506 



Insect, Fungus, and other Pests. 



[OCT., 



The larvae of the Frosted Orange Moth (Gortyna flavago) also 

 infest potatoes, feeding, like H. micacea, in the stems. 



Buff Tip Moth. — Caterpillars of this moth (Pygaera bucephala) 

 were found on fruit trees at Wooburn (Bucks). 



Cabbage Butterfly. — Specimens of the caterpillars of the large 

 White Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris brassicce, L.) were received 

 from Mansfield, where they were infesting cabbages, and the 

 same species appeared to be attacking cauliflowers at Hecking- 

 ton (Lines.). Where cabbages are infested the application of 

 soap suds, lime, or soot water, or dusting the plants when 

 damp with soot or lime, will have a beneficial effect. The 

 caterpillars may also be hand-picked and destroyed, or they 

 may be washed off the plants by the use of the hose or garden 

 engine and subsequently destroyed. The application of liquid 

 manure aids the plants to resist attack. Lime, soot, or soap 

 suds can hardly be applied in the case of cauliflowers if the 

 plants are approaching marketable condition. In this case 

 the only course is to hand-pick the caterpillars, or wash them 

 off the plants with a stream of clean water — the colder the 

 better — and then destroy them. All collections of rubbish, 

 weeds round fences, &c, which tend to shelter the chrysalids, 

 should be cleared away, and all chrysalids found should be 

 destroyed. 



Sawflies. — The large Larch Sawfly (Nematus Erichsoni) was 

 reported on 31st August from Cockermouth. This pest is 

 included under the Insects and Pests Order of 1908, and must 

 be reported to the Board as soon as it is discovered. It is 

 fully described in Leaflet No. 186. 



Reports from Much Hadham and Snaresbrook show that 

 the caterpillars of the Gooseberry Sawfly (Leaflet No. 12) were 

 attacking gooseberry and red currant bushes. 



Aphides, &c. — Palm leaves from Ramsgate were found to 

 be infested ' with the scale insect Aspidiotus hederce, Vail., one 

 of the commonest of greenhouse pests. It is particularly 

 injurious to palms. Infested plants should be washed with a 

 soft soap solution or sprayed with a paraffin emulsion. Market 

 growers keep their palms clean by spraying them periodically 

 about once a month, with a paraffin emulsion or a nicotine 

 preparation. 



A grape vine at Palmer's Green was infested by a scale insect, 



