1908.] 



Insect, Fungus and other Pests. 



201 



Beetles. — Specimens of cabbages with swollen roots were found 

 to be infested with the larvae of a small beetle, Ceutorhynchus 

 sulcicollis. The beetles feed in the flower heads and the grubs 

 on the roots, on which they give rise to swellings or galls. 

 The larvae are small white grubs, and may be found on carefully 

 opening the galls. This pest, known as the turnip gall weevil, 

 is a serious enemy of cruciferous crops, such as turnips and 

 swedes, while it also attacks cruciferous weeds, having been 

 found in abundance on charlock. The importance of this fact 

 in relation to the rotation of crops and to the destruction of 

 weeds should be noted. 



When cabbages have been destroyed by the attack of this 

 pest, it is important that the stumps should be removed and 

 burnt before the grubs leave the galls and pass into the soil. 

 Such a measure may prevent a fresh attack. A dressing of 

 gas lime, spread on the surface and allowed to lie for a month 

 to five weeks before ploughing in, has been found useful. 



Where the pest occurs in gardens, the soil should be deeply 

 dug after an attack, so that the grubs, or pupae, which would 

 develop into the adults of a new brood, are buried so deeply 

 that the beetles, even if developed, cannot reach the surface. 



Earwigs. — The Board have received several complaints 

 of damage done by earwigs, the latest being from Gerrard's 

 Cross, Bucks. Earwigs are at intervals reported as occurring 

 in immense numbers, while they are frequently an unmitigated 

 nuisance in houses. Full details of the life-history of earwigs 

 are still lacking, but the females are believed to lay their eggs 

 in holes in the soil, amongst rubbish and generally in hiding 

 places which are likely to remain undisturbed. The eggs of 

 a single female are laid all together in a heap, but there are 

 no nests or collections of individuals as in the case of bees, 

 wasps or ants. It is known that the eggs of at least one species 

 are laid in March, and the young from these eggs are adult by 

 the end of May. 



Earwigs are fond of crevices and other hiding places, and 

 nearly all remedial measures take advantage of this habit. 

 In gardens, flower pots containing hay or tissue paper or moss 

 are placed upside down on the top of sticks, and in fields 

 old weed baskets stuffed with hay or straw and left here and 

 there inverted on the ground, or bags hung on stakes, have been 



