INSECT ENEMIES AND EMENDS. 



49) 



appearance, and lay their eggs near the midribs "1 the 

 leaves. The caterpillars are soon hatched, and at once 

 begin to feed on the leaves. They soon, however, spin 

 some of them together, and in this shelter pass the winter 

 or fall to the ground, hiding themselves under the fallen 

 leaves, rubbish, or in some crack in the soil. In the 

 winter all fallen dead leaves and rubbish should be 

 removed from under the bushes and burnt, and any 

 dead leaves which have not fallen with the others should 

 be picked oft and destroyed, as they often contain cater- 

 pillars. In the spring or summer, when the caterpillars 

 are feeding on the leaves, they may be killed by 

 dusting the bushes with a mixture ol lime and soot when 

 the fo iage is wet, or spraying with quassia extract and 

 soft soap or paraffin emulsion. These remedies should 

 not be used too late in the season, or I hey will give the 

 fruit an unpleasant flavour. The moths fly very slowly, 

 and may easily be caught in a butterfly net. They vary 

 in colour from black to nearly while, and are usually 

 creamy white, with black spots, as shown in the figure. 

 The caterpillars, when full grown, are about I [in. in 

 length, and of a pale buff colour with black spots, whilst 

 the chrysalis is black with yellow bands. 



Marguerite Daisy Fly, The {Phytomyza affinis). — The 



blisters and discolourations on the leaves of Chrysanthe- 

 mums, Cinerarias, Marguerite Daisies, and other plants 

 of the same natural order are caused by the grubs of this 

 fly, which burrow between the skins of the leaves, feeding 

 as they go on the inner part of the leaf. This renders 

 the leaves unsightly and of lit lie use to the plant, which 

 suffers in consequence more or less, according to the 

 severity of the attack. If the leaves are much injured 

 before the attack is noiiced, they should be cut off 

 at once and burnt, as they can be of no further use, 

 w hilst the grubs will be most effectually destroyed. It, 

 however, the attack is noticed at once, or before much 

 injury has been done, the leaves may be saved by pinching 

 them firmly at the part where the grub is so as to crush 

 it. By placing the leaves with the light behind them, the 

 position of the grub will easily be seen. Insecticides are 

 of little use, as they cannot reach the grubs, though their 

 application at the right time would no doubt prevent the 

 flies from laying their eggs. It is difficult to know when 

 the right time is, as there are two or three broods of this 

 insect during the vear. and for this reason it is most 

 important that the grubs of the first brood should be 

 killed, to prevent as much as possible an attack by 

 a subsequent one. The flies are small, inconspicuous 

 insects, measuring only Jin. across the open wings. The 

 grubs are greenish, and about |in. in length. 

 NareiSSUS Fly, The [Merodon eqtiestris). — Tins insect is 

 at times a great annoyance to those who grow many 

 bulbs. Daffodils, Narcissi, and Elyacinths are the kinds 

 most frequently attacked. The grub makes its way into 

 the centre of the bulb, and there remains feeding until it 

 is full grown. It is then about |in. in length, nearly as 

 thick as an ordinary lead pencil, and tapers somewhat 

 towards the head and tail. Such a grub feeding in a 

 bulb naturally destroys it, and the insect cannot be 

 reached without injuring the bulb. When it has 

 attained its full si/.e it generally becomes a chrysalis in 

 the soil. Ground that has had infested bulbs grown on 

 it when dug up should be examined, in case any of these 

 chrysalides are present, and the ground kept well broken 

 up, to expose them as much as possible to the birds 

 and weather. The flies are largish insects, and much 

 resemble small bumble bees. They are, however, more 

 elegant in their proportions, and have only two wings, 

 while the bumble bee has four. They may lie caught 

 in the spring with a butterfly net whilst flying about the 

 bulbs. 



Pear Saw Fly, The {Eriocampa adumbrata). — The grubs 

 of this insect are the well know n pests that attack the leaves 

 of Pear and Cherry trees, often know n as " slug worms," 

 on account of a certain resemblance they bear to small 

 slugs. Thrv also attack the foliage of the Quince, 

 Plum, Blackthorn, and Whitethorn. The grubs sue 

 about jin. long, and covered with a thick greenish slime ; 



they feed on the upper surface of the leaves, which the)' 

 gradually eat away, leaving only the ribs and the lower 

 skins of the leaves, remaining almost motionless during 

 the day and feeding at night. One of the best means of 

 destroying this insect is by dusting the leaves with finely 

 powdered lime or gas lime. A single application, how- 

 ever, will not kill the grubs, for they have the power of 

 exuding a fresh supply of slime, so that when they are 

 covered with any obnoxious substance they immediately 



PEAR SAW FLY. 

 A. Gi lib. /-'. Crcoon 



secrete a fresh amount, which prevents them from feeling 

 any bad effects from the insecticide. This secretive power 

 is limited, and a second application soon afterwards kills 

 them. Syringing with a solution of paraffin emulsion, 

 soapsuds, or lime water and soft soap is also useful. 

 When full grown the grubs fall to the ground and bury 

 themselves. After a bad attack it would be advisable to 

 take away the surface soil under the trees to a depth of 

 ain., and burn it, or bury it not less than I ft. below the 

 surface, or place it somewhere so that poultry can pick it 

 over ; the chrysalides are formed within a thin papery 

 cocoon about fin. in length. The saw flies are small 

 insects measuring gin. across the wings, and shining black 

 in colour. 



Plant Bug's {ffemiptera). — In using the word "bug," I do 

 not do so in the way that is so common now, as a term 

 for insects in general, but in its proper sense, to denominate 

 insects belonging to the family known to entomologists 

 as " Ilemiptera," or, in the vulgar tongue, "the bug 

 family," of which the best-known species is that which 

 infests houses, and bedrooms in particular. There are a 

 large number of different kinds, nearly all living on the 

 juices of plants, but few , fortunately, are often present in 

 such numbers as to inflict much harm upon plants in 

 cultivation. The leaves of Cabbages, Chrysanthemums, 

 Ferns, Hops, Peas, and Potatoes are attacked by certain 

 species, and also the buds of Chrysanthemums. They may 



PLANT BUGS. 



I Lvgns solani, Hat. size. -. Lygus volant, mag. 



3 ami I. Lygus solani. immature. 

 3 and 6. Lygus umbellatorum nat. size and mag. 



be killed by syringing or spraying the plants with paraffin 

 emulsion or quassia extract and soft soap ; the shoots may 

 also be dipped in either of these mixtures, or shaken over 

 an open umbrella. The insects injure the plants by 

 sucking out the juices w ith their long probosces, which are 

 well adapted to pierce the tissues ol an) plant. When in 

 the perfect slate nearly all the bugs have wings, but some 

 species, the "bed bug" among the number, have never 

 been found winged ; the different species vary considerably 



