THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
recommend the perusal of pages 475, 476 & 477 in 
which suggestions are given as to the best methods 
of destroying this pest. I do not doubt but that, 
if the measures that are proposed be vigorously 
adopted, the island will in a short time be rid of 
the pernicious presence of the Haterophora . 
At present I have nothing to add to the sugges- 
tions that I have made in those pages, for expe- 
rience has taught me that they are the best. 
Should you require any furthur information, I 
shall be at your service. 
Yours truly 
Prof. C. Penzig. 
The injuries caused by “Haterophora Hispanica” 
are sufficiently serious to make it important to 
ascertain a means of thwarting the invasion of 
such an unwelcome guest and it ought not be 
difficult to place an obstacle in the way of its 
excessive diffusion. It would suffice to apply 
vigorously and on a large scale the following 
treatment. 
It is obvious that the stage during which we 
can most easily seize this fatal insect is that of 
the larval. 
The developed insect with its wings and activity 
can easily evade our persecution. 
The pupae hidden in the ground are still more 
difficult to find, but the larvae can easily be caught 
during the stage of their development in the 
fruit. In the regions infested by the “Halterop- 
hora” or “ Ceratitis Citriperda ” it would be xieces- 
sary for all owners ancl cultivators to send every 
morning boys or women to gather in sacks all 
the fallen fruit whether it shows or not the spots 
characteristic of the fly, and that the fruit thus 
gathered should be destroyed in the most radical 
and economical way possible. 
It has been proposed by some to burn it, but this 
operation besides being awkward on account of 
the quantity of water stored in the pulp of the 
fruit, also involves the total loss of the same. 
There are two means of destruction equally effi- 
cacious which allow of the utilization of the 
rotten fruit. 
The first of these methods only applicable in 
regions where there is plenty of water would be to 
throw all fruit gathered into a special tank filled 
1 / o 
with water. The larvae would undoubtedly perish 
and the mash formed, after the lapse of some time, 
from the fruit in the water would make very good 
manure. It would however be necessary to watch 
carefully that the water level be constantly main- 
tained somewhat above the fruits, because should 
any of the latter be above the water the place 
destined for the destruction of the larvae would 
be turned into a great expository for the insect. 
The other method is perhaps more rational 
and easier to carry out. 
The damaged fruit should be collected in deep 
square pits excavated in the soil, the bottom and 
sides of which should be coated with caustic lime 
and as the fruit is gradually deposited in them 
covered with a layer of quick lime; when the pit 
is filled up it must be finally covered with a last 
layer of lime and earth. The buried fruit in due 
course decays, and the contents of the pits form a 
rich accumulation of fertilizing substances of no 
little value to agriculture, 
Tw r o things should however be observed if the 
desired effect is to be realized. 
First, the collection of the fruit should not be 
limited to the acid species, such as oranges and 
lemons, but should be extended to peaches, pears, 
apples, nectarines etc attacked by the “ Ceratitis 
Citriperda ” . 
Secondly, it would be necessary for all cultiva- 
tors to adopt the same treatment, since should a 
single orchard or fruit grove infested by this insect, 
be unattended to, it would immediately become 
the centre of constant infection to all the neigh- 
bouring gardens, and all the labour bestow r ed on 
the others would be thus thrown away. 
Many methods prescribed by various authors 
were tried as well as others suggested by some of 
the members of the Committee, especially by the 
late President who spared no pains to find an eco- 
nomical remedy of destroying this pest. Of the 
methods suggested, some proved useful in banishing 
these insects from the trees, but they were not easy 
to carry out, and people did not care to apply them 
because they involved some expense. 
C. Tagliafeero. 
Secretary to the Commission. 
