38 



USURIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 



[Juno 1896. 



The pupa is light brown, shiny, and three-quarters of an inch 

 long. It is formed in a cocoon some way below the ground, in 

 which it moves quickly backwards and forwards when disturbed. 

 This movement, like the wriggling of the larva, is characteristic. 



Remedies and Methods of Prevention. 



There are hardly any reliable methods of preventing the 

 attacks of this insect. The eggs are spread broadcast by the 

 female moths in fields, meadows, and gardens, and among all 

 kinds of crops. 



Hoeing, with sharp hoes, cropped land that is infested would 

 certainly kill some of the caterpillars. Wheat, winter beans, 

 winter barley, and oats, could be treated in this way. 



In market gardens, and gardens where valuable crops, such as 

 lettuces, greens, cauliflowers, mint, and parsley, are grown, hoeing 

 should be thoroughly and carefully performed, and as close to 

 the plants as possible. It would possibly pay to move the soil 

 round valuable crops of this class with a finely pointed hoe, or 

 " pick," and to hand-pick the caterpillars. 



Where grass is seriously infested, and meadows, lawns, and 

 cricket grounds are injured, it would be well to apply a mixture 

 of soot and lime, in the proportion of one bushel of soot to two 

 bushels of lime. Gas lime alone, or mixed with soot, would 

 be equally useful. This should be lightly worked into the 

 ground by means of harrows, horse-hoes, or hand-hoes. Infested 

 wheat should be ring-rolled. In the case of roots and delicate 

 plants small hoes or " picks " may be employed. 



Kainit put close to infested plants and chopped in has proved 

 serviceable. Wood ashes are most objectionable to these 

 caterpillars, as well as to others. They should be scattered 

 round the plants and hoed in just under the surface. 



Hooks and starlings are fond of these caterpillars, and 

 blackbirds have also been seen pulling them up in gardens. 



The Cockchafer (Melolontha vulgaris). 



i 



1. Perfect insect ; 2. Larva ; 3. Pupa. All natural size. 



The large grubs of this insect have done considerable harm 

 in the last two or three seasons, in some localities, to grass, 



