>:iLAJsrDBOOK tl :\\y^ ;;;'•)■■ 'f/; )EpXEXJ;eXIVE INSECTS ;v:v;;>:r.>V}:^ Special Collect SB931 V33 pt.l ^^u Price 2/6. TK D. H. HILL IM^ NORTH C/eOLiri)4 ST4TE C0LLC6E ENT0M0L0eiC4L COLLECTION This book must not be taken from the Library building. A HANDBOOK DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS VICTORIA, WnU NOTES ON THE METHODS TO BE ADOPTED TO CHECK AND EXTIRPATE THEM. Prepared by Order of the Victorian Department of Agriculture BY C. FRENCH, F.L.S., F.R.H.S., Government Entoiiiolo'Ast. P^AUT I. ^H cl b 0 u V 11 c : BY AUTHORITY : KOBT. S. BHAIN', (;OVERNMENT TKINTKR. 1904. 6395. \ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from NCSU Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/handbookofdestru01vict CONTENTS. CiiATTKR Page — Preface to Part I. ... ... .. ... ... 5 I. Introduction to Entomology ... ... ... ... 11 II. Classification of Insects ... ... ... ... ... 18 III. The forming of Collections of Economic and other Insects recommended, with directions for collecting and preserving same ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 19 IV. On tlie necessity for the Preservation of our Insect destroying Birds, with an alphabetical list of the principal kinds ... 24 V. Horticultural Quarantine Rules ... ... ... ... .30 VI. The 'Woolly Aphis, or American Blight ... ... ... 37 VII. The Codlin Moth... ... ... ... ... ... 47 VIII. The Curvew'inged Apple Moth ... ... ... ... 59 IX. The Apple- tree Borer Beetle ... ... ... ... 63 X. The Light-brown Apple Moth ... ... ... ... 69 XI. The Apple-root Borer ... ... ... ... ... 73 XII. The Apple-l)ark Scale ... ... ... ... ... 79 XIII. The Apple Beetle... ... ... .. ... ... 85 XIV. The Harlequin Fruit Bug ... ... ... ... ... 91 XV. The Red Spider 95 XVI. The Pear and Cherry Slug ... ... ... ... 10.3 XVII. The Rutherglen Flypest ... ... ... ... ... 109 XVIII. The Cherry-borer... ... ... ... ... ... 117 XIX. The Pear Phytoptus ... ... ... ... ... 123 X X. Tabulated List of Material in general use for the destruction of Noxious Insects, after Maskell, with personal observations and additions ... ... ... ... ... ... 129 PREFACE TO PART I. The want of some practical and popular work bearing upon the question of the Economic Entomology of the colony has long been felt by those who occupy the honor- able position of tillers of the soil. In the opinion of the Government the time for the issue of such a work has now arrived. I believe that this opinion will be shared by the whole of our rural community. Several causes have recently combined to bring about a greatly increased interest and activity in these prac- tical matters amongst our farmers, orchardists, vig- nerons, and horticulturists. In the first place the Government of the colony has formulated and adopted some very liberal measures on the subject, the Hon. the Minister of Agriculture hav- ing specially devoted himself to foster and promote new and important departures in the rural industries. The valuable mass of evidence given by experts before the Royal Commission on Vegetable Products has been rendered available in a series of regular pub- lications. The Secretary for Agriculture has also issued periodical Bulletins. Our veteran scientist, Baron von Mueller, has published several useful and exhaustive works on economic plants. Interest has been aroused by the popular as Avell as scientific publi- cations of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. This 6 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : awakening having taken place, a marked improvement in the agricultural methods of the future may be anticipated. Here I may perhaps be allowed to say that the neces- sity for teaching Practical Entomology in the State schools has often impressed me, and I trust the time is not far distant when the sons of the farmers and others interested v/ill be able to distinguish between their gar- den friends and enemies. In Victoria, as in the other Australian colonies, the principal troubles which those engaged in the cultiva- tion of the soil have to contend against are droughts, fires, floods, insect and fungus pests. Any work that will contain information whereby the effect of the ravages of any of these may be lessened cannot fail to be welcomed and duly appreciated by those for whom it is intended. As the Government has done me the honour to intrust me with the preparation of this publication, I should wish to say at the outset that I am not writing a scientific treatise on the insects of Victoria. The work, as its title indicates, is simply a Handbook of Injurious Insects. It will be issued in Parts, each Part to contain ten or more coloured plates. The object of issuing the work in Parts will be easily understood. The first issue will consist of 9,000 copies. A short introduction to Entomology is given, this having been taken from Miss Ormerod's well-known and valuable work, " A Manual of Injurious Insects." PREFACE. 