95 



ultimate effect of amputation ; but old trees never suffer much. The 

 trouble he believes to be due to the frequent cutting down of old trees, 

 as this in a measure compels the beetles to attack the young 1 growth 

 for food for their youog. 



This species, as its scientific name indicates, is a near relative of the 

 common hickory twig girdler (Oncideres cingulata Say) of the Eastern 

 States, accounts of which have been published in most text-books on 

 economic entomology and which is treated in the Fifth Report of the 

 United States Entomological Commission, on pages 288-290. The man- 

 ner of working of the two species is probably very similar The beetles 

 of both occur in August and until October. If the injured branches 

 were systematically collected and burned in the winter or before the 

 appearance of the adults in August, future damage could be greatly 

 lessened, particularly if these measures were practiced over a consider- 

 able territory. 



NOTES ON COCKROACHES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 



In regard to Mr. Marlatt's chapter on cockroaches, I beg to remark 

 that my observations on our native ones lead me to slightly different 

 views as to their general habits. Thus, I have never yet seen a Blat- 

 tarian eat a living plant in nature, but frequently found them devouring 

 caterpillars, other soft-bodied insects, etc. Plants injured where they 

 abound I have always found to have been attacked by snails, caterpil- 

 lars, etc. In my garden Epilampra notabilis occurs in numbers at cer- 

 tain times, and with its multiplication the herbivorous larvae disappear 

 rapidly, and I have always spared the lives of such forms as species of 

 Polyrasteria and Platyrasteria which might be taken home alive with 

 firewood and placed among the boxes, timber, etc., of my outhouse, yet 

 have never observed any increase; nay, they remain very few. Still, I 

 suffer very much less than others from depredations of the notorious 

 household insects. Even centipedes and spiders are protected without 

 the slightest bad results, but instead there is freedom from any excessive 

 insect injuries. I regard the Blattaria3 as eminently carnivorous, of 

 which a few species (the domestic ones) have developed a capacity for 

 amylacious food assimilation. Although Periplaneta orientalis and 

 americana were very troublesome some years ago, there are scarcely 

 any complaints received now, though they are by no means extinct; 

 and this, I think, is in consequence of the application of a very simple 

 remedy which I have recommended in every case, viz, a mixture of 

 plaster of paris (1 part) and flour (3 to 4 parts) in a saucer, and near by 

 another flat plate with pure water, both supplied with several bridges 

 to give easy access, and one or two thin boards floating on the water, 

 touching the margin. The insects readily eat the mixture, become 

 thirsty and drink, when the plaster sets and clogs the intestines. The 

 insects disappear in a few weeks, the bodies no doubt eaten by the sur- 

 vivors. Where a few of the large kinds occur, the small ones disappear 

 quickly, and it took a long time before I could secure a sample of 



