214 



Insect, Fungous and other Pests. 



[JULY, 



of the Magpie Moth, Abraxas grossulariata (see Leaflet No. 20), 

 were found attacking Euonymus japonica and varieties, which 

 were much damaged. It is interesting to note that in this 

 case the caterpillars had neglected gooseberries and currants,, 

 which are their favourite food plants, although it is known 

 that they do not confine themselves to plants of one Natural 

 Order. 



Beetles. — Two destructive beetles — the Mustard Beetle 

 and the Turnip and Mustard Blossom Beetle — were forwarded 

 at the end of May from Lynn, where they were infesting several 

 acres of brown mustard about a foot high. 



The Mustard Beetle (Phaedon betulce). — This beetle hibernates 

 in various shelter places, e.g., in the mustard stubble and in the 

 hollow stems of other plants. The eggs are laid in spring and 

 summer, and both grubs and beetles feed on the growing plants. 

 Pupation takes place in the soil. As a remedial measure 

 against the adult beetles the shaking of the beetles into 

 pails containing a little paraffin has been tried with success in 

 some cases. It should, however, be done early in the morning. 

 The beetles can also be dislodged and collected by dragging 

 tarred strips of sacking attached to a rod over the plants. It 

 has been observed that later in the year, the beetles may migrate 

 in great numbers to other fields, and if this be noticed a shallow 

 trench should be dug in the path of the migrating swarm ; if 

 the trench be kept tarred many beetles will be caught. This 

 measure has been found useful notwithstanding the fact that 

 the beetles have wings. Spraying the infested plants with 

 Paris green would also prove destructive to the insects. 



Turnip and Mustard Blossom Beetle. — The second beetle 

 infesting the mustard was the Turnip and Mustard Blossom 

 Beetle (Meligethes aeneus). This small beetle lays its eggs 

 in the buds, and there the grubs feed on hatching. The upper 

 part of the flower stalk is also destroyed. As in the case of 

 the last beetle, pupation takes place in the soil. 



It should be noticed that both beetles willingly take other 

 cruciferous crops, e.g., rape and turnip, and that attacks have 

 sometimes been so serious that it has been necessary to 

 discontinue mustard growing for some years. 



Willow Beetle. — Specimens of the Willow Beetle, Phratom 

 vitellines, were received towards the end of May from Turriff, N.B. 