7 A brief account of the classification of insects has been adapted (for reasons shown elsewhere) from Professor Westwood's " A Guide to Modern Classifica- tion of Insects," &c., &c. I have availed myself freely of the works of Messrs. Maskell, Crawford, and others, in w^hich tabular com- pilations are given of the experiments made on insect pests, w^hich have been recorded chiefly in the various American publications, and have appended some per- sonal observations. The plates have been produced under my direction by Mr. C. C. Brittlebank, of the Field Naturalists' Club. They are all faithful representations of the objects delineated, the aim being to produce figures which may be understood at a glance. Where it was possible to obtain specimens of the insects themselves this has been done, and the drawings have been made from nature. But, as in some cases the specimens were not obtainable, the drawings have been made from authenticated plates, and the sources are dulv acknowledo-ed. The lithographing and the printing of the letter- jDress have been executed by the Government Printing Office. This Handbook is intended to be a practical work, illustrated with useful figures, and contains as few technical descriptions as is consistent with accuracy, so that those who use it may be able to readily recognise the various insects with which thev mav have to deal. 8 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : The First Part contains a systematic description, with an account of the noxious insects of the colons which attack Apples, Pears, Apricots, and Cherries; the remaining Parts of the work will be brought out as quickly as possible. As there are a few other insects which attack the fruits herein mentioned, of which reliable specimens could not be procured, it is intended to describe them in Appendices. I am glad here to acknowledge the great assistance which I have derived from the perusal of such books as Westwood's Classification of Insects, Buckton's British Aphides, Kirby and Spence's Entomology, the valuable books published by Miss Ormerod, Packard, Stainton, Whitehead, and Walker, including the splen- did reports issued by Professor Riley, and other American friends, and, coming nearer home, to the admirable v/ork by Mr. Maskell on the scale insects of New Zealand ; the various excellent publications issued by the late Mr. Crawford, of Adelaide; Mr. Olif!, of Sydney; Professor McCoy, of Melbourne; Mr. Tryon, of Brisbane; to say nothing of the valuable journals, &c., published in Melbourne, as also in the other colonies. To the many kind friends who have assisted me by their advice, and have furnished valuable information, I beg to return my sincere thanks; and as at the pre- sent stage it would perhaps be invidious to mention names, I shall do myself the pleasure of an acknow- ledgment in the concluding number of the book. PREFACE. a The time has arrived when, if we are to fight insect pests successfully, united action must be taken, and knowledge gained by constant vigilance, and by useful and carefully conducted experiments. Only thus can a better knowledge be obtained of the relations of in- sects to agriculture, viticulture, and horticulture. I have prepared a chapter on the advantages to be gained by the practical study of insects, as also some remarks on, and directions for, collecting and preser- vation of same. The necessity for the protection of our useful birds forms material for another chapter, to which is added a list (with scientific and common names) of the princi- pal kinds to be found in different parts of the colony. And lastly, a copy of the quarantine regulations as: carried out in California. I have followed the excellent jolan adopted in America and elsewhere of furnishing some engravings of the principal insect-destroying machines, many of which can be obtained from various firms in Melbourne. Owdng to the limited time at my disposal, the absence of many important types of insects for comparison, and for other reasons, errors may have crept in, and I shall be very pleased to receive additional notes or corrections, the receipt of which will be duly and l^romptly acknowledged. C. FRENCH. Melbourne. 