Insects on Chrysanthemums. 



359 



are sometimes destroyed by it. A few cases have been 

 recorded of cornfields situated near mills in Great Britain 

 being attacked by this pest. 



The beetles lay their eggs in the corn, and the maggots 

 feed inside the grain, where they also pupate. They breed 

 fairly rapidly in this country, and may attack stored produce 

 other than cereals. Reproduction chiefly takes place in 

 spring and summer, but it may continue throughout the year 

 in mills. The warmer the temperature, the more rapidly 

 -does this pest breed. 



In cases Avhere the beetle attacks stored grain, if the 

 storehouse or barn is fairly airtight it should be fumigated 

 with bisulphide of carbon. All openings must fLst be closed 

 as far as possible. The chemical should then be placed in 

 flat saucers about the surface of the grain, in the proportion 

 of i lb. of the bisulphide of carbon to every 1,000 cubic feet 

 of space, and allowed to evaporate for 24 hours. The heavy 

 fumes will penetrate through the grain and kill all forms of 

 life, but will not harm the grain itself. At the end of the 

 24. hours the building should be well ventilated, and the grain 

 turned over. Where practicable, the most satisfactory 

 method is to fumigate the grain in closed bins. In such 

 cases, the bisulphide should be used at the rate of 1 lb. to 

 every 100 bushels of grain, and left to evaporate for 24 hours. 



It must be borne in mind that bisulphide of carbon is 

 inflammable, and that both the liquid itself and its fumes are 

 poisonous. 



Barns should be kept well cleaned, lighted, and ventilated, 

 all refuse should be burnt, and the walls, ceilings, and floors 

 washed with whitewash and soft soap ; while the grain should 

 be kept in bulk and constantly stirred. 



Infested grain may be given to poultry. It would not harm 

 the birds, and they would devour the insects as well. 



Lygus on Chrysanthemums. 

 Specimens of chrysanthemums injured by a species of bug, 

 Lygus pratensis, belonging to the order Hemiptera heteroptera, 

 were sent to the Board in October last. This species is very 



