the living tissues of the bulb, -which is, of course, most injurious; 

 these maggots in due time become flies. If imported plants have been 

 infested there will be found a puncture near the bottom of the old bulb. 

 If there is no puncture to be seen, the plant may be cleaned and pot 

 away. A successful Orchid grower told us how he had entirely got rid 

 of these insects by the following treatment : He placed his newly 

 imported plants in a house by themselves until the young growths were 

 sufiiciently formed to show, whether or not there was any apjDearanceof 

 the swelling of the bulb ; if not he felt safe, and removed them to their 

 permanent quarters. This probationary treatment is a wise plan to adopt. 



Large Black Theips. There is another new pest which' has only 

 come under our notice during the past year — that is a black Thrips, 

 much larger than the one we have been in the habit of seeing. We have 

 noticed it in several collections of East Indian Orchids, and it must 

 have been imported among some of the. Aerides or Vandas. This pest 

 finds its way, to the hearts. of the plants, and causes the top leaves to 

 become spotted or yellow ; it must be closely and constantly watched 



