212 



Insect, Fungous and other Pests. 



[JULY, 



of these figures to the practical farmer. In the above com- 

 parison no allowance has been made for the difference in 

 quality of the milk of the various cows. If the yield in each 

 case was calculated to some common standard of quality, 

 the order would, of course, be considerably altered, and a 

 more accurate comparison obtained. 



At Rosslynlee the heifer calves of cows which are heavy 

 milkers, and which give milk of good quality, are being kept 

 with the view of gradually eliminating the poorer cows from 

 the herd. 



Moths. — Several species of moths or moth caterpillars have 

 been received from various parts of the country. The cater- 

 pillars of Winter moths appear to have 

 Notes on Insect, f . / , tr , , 



_ , been very prevalent m parts 01 Kent and 



Fungous and other XT , „ • . £ 



Pest- * Norfolk, and specimens were sent from 



Sittingbourne, King's Lynn, Twyford 

 (Notts) and Ely. The caterpillars and pupae of a Tortrix moth 

 were also received from Sittingbourne, the pupa? being found 

 between leaves which had been spun together. All such leaves 

 should at once be snipped off and destroyed ; the treatment 

 recommended against Winter moth caterpillars (see Leaflet 



o. 4) is effective against the feeding Tortrix larvae. 



In a consignment of insects from King's Lynn, Winter moth 

 caterpillars were chiefly prevalent, although other pests were 

 also present ; while a predaceous Carabus grub, two species of 

 Ladybird (Coccinellidce), two Ichneumon flies and two species 

 of spider were included. All the latter are useful insects,, 

 and this fact should warn farmers and others against a wanton 

 destruction of insect life. Many insects are very useful and 

 generally it is inadvisable to destroy insects without evidence 

 that they are harmful. 



A species • of Geometrid moth caterpillar was forwarded 

 from Southend-on-Sea, where it was infesting roses. Such 

 caterpillars may be distinguished from other caterpillars by 

 the fact that a number of the abdominal prolegs are absent,, 

 legs only being present at the front and hind ends. The 



* Notes on insect, fungous and other pests, dealing with the specimens submitted 

 to the Board for identification and their apparent prevalence, will appear in this* 

 Journal month by month (see Journal, June, 1907, p. 155). 