1890. CHAPTER I. Introduction to Entomology. ^Insects begin their lives either by being hatched from eggs or produced alive by the female; commonly they are hatched in the form known as maggots, cater- pillars, or grubs, but they are never generated by decaying vegetables, putrid water, bones, carcases, dung, or any other matter, dead or alive, excepting their own insect forerunners. They come out of these matters constantly, but, if the observer will watch, he may often see the arrival of the insects, the laying of the" eggs, and be able to satisfy himself as to the gradual development and the manner of breeding, and that the progeny is produced by the female insect. The eggs are usually laid soon after the pairing of the male and female, and are, as a rule, deposited on or near whatever may be the food of the larvas. They are laid singly or in patches, and are sometimes attached by a gummy secretion to the leaf or whatever they are laid on. Occasionally they are fastened by a short thread, or raised (like the heads of pins) on a stiff foot-stalk of hardened viscid matter. Such in- sects as insert their eggs in living animal or vegetable matter are furnished with a special egg-laying appara- tus or ovipositor, such as a borer, or organs enclosing bristle-like points or saws, by means of w^hich the female pierces a hole, and passes the egg down into the wounded spot. For the most part insect eggs hatch shortly after they are laid, but sometimes they remain unhatched during the winter, and it is believed that, where cir- cumstances are unfavorable for development, they may remain unhatched for years; but this point is one of *" Manual of Injurious Insects,'' — Ormerod. D. R HUL LIBl?AttY North Carolina State College 12 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : those on ^Yhich more information is needed. They have been found to endure intense cold without injury, and besides some special and extraordinary in- stances, it has been found by experiment that insect eggs may be exposed to a temperature lower than that to which they are usually subjected in this country (England), and cold enough to solidify their contents without destroying their powders of hatching. In a very few cases, insects are partly developed be- fore birth, otherwise, after hatching from the egg, or being produced alive (in the same first stage of develop- ment) by the female, insects pass their lives in three different conditions or stages successively. The first is that in which they are known as mag- gots, grubs, or caterpillars. In the case of grasshop- pers, cockroaches, and some other insects where the young are very much the same shape as the parent, only without wings, they usually go by the parents' name; the 3^oung of green-fly are sometimes known as " nits." In this state they are active, voracious, and increase in size, and in this first stage all insects are scientifically termed larvae. In the second stage, some orders of insects are usually inactive and cannot feed, as is the case with the chry- salis of the butterfly or moth, or the mummy-like form of the beetle or wasp, with its limbs in distinct sheaths folded down beneath. Some, however, are active and feed, as grasshoppers, cockroaches, aphides (or green- fly), and others resemble the parent insect, excepting that their wings, and for the most part their wing- cases, are not as yet fully formed, and in this second stage all insects are scientifically termed pupae. The third stage is that of the perfect insect, in which (whether male or female), or of whatever different kind, as moth, butterfly, beetle, cricket, aphis, &c., it is scien- tifically termed an imago. The term larva is from the Latin,^ meaning a mask or ghost, and signifies that the insect in this stage gives a mere vague idea of its perfect form. INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOI-OGY. 13 Piifa signifies an infant, and is appropriate to the second stage in ^\hich the insect is forming into the perfect state, but is not fully developed either in its limbs or functions. Imago signifies the image, the likeness, or an example of the perfect insect. The appropriateness of the scien- tific names for the first and third stage does not seem very clear, but there is no doubt of the convenience of having some one term by which each different stage of the life of any insect may be described, and these are the words that have been adopted. In the following pages some detail is given of these three successive stages of development : — Larva, maggot, grub, cater- pillar, &c. If an insect egg about to hatch is held against the light, or examined as a transparent object by means of a strong magnifier, it will be seen that there is a speck inside which increases in size and becomes more regular in shape daily until it is too large for the egg to contain, when it breaks through this thin film Avhich serves as an eggshell, and often begins life by eating it. This is the larva. It is usually hatched from an egg, but sometimes is produced alive (as some fly- maggots during the summer months). V/hen it is coloured and has many feet it is usually called a caterpillar. White, fleshy larvae, such as those of many beetles or flies, are commonly known as grubs or maggots ; such as resemble the parent insect are usually known by the name of this insect; but the term of "worm" or "slug" is objectionable, as it leads to con- fusion. Larvae differ very much in appearance ; some are