482 



Apple Sawfly. 



[NOV., 



a lawn with grass up to the trunk the grass should be removed, 

 leaving a clear space round the trunk. The size of this space 

 must depend on the size of the tree, but it should extend to 

 at least 3 to 5 ft. away from the trunk. The space should 

 then be kept hoed and free from weeds. By giving water 

 and manure the development of new wood and bark is 

 encouraged. 



Among other specimens submitted to the Board the following 

 fungus diseases were identified : Pear scab (Leaflet No. 131), 

 on pears from Rugeley, Warminster and London ; apple 

 tree mildew (see Journal, September, 1907, p. 358), on apple 

 twigs from Bourne End (Bucks) ; European gooseberry mildew 

 (Leaflet No. 52), on gooseberry leaves from Ross; sclerotium 

 disease (Leaflet No. 127), on tomatoes from Tewkesbury, 

 and cucumber and melon leaf blotch (Leaflet No. 76), on 

 marrows from Northampton. 



Many are familiar with the 16-legged, brown-headed, flesh- 

 coloured caterpillar of the Codling Moth and with its destructive 

 work in apples. Less well known are 



The Apple Sawfly. the pale or white caterpillars of the Apple 

 Sawfly (Hoplocampa (Tenthredo) testu- 

 dinea), and yet these caterpillars are in some years extremely 

 destructive to young apples, accomplishing, in some cases, the 

 loss of the whole crop. 



The Sawfly Caterpillars, in feeding, hollow out the young 

 apples or make irregular tunnels in them. The apples, as a 

 result, fall away, their presence on the ground, below the 

 plants, being a sign that the pest is at work. 



The Apple Sawfly has been recorded from widely separated 

 districts in England ; while on the Continent, its distribution 

 is given by Cameron as Sweden, Germany, France, Holland. 



Description. — The adult Sawfly is reddish-yellow in colour, 

 with the top of the head, the body between the wings and the 

 upper surface of the abdomen black. The top of the head 

 and the body between the wings show fine punctures. The 

 antennae are yellowish, the middle joints having their upper 

 surface somewhat darker. The wings are clear like glass, 



