828 



OPEN FLOWER-GARDEN. 



pitchy black leathery case ; each of these is di- 

 vided into sixteen cells, and each contains one 

 egg. The young are able to run about as soon 

 as they escape from the egg, and from this time 

 forward they continue feeding and growing, and 

 undergoing the various transformations, but 

 with much less change in their appearance than 

 is the case in most other orders of insects. The 

 cockroach is not easily exterminated, and 

 therefore, in addition to what has been said in 

 sect. Okchid-Housb, we may add that phospho- 

 ric rat-poison, spread on cucumber rind, and 

 placed near their haunts, has been found by 

 some exceedingly efficacious. They will some- 

 times eat the poison when laid down in small 

 pieces, but the cucumber is thought to be a 

 great attraction. Some assert that the cucum- 

 ber rind is of itself poison sufficient for them, 

 but of this we have doubts. A hedgehog kept in 

 the house has been found useful, and wool dip- 

 ped in spirits of turpentine, and thrust into 

 their holes, will kill and expel them ; a table- 

 spoonful of spirits of tar, poured into the cre- 

 vices they inhabit, is also equally fatal to them. 



The rose scale (yispidiotus rosce Bouche). — 

 The female of this species bears a very close re- 

 semblance to that of the oleander scale, A. 

 nerii (Bouche). The pupa of the male is linear- 

 shaped, doubly furrowed on the back ; like 

 that genus, they have two wings, and under 

 them two balancers. The perfect male is pale 

 red, dusted with white, and has white wings ; 

 the length of the body is one-third of a line. 

 The female is somewhat larger than the male, 

 and, like it, of a roundish flat shield-like form, 

 almost destitute of limbs ; they feed by sucking 

 the juices of the plant by means of their ros- 

 trums. They inhabit the stems and older 

 branches of the rose tree, which may be often 

 found entirely covered with them, giving the 

 parts affected a mouldy appearance. They are 

 best subdued by cutting out as much of the 

 parts affected as can be spared, rubbing the re- 

 maining scales off with a hard brush, or paint- 

 ing them during winter with spirits of tar. 



The rose moth. Tinea (Ornix) rhodopha- 

 gella (KoUar), appears in the moth state 

 about the end of May. This very small but 

 destructive insect is only about three lines in 

 length ; it carries its wings very close to the 

 body, appearing as if wrapped around it. The 

 whole body is of a silvery-grey colour, the upper 

 wings marked with numerous very small black 

 dots ; the under wings are narrow, tapering to- 

 wards the point, and margined with long fringes. 

 The eggs are laid in May on the rose-buds, and 

 the caterpillars are hatched by the end of June, 

 when they immediately form small oases of por- 

 tions of the foliage, and in them pass the winter, 

 about an inch under the surface of the ground, 

 at the foot of the trees. This indicates the most 

 efficient mode of lessening their numbers, by re- 

 moving the soil to the depth of 2 inches, and 

 carrying it to a distance, or burning it. 



The larva, in form of a small worm, ascends 

 the trees, and commences the work of destruction 

 upon the tender leaves and shoots as soon as 

 they begin to form, devouring one leaf or shoot 

 after another, and often to the extent of not 



Fig. 274. 



GOLDEN ROSE-BEETLE. 



leaving one perfect on the whole plant. This 

 little worm, or larva, is only about three or four 

 lines long, yellow, with a black head and black- 

 spotted collar. 



The green rose-chafer, or golden rose-beetle, 

 Cetonia aurata {Scarabceus auratus of some ento- 

 mologists), fig. 274, is one of our largest and 

 most beautiful beetles, 

 easily recognised by its 

 bright-green colour, some- 

 times reflecting a rich 

 golden or copper tint. 

 The wings are very long, 

 of a brownish colour, fold- 

 ed under the horny wing- 

 cases, which have a few 

 white lines placed trans- 

 versely, resembling cracks, 

 and scattered over them. 

 On the under side they 

 are of a fine copper tint, 

 sometimes inclining to 

 rose-colour. The horns 

 are short, the scutel form- 

 ing an elongated triangle. 

 They are readily found 

 enveloped in the petals 

 of the rose, and from 

 their colour and size 

 cannot be easily over- 

 looked. The havoc they make in the Parisian 

 rose-gardens is fearful, compared with what we 

 experience in Britain. " Le ver blanc," as they 

 are there called, is the greatest enemy the 

 French rose-growers have to contend with. 

 Their habits in many respects resemble those 

 of the cockchafer. We know of no means more 

 likely to reduce the numbers of the rose-chafer 

 than by capturing them in their beetle state, 

 which, from their large size and conspicuous 

 colours, is no difficult matter. 



The rose chermes (Psylla rosw) is destroyed 

 by syringing the plants with a strong decoction 

 of tobacco, frequently repeated. 



The antler rose sawfly, {Cladius difformis 

 Panza), fig. 276.' — Several species of Cladius at- 

 tack the rose in their larva state, devouring not 

 only the foliage, but often the pith also. Their 

 attacks on the foliage are first observed by it 

 appearing perforated with innumerable small 

 holes, which daily increase, as well as portions 

 of the margins being devoured. The cause of 

 this is only discovered by turning up the under 

 side of the leaf, when a small caterpillar will be 

 found either curled up or stretched out, feeding, 

 and holding on by its feet to the under side of 

 the leaf. In size they scarcely exceed half an 

 inch, nearly cylindrical, tapering a little towards 

 the tail ; they have twenty feet — twelve abdo- 

 minal membraceous or false feet, six pectoral, 

 and two anal feet. Their colour is bright green, 

 covered with short erect hairs, with a darkish 

 line down the back, and one much darker on 

 each side ; the head is brownish and horny, with 

 two small black dots on the sides. In its fly 

 state, Cladius difformis is black and shining ; the 

 antenucE are downy, composed of nine joints; in 

 the male the third, fourth, and fifth joints are 

 hooked at the base, having a long branch at the 



