296 Notes on Insect, Fungus, and other Pests [july. 



adopted of destroying all sickly infested bulbs, with the result 

 that this pest is now rarely found. 



Lithocolletis messaniella. — In May a correspondent near 

 Guildford forwarded a bough of Evergreen Oak the leaves of 

 which were infested by the larvae of this moth. It was stated 

 that apparently every evergreen oak in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood was affected, and that some of the younger trees 

 had injuries on every leaf. The accompanying illustration 

 shows the nature of the damage done. At the time when 

 the leaves were examined, the insect was in many cases still 

 present in its pupal form, but some of the moths had already 

 issued, and were, no doubt, preparing to lay their eggs for 

 a new brood. These small Tineid moths, which are liable 

 to be mistaken for tiny flies, lay their eggs on the underside 

 of the leaves, into which the newly-hatched larvae bore. The 

 inside of the leaf is mined until, sufficient food having been 

 taken, the caterpillar pupates. There is usually a brood in 

 May, and another in late autumn. Preventive measures are 

 not easy, as the larvae cannot be reached inside the leaf. 

 The best course is to collect and burn all infested leaves, and 

 to spray the un infested trees with paraffin emulsion, or a 

 solution of arsenate of lead, the value of which in connection 

 with allied moths is known. As not only the evergreen oak, 

 but the ordinary oak, the hornbeam, and the chestnut are 

 known to suffer from this pest, the moth is of some economic 

 interest. The abnormal weather prevalent during May and 

 June appears to have had great influence on this infestation, 

 for so long as the bright, sunny weather of May prevailed, 

 the moths were to be seen in scores, but the heavy rains and 

 dull weather that succeeded cleared most of them away. 



Red Spider. — A correspondent from the vicinity of 

 Mortimer, Berkshire, having suggested to the Board that 

 Red Spider (Leaflet No. 41) does not attack all varieties of 

 gooseberries to the same extent, inquiry was made through 

 the Board's Inspectors as to the experience of growers in the 

 Evesham and Wisbech areas. The results are not very 

 definite, as no opinion was received from the first-named 

 district, but from Wisbech it was reported that Crown Bobs, 

 which are extensively grown there, suffer much more than 

 the hardier varieties. Whinhams are attacked, but to a less 



