IflE MEDITERRANEAN NATi UALiST 81 
The smut fungus is an invariable sign of its 
presence. 
Dactyhpius Adonidmn. Lin. is another species 
that is equally as common, and as destructive as 
D. destructor. In 1882-1883 it committed much 
havoc both in Italy and in Morocco. 
Among the most efficacious of the precaution- 
ary measures that are recommended for the exter- 
mination, or the prevention of the spread of this 
insect, are the thinning of the branches of the 
trees, and the regular washing of the trunk and 
branches with emulsions made soap and water, 
of kerosene highly diluted with water, or with 
sour milk and water. 
Plenty of light is a sine qua non , and clean- 
liness must be punctiliously observed. The free 
use of powdered sulphur is also an effective 
remedy. The best way to apply it being to mix 
the sulphur in water, and spray the trees with the 
mixture. The sulphur causes the scales to reli- 
quish their hold and fall to the ground, where 
they may be at once chotroyed % 
For some years part much damage has been 
done in the Malta fruit gardens by insect pests; 
and so general was the distress of the gardeners in 
1888, that a commission was appointed by the 
late Governor to .enquire into the causes, and to 
suggest remedies for the evil. 
The Committee under the presidency of Major 
General Hales Wilkie entered into correspondence 
with several notable entomologists, among whom 
were Miss Omerod, Prof. Targumi Fozzetti, Prof. 
C. Emery, and Prof. Penziz, and from them much 
valuable information was elicited. 
it was discovered that the diseased trees were 
infested with the scale insect Coccus he spend- von; 
and that it was to this insect that the splitting and 
falling of the fruit was largely due. 
The following mode of treatment for its exter- 
mination was recommended by the Malta Commis- 
sion. 
If necessary the trees should be pruned. The 
foliage should then be syringed from beneath 
with the an emulsion, in order that the under 
portions of the leaves should be well washed. 
To make the emulsion take four pounds of soft 
soap, and a quart of parafine oil. Mix the soap 
with a gallon of hot water until it is of the consis- 
tency of treacle, after which add the oil slowly, 
and mix rapidly . 
Dilute this with nine gallons of warm water; 
and keep it thoroughly mixed while using. 
After the mixture has been on the trees for two 
days, the leaves should be well syringed with clean 
water, so as to remove, the soap and the dead 
insects. 
Sometimes this process has to be repeated; but 
usually one operation is sufficient. 
But extensive as is the mischief wrought by 
its attacks, they are not to be compared with 
those for which the orange fly, “Trypeia 5 ' Cerati- 
dus ciiriperda , is to be held responsible. For many 
years past it has been devastating the fruit gardens 
of the Mediterranean region, and it was chiefly 
to its destructive propensities that the fruit famine 
of 1888 was due. 
This season (1891) the pears, apricots, and figs 
are alike more or less effected by it, and so nume- 
rous do the insects appear to be, that it is hardly 
to be expected that the’ orange groves of the is- 
lands will escape entirely free. 
It is when the fruit is arriving at maturity that 
the fly makes its first appearance. 
It then punctures the fruit, and lays its eggs 
within it, and in the course of eight or ten days a 
large, white, fleshy grub, without legs, and having 
two small black hooks at the front of the body, 
which it alternately protrudes and retracts, is de- 
veloped. The functions of these hooks are to tear 
the membranes of the fruit, in order that it may 
obtain access to the contained juices. Its presence 
in the fruit may usually be detected by the ring of 
discolouration that surrounds the punctured hole. 
It does not confine its attention to any fruit in 
particular, but it attacks alike the pear, peach, 
pomegranate, nectarine, apricot, and prickly pear. 
The fruit in which the larvae develope usually fail 
tc the ground and while there the grub eats its 
way out, and undergoes its metamorphosis on the 
ground beneath the tree. The following descrip- 
tion of the full grown fly will enable the observer 
to instantly recognise it. “It is half the size of 
the common fly. The wings are transparent, with 
about sixteen very small black spots at the base 
and margins, and four dark yellowish dots, having 
different directions. Its feet are yellow; and the 
male has two clubbed atennae. 
Its abdomen is yellow beneath; and its thorax 
is black, smooth, and shiny. 
it is very active, and is very tenacious of life, 
being able to endure 12 days of fasting. It is 
fond of sugary aliments. 
The male is somewhat larger that the female. 
The whole period of metamorphasis occupies about 
sixty days/’ {(Julia.) 
Many suggestions w ere made for the extermina- 
tion of this scourge; but all of them entailed con- 
siderable trouble and expense. 
Anipng the plans suggested was that of collect- 
ing all fallen fruit before the maggots had time to 
come forth and bury themselves in the soil, and 
placing it in tanks of water, where a mash might 
be made that afterwards might be utilized as 
manure" 
The spraying of the trees with a weak solution 
of petroleum and water; and wrapping each fruit 
in a muslin bag were also found to be efficacious. 
Such are a few of the more common pests that 
infest the fruit of these regions. Stastisties, 
however, show that the Mediterranean area does 
not stand alone. Cape Colony, Florida, India all 
are alike troubled in this respect, and all suffer 
in a greater or a lesser degree from the same 
causes. 
