FLOWER GARDEN PESTS. 
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pests. They feed mostly at night, and lay their eggs in damp, 
moist soil. A dressing of Vaporite in autumn, winter or early 
spring, will destroy the eggs. See Figs 30 and 31. 
A Few Garden Friends. — Fortunately while we have a 
host of pests ever ready to devour our precious plants, we have 
also many insects and animal friends whom it is desirable we 
should encourage to multiply, and make themselves at home in 
the garden. Among birds the Chaffinch feasts on caterpillars ; 
the Thrush upon snails ; the Starling upon grubs ; Flycatchers 
and Swallow on moths and butterflies ; Robins on small insects 
and slugs ; and the Tit-mice and Wrens on aphides. These 
feathered creatures should be encouraged to visit the garden. 
Then among insects we have the Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle and 
its larvse, which feed on soil pests (Fig. 35) ; Hawk (Fig. 33), 
Lacewing (Fig. 32), and Ichneumon Flies that lay their eggs in 
the bodies of caterpillars, and the larvae of which eventually 
feed on the latter ; Lady Bird Beetles and their larvae (Fig. 34), 
which devour aphides; the Testacella Slugs, that feed on earth 
worms, and the Tiger and Violet Ground Beetles, which also 
destroy ground pests. Then Toads and Frogs and the Garden 
Spider also do their share. Centipedes (Fig. 29), again 
are friends of the gardener. They are similar in form to the 
millepedes, but far more active, and feed on small grubs and 
soil pests generally. Readers should make a point of studying 
the habits of insects, etc., and note which are harmless and 
which injurious to vegetation. 
Fig. 35. DEVIL'S COACH-HORSE BEETLE. 
1. Head of beetle enlarged ; 2, Beetle with tail raised ; 3, Beetle flying. 
