Red Spider. 



337 



Tetranychus telarius, according to Murray, Taschenberg, and 

 others. It appears to be just as distinct from Tetranychtts 

 telarius as Tetranychus cucunieris, the mite found upon 

 melons and cucumbers. 



Modes of Preveiitio7i and Remedies. 



It is most difficult, and it may be said almost impossible, 

 to prevent these spinning mites from getting on the bine 

 and leaves. They are most agile in movement, and travel up 

 the bine rapidly. Plants on wire and string seem equally 

 liable to attacks, as the mites crawl up the bines. To pull 

 off the lower leaves is, therefore, of little use. The application 

 of caustic substances close round the hill is ineffectual, as the 

 mites are so tiny that they would not be affected by such 

 materials as lime or kainit, and it would be dangerous to 

 apply gaslime in quantities sufficient to destroy them. It 

 would also be impossible to get at the mites in the cracks of 

 the poles and posts for wire work. When a drought commences 

 in June and there is a probability of its continuance, it would 

 be useful to immediately syringe hop plants upon which the 

 mites are seen with cold water, or with water, soft soap, and 

 sulphide of potassium, before the webs are made, or before 

 they are plentiful and thick. This syringing must be heavy 

 and frequent, mere spraying will not suffice, as it is well 

 known that the ordinary spraying with quassia and soft soap 

 has a very slight influence upon them. Hop plants that 

 have been sprayed three or four times for aphis-blight have 

 been found to be badly infested by these mites. To be effec- 

 tual, syringing must be done early, vigorously, abundantly, 

 and with hand machines. When the webs are well estab- 

 lished, even this drastic syringing is often unsuccessful. 



Sulphuring, that is applying "flowers of sulphur" by 

 means of a horse machine which blows the fine particles on 

 and under every part of the hop plants, is supposed by 

 some to have a prejudicial effect on the mites, but it is 

 believed that this is of little if any benefit. Hop plants arc 

 sulphured almost in the ordinary course of cultivation, but 

 the mites are not hindered by this in the least degree. 

 Leaves have been examined upon which the webs of the 



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