414 



Observations on the various Insects 



A Summary of the present Essay. 



A Weevil, called Otiorhynchus picipes, destroys the young pea - 

 crops, &c. 



The Weevils conceal themselves by day, and feed only at 7iiyht. 



The same Weevils injure vines^ wall-fruit, apple and pear trees, 

 raspberries. Sec, early in spring. 



Their larvae or maggots live in the earth upon the roots of 

 floioers, Sic. 



They change to pupce or chrysalides in the eai'th. 



These Weevils swarm in hedge-rows in May, feeding on black- 

 thorn, elm, and lime leaves. 



The larvcB might be destroyed by a dressing of salt or gas-lime. 



Dusting with soot, lime, or wood-ashes might banish the beetles, 

 or watering with gas-water. 



Tarred hoards would protect garden-crops. 



Hand-picking the most effective remedy in nurseries. 



Sand-wasps-, called Cerceris, capture the Weevils and bury 

 them to support their young when the eggs hatch. 



They swarm in some sajidy situations, where the paths, banks, 

 and gravel-walks are riddled by them. 



Insect plagues suddenly appear from changes in the atmosphere, 

 and as suddenly disappear through the agency of parasitic tribes, 

 (Sec. 



Becm Aphides swarming on almost every plant last summer. 

 Migratory Locust also not uncommon in various parts of Eng- 

 land. 



Mangold-wurzel supposed formerly to be free from the attacks 

 of insects. 



Larva of a beetle, called Silpha, feeds upon the leaves, and 

 destroys the young plants in May and June. 



They have been detected in the North of Ireland and in 

 France, doing great mischief from 1844 to the present time. 



In 1844, 5, and 6 they seemed confined to Londonderry, but in 

 1847 they carried off the crops in Tyrone. 



They leave only the fibres of the leaves, but do not touch the 

 root. 



No bones were used in manuring the fields in Londonderry. 

 In England these larvcB are loell known, but have never affected 

 the crops. 



In the department of the Oise, in France, they have destroyed 

 the Red-beet. 



The begmning and middle of July they change to pupce, and 

 hatch towards end of the month. 



Possibly more species than one may have the same habits, as the 

 larvse vary in form, or this may be a sexual distinction. 



Are ilie eggs laid in liie earth ? 



