202 Insect, Fungus and other Pests. [june, 



successfully used as traps. Such traps should be regularly 

 visited and the earwigs in them shaken on to a tarred board so 

 that they may not escape, or into a vessel containing, paraffin. 

 Small heaps of straw may also be placed here and there, the 

 heaps, with the sheltering earwigs, being fired on a quiet night. 



Where the pests are in overwhelming numbers trapping may 

 seem a tedious measure, but many thousands have been caught 

 in this way. The earlier in the season it is done the better, 

 new broods being more certainly prevented. 



Cracks and crevices in walls are favourite shelter places for 

 earwigs. Walls should therefore be well pointed, and any 

 cracks should have paraffin syringed into them. Rubbish 

 and old bark, &c, should be destroyed. 



Aphides. — Specimens of larch shoots were received from 

 "Wellington, Salop, and were found to be covered with Larch 

 Aphides. Had these been observed earlier, they could have 

 been dealt with more effectively. During the hibernating 

 stages, and while the trees are in their winter dormant condition, 

 the following spray fluid has proved very successful : — 3 lb. 

 of soft soap, dissolved in 2 quarts of boiling water ; to this 

 1 pint of paraffin should be added while still boiling hot, and the 

 two churned together until a buttery mass has been formed. 

 For use this emulsion should be diluted with 5 gallons of soft 

 water. 



Such a wash would be too strong for use when the delicate 

 young leaves are beginning to show, but a more dilute emulsion 

 might be used with success. Treatment should take place as soon 

 as possible after an infestation is observed, before a new 

 generation has had time to add to the numbers. 



Cinerarias from Aberdeen were found to be suffering from 

 a bad attack of greenfly, a pest to which cinerarias are par- 

 ticularly subject. A white velvety coating of fungus mycelium 

 was saprophytic on the honey-dew secreted by the aphides. 



Beech Coccus. — Several cases of beech coccus were reported. 

 A fuller report on this pest is being prepared, and a statement 

 will be made in a subsequent issue. 



Springtails. — Some specimens of insects sent from near 

 Totnes, Devon, and stated to be seriously injuring oats, were 

 found to be springtails or Collembola. The species could not 

 be definitely determined'; as the specimens had lost the " springs," 



