602 



Insect, Fungus, and other Pests. 



[NOV., 



Weevil, Apion. Several species of these small pear-shaped weevils 

 lay their eggs in the heads of clover. From the eggs tiny 

 whitish grubs with brown heads and biting jaws are hatched. 

 These grubs feed upon the developing seed, and when full-grown 

 pupate in the clover blossom. There is more than one genera- 

 tion in the year. Once the grubs have got to work in the 

 flowers they cannot be reached by any remedial treatment. 

 The flower heads which are attacked may be recognised by the 

 early browning and fading of the flowers and should be hand 

 picked and burnt. Crops known to be infested may be mown 

 early. The feeding off of infested plants in autumn by folding 

 sheep on the leys is another measure recommended. Infested 

 clover heads should be burned after threshing. 



It often happens where there has been infestation that the 

 clover is cut and stacked with many of the heads containing the 

 Apion in the larval or pupal condition. The larvae or pupa? 

 develop into weevils, which may attack the new crop. 



Ants in Houses, &c. — A case of small red ants occurring in a 

 house in Carlisle was reported. These ants were Monomorium 

 pharaonis, a species which is extremely troublesome in houses, 

 bakeries and elsewhere. In such a case an endeavour should 

 be made to find the ants' nest, which is likely to be situated 

 under the floors or between walls in the neighbourhood of ovens, 

 &c. If the nest be found, the colony can be destroyed by 

 pouring carbon bisulphide into it. Owing to the poisonous 

 nature of the fumes of carbon bisulphide the operator should 

 be careful not to inhale them, and no light should be brought 

 near the bisulphide. 



Combating the ants individually is a tedious process. Advan- 

 tage may be taken of their fondness for sweet things, lard, &c. 

 Pieces of sporige cake, lard or fat, may be laid here and there, 

 to attract the ants, which may then be destroyed by dropping 

 the material used as a trap into boiling water. There is always 

 risk of a new infestation, and it is well to extend the treat- 

 ment beyond the spots chiefly infested. 



Carnation Fly. — With further reference to the note on the 

 Carnation Fly (Hylemyia nigrescens) which appeared in 

 this Journal, January, 1908, it may be added that the 

 maggots which hatch from the eggs deposited by this fly, 

 tunnel between the upper and lower epidermis of the leaf, in 



