ON PESTS GENERALLY. 



I08 3 



Fig. 693. — Devil's 

 Coach-Horse 

 Beetle. 



The preceding are a few general rules to be observed for 

 controlling certain well-known general pests. To exterminate any 

 one of them is practically impossible. Nature has too well provided 

 against such a contingency. She will, 

 however, help man considerably to pre- 

 serve the requisite balance by means of 

 insectivorous birds — like the Cuckoos and 

 the Redstarts — whose fondness for hairy 

 Caterpillars is well known. Such insects 

 are rejected by the majority of insect-eating 

 birds, probably on account of the irritating 

 hairs. Rooks, Starlings, Robins, Nightin- 

 gales, Partridges, and numbers of others also 

 do great service Then there are working 

 in the gardener's best interests the easily 

 distinguished Ladybirds and their larvae 

 (Fig. 691) ; the majority of the Ground 

 Beetles (of which Fig. 692 is Carabus 

 nemoralis) ; the much-despised Cocktail, or 



Devil's Coach-Horse Beetle (Fig. 693). and many others of the 

 same family characterised by short wing-cases ; the gaily-coloured 

 Tiger Beetle (Fig. 694) and its larva, which lurks in its under- 

 ground retreat, just keeping its head above the soil, waiting for 

 an unfortunate victim ; the curious light-bearing Glow-Worm 

 Beetle (Fig. 695), whose soft - bodied larviform female is 

 frequently found in country gardens, making short work of 

 destructive Snails and many noxious Beetles. Then there are 



the Hawkfiies, or Hoverer Flies, 

 whose grubs move leech-like 

 upon Aphides-infested plants ; 

 the gauzy-winged Lace-Flies, or 

 Golden Eyes ; the HemerobiidcB 

 (near relatives of the Lacewings) 

 several species of which clothe 

 themselves in the empty skins of 

 their victims; and the Sand-Wasps 

 and Ichneumon Flies, elsewhere 

 alluded to. These are some of 

 the friends of the gardener with 

 which he should be equally as 

 well acquainted as with his foes. 

 We will now briefly discuss the 

 more important feeders. 



American Blight; or Woolly 

 Aphis {Schizoneura lanigera). — 

 Both Apple- and Pear-trees are affected with this pest, which is 

 undoubtedly one of the worst against which growers have to 

 contend. The insects are easily recognised by the tufts of wool 



Fig. 694.— Tiger Beetle. 



