68 



The honeydew given off by the insects does the most damage, as it 

 falls from off the leaves on to the fruit, turning it into a sticky, black 

 mass and closing the stomata. 



Their Ufe history is verywmperfectly understood. 



They make their appearance on plum trees in June or July, 

 going away again in early autumn. 



Insecticides. — Spray in June or July with soft soap 2^ lb., paraffin 

 18 oz., water 9} gall., and add to every 100 gall, of this above wash 

 I lb. of potassium sulphide. 



" Biting Insects." 



I. The Plum Bark Beetle, Scolytus rugulosus. 

 Order Coleoptera. 



This pest is supposed only to attack old, diseased and neglected 

 trees. 



It also attacks the apple, pear, cherry, and peach. 



The beetles are seen in April and May, and the female commences 

 to bore holes in the bark of the tree, and form " mother galleries," 

 and upon these sides she deposits her eggs. 



The larvae emerge in a few days, and are whitish in colour, legless, 

 and one-tenth of an inch long, and he in a curved position. Their 

 heads are yellowish or cream-coloured, and soon commence to ieed on 

 the inner bark of the tree, forming " larval galleries " at right angles 

 to the " mother galleries." 



At the end of these secondary galleries small cavities are made, in 

 which pupation takes place. 



The larvae often eat their way into the solid wood. 



Early in July the beetles hatch out and bore their way through the 

 bark and escape ; and this generation reproduces itself, and the larvas 

 hibernate in the tree. 



The male seems to be quite rare and is seldom found. 



Remedies. — Cut off all old and infested branches and bum them in 

 June. 



Old, worthless trees, and badly infested trees, should be cut down 

 and burnt in June. 



Their natural enemies are the woodpeckers, that will strip the bark 

 off trees to get to the pupae. 



2. The Red-legged Weevil, Otiorhynchus ienebricosus. 

 Order Coleoptera. 



This pest is very destructive, and also attacks the apricot, cherry, 

 nectarine, peach, raspberry, loganberry, and strawberry. 



The weevil varies in size from two-fifths of an inch to one half an 

 inch long. 



It is black in colour and shiny, with dull red legs, and the wing-cases 

 bear lines of punctures, and in fresh specimens some ashy-grey scales. 



The new-laid eggs are white, but in a few days become quite black. 



