4 
APPLE AND ORCHARD ATTACKS. 
they are prevented by the above measures from lodging on the .tree 
itself, and are prevented by sticky bands from crawling up the trunk, 
their attack is fairly kept in check. 
Various sticky mixtures may be used. Of these Davidson’s com¬ 
position is perhaps the best; but various mixtures of tar, such as tar 
and cart-grease, or tar and oil, or tar by itself, would probably serve 
the purpose. It should, however, always be remembered that if the 
tar melts in hot sunshine, it may greatly damage the bark of young 
trees ; therefore, it appears more desirable to twist a rough hay-rope 
or band of some sort, and dip this in the sticky mixture, and lay it 
close to, but not touching , the tree, when the bark is young and delicate. 
The weevils drop to the ground on being alarmed, so that, when bad 
attack is feared, it would be worth while to tiy whether it is really 
present by smartly jarring the boughs of a tree or two, and seeing 
whether weevils fall on a large cloth spread below. In case they are 
found, it would not be very expensive to have the trees well-shaken, 
and thus cleared of many of the pests, as they could not crawl back 
over wet tar-bands or Davidson’s composition. 
Green “Leaf” Weevil. Phyllobius maculicornis, Germ. 
The following observations refer to damage caused near Sitting- 
bourne, and especially to the fruit-trees of Mr. Faunce de Laune at 
Sharsted Court, by a small green weevil-beetle, scientifically, the 
Phyllobius maculicornis of Germar. These little weevils are only about 
a quarter of an inch in length, and very similar in shape to the 
Otiorhynchus weevils (see index for reference to figure).* The colour, 
unless the scales have been rubbed off, is of a bluish, golden yellow, 
or green tint, the feet and shanks yellowish, and horns of a red tint. 
There are many species of Phyllobius, and they are remarkable for 
the great numbers in which some of the kinds appear from time to 
time on orchard-trees, and the mischief they cause by their attacks 
on leafage and buds, and also to young grafts. 
The following clear observations of the attack were sent me, 
beginning on May 26th, by Mr. Arthur Bayfield, from Sharsted:— 
“ I herewith enclose some specimens of a green insect that I have 
observed on Mr. Faunce de Laune’s fruit-trees for three or four years 
past. They come in larger numbers each succeeding year, besides 
spreading over a larger area. I notice this spring that they first made 
their appearance about the 20tli of this month. I have succeeded in 
catching a considerable quantity by shaking the trees (standards), and 
holding a tarred cloth beneath, on which they fall and stick, until 
* The Phyllobius maculicornis is about two-thirds of the length of No. 5 of figure 
referred to. 
