36 



INJURIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 



[.Time 1890. 



obtectus, Say). This is about the same size as Bruchus rufi- 

 manus, but has specific differences in colour and markings. The 

 indications of this infestation in the beans are, however, 

 identical. 



Steeping seed beans in the compounds used for pickling seed 

 would kill or rout the beetles that are in the open holes, but it 

 would not affect those protected by the covering of skin. Strong 

 brine would probably be the best steep for the purpose, and 

 might penetrate the coverings. Placing infested seed beans in 

 hot water is recommended, but the difficulty in this case is to 

 avoid killing the gemmule of the bean. Professor Lintner, in his 

 article on the American bean-beetle Bruchus obtectus, in the 

 seventh report on the Injurious and other Insects of the State 

 of New York, 1891, says "it is stated that seed beans will 

 bear immersion in water at the boiling point for one minute 

 without injury to the germ. We would prefer recommending 

 hot water below the boiling point for about half a minute. 

 Examination would show if this was sufficient." An experiment 

 was made with infested " Aquadulce " beans by putting them in 

 boiling water for one minute. The beetles within the beans were all 

 killed, although many of them were still covered in by the circular 

 doors. The beans were planted and germinated in due course, 

 except those that had three or four holes in them, and those where 

 the holes were close to the gemmule, which, being exposed, had 

 evidently been injured by the boiling water. The fumes of 

 bisulphide of carbon will kill the beetles if the bin, box, or vessel 

 containing the beans can be made air-tight or nearly so. The 

 bisulphide of carbon is put into an iron pan on the beans, 

 or above them, and the fumes, being much heavier than air, 

 descend into the beans, permeating them thoroughly and killing 

 the insects without injury to the germs of the seed. In Canada 

 it is the common practice to treat seed peas with bisulphide of 

 carbon. 



The Common Swift Moth (Hepialus lupulinus). 



1. Moth. 2. Caterpillar, natural size. 



The caterpillars of this moth were very troublesome in some 

 places during the winter of 1895-96. On account of the 

 unusual mildness of the weather the caterpillars were not driven 



