274 



INJURIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 



[Dee. 1896. 



■viridana. Other caterpillars also assisted in this destruction, 

 but those of the moth above named were the chief offenders. 

 Birds were busily engaged in clearing off these caterpillars, 

 which came as a godsend to them in the droughty season when 

 other food was most scarce. Rooks in search of food nocked to 

 the infested oak trees and cleared off myriads. In gardens and 

 shrubberies a few favourite and ornamental oaks were washed 

 clean by hand fire-engiues. 



Caterpillars of Hepialus lupulinus were most active, as well 

 as those of the " Heart and Dart Moth " (Agrotis exclamationis), 

 known as " surface caterpillars," and of the latter's congener, 

 Agrotis segetum, in turnips, mangel, and potatoes. Dressings of 

 soot and lime, frequent hoeings as far as practicable, and stimu- 

 lating manures to force the plants along rapidly, were advised for 

 these attacks. Complaints also were unusually numerous of harm 

 from the caterpillars of two butterflies — Pieris rapce and Pieris 

 napi — to cabbages. As the chief of these attacks were upon 

 cabbages with large formed hearts, it was difficult to suggest 

 really efficacious remedies. Yery finely powdered lime scattered 

 lightly over the plants appeared to be beneficial to some extent 

 and a very slight sprinkling of salt was also advantageously tried. 



Hop plants were most injured in the early stages of their 

 growth by the Hop Bug (Calocoris fulvomaculatus), which pierces 

 the bines and sucks up the juices of the plants with its long 

 beak. A description of this insect was given in the last number 

 of the Journal. 



A curious instance of the false accusation of an innocent insect 

 occurred with respect to the pretty beetle known as Gastroidea 

 {Gastrophysa) polygoni, which, it was alleged, was destroying 

 crops of several kinds. When it was pointed out that this beetle 

 was not likely to injure these crops, further search was made 

 and earwigs were discovered to be the real offenders. These 

 liave been extremely numerous and most destructive to some 

 crops, besides invading houses, especially those covered with 

 creepers. Little can be done to prevent this attack, beyond 

 placing traps for the insects in the shape of small wisps of 

 hay, straw, rushes, or bean haulm close to their haunts. They 

 get into these for shelter and retreat during the day, as they feed 

 principally at night, and can be dislodged and killed. Gardeners 

 put small flower pots, filled with hay or straw, on the stakes of 

 dahlias, of which earwigs are very fond in order to catch them ; 

 also on peach, nectarine, and apricot trees infested by these 

 pests, and in various parts of gardens where they are trouble- 

 some. 



Wireworms were particularly destructive throughout the 

 spring to all corn crops and to hop plants in many planta- 

 tions. " Thousand-legs " were also most injurious to many kinds 

 of crops, and appear to be increasing. Soot mixed with lime 

 in the proportion of one bushel of soot to three of lime is a 

 useful remedy for " thousand-legs " in corn crops, if applied early 

 enough in the season. This remedy was tried on wheat infested 