leg- less, cylindrical, or tapering at one end, blunt at the other, with the head (which is soft and furnished with hooks by way of feeding apparatus), capable of being drawn some way back into the maggot ; many fly-mag- gots are of this kind; some larvae are legless, or with a mere rudiment of a pair of legs on the three rings behind the head, fleshy, smallest at the tail, and 14 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : furnished with distinct head and jaws; such are some kinds of beetle and wasp-grubs; others are strong and fat, a few inches in length, with three pairs of legs, well developed — as the cockchafer grub. The caterpillars of the butterflies and moths are often beautifully marked, and have for the most part a j)air of articulated feet on each of the three segments behind the head, and pairs of fleshy appendages called sucker- feet on some of the other segments, and at the end of the tail, not exceeding sixteen in all. These " sucker-feet " enable the caterpillars to hold firmly to the twigs they frequent. Proceeding onwards still by number of feet, the caterpillars of the sawflies will be found in many cases to have, besides the three pairs of true feet, five six, or seven pairs of sucker-feet, and also the pair at the end of the tail (known as the caudal proleg). In some cases (as with grasshoppers, aphides, or green-fly, plant-bugs, &c.) the young in the first stage — whether produced alive or hatched from the egg — much re- sembles the parent, that is, has a distinct shape of head, with horns, trunk, or thorax, furnished with six legs, and abdomen, and differs mainly in size and in being- wingless; but, whether in this shape, or what is known as grub, maggot, or caterpillar, or whatever kind of in- sect it may belong to in this first stage, it is scientifically a larva. In this larval stage the insect feeds voraciously and often grows fast, the skin does not expand beyond cer- tain limits, and when this point is arrived at, the larva ceases feeding for a while, the skin loosens, cracks, and is cast off by the creature inside, which comes out in a fresh coat, sometimes like the previous one, sometimes of a different colour or differently marked. This opera- tion is known as moulting, and occurs from time to time till the larva has reached its full growth. The duration of life in the first or larval stage is various; in somd instances it only extends over a week or two; in some it lasts for a period of three, four, or five years. As far as observations go at present — that is to say, with such INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY. 15 kinds as have at present been observed — larvae are not injured by an amount of cold much beyond what they are commonly called on' to bear in this country (Eng- land) ; but they are liable to injury from over supply of moisture, whether from sudden rain in warm weather, or from full flow of sap of their food-plant, and in this point of their constitutions we have a principle that may help much towards getting rid of them. When the larva has reached its full growth it ceases feeding, and (in the forms known as caterpillar, grub, or maggot) it either goes down into the ground and forms a cell in the earth, or spins a " cocoon " (that is a web) round itself of threads drawn from the lower lip (as in the well- known silkworm cocoon), or in some way it makes or seeks a shelter in which it changes from the state of larva to that of pupa. Pupa. — Chrysalis. It is much to be regretted that we have no generally- adopted word, excepting " Chrysalis " (which is com- monly used in the case of butterflies or moths), to de- scribe the second stage of insect life in which it is chang- ing from the state of larva to that of the complete insect AVhilst in this condition it is for the most part without power of feeding, and perfectly inactive, lying (in the instance of beetles, bees, and wasps, and some others) with the limbs in sheaths folded beneath the breast and body, or (as with butterflies and moths) protected by a hardened coating secreted from thepores of the creature within, when it casts its last larval skin. The method of this change may be easily observed in the case of the caterpillar of the peacock butterfly, which fastens itself by the tail, and then (after its black and silver-spotted skin has cracked) by infinite wriggling and struggling passes this cast-ofl skin backward, till it is pressed to- gether at the tip of the tail ; and the creature from with- in appears in its new form as a bright green chrysalis, 16 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : or pupa. It is covered with a moist gummy exuda- tion, which quickly hardens and forms a protecting coat, and in due time (if left unharmed) the butterfly inside would crack through this and appear from with- in the case; but if it is wished to observe that the be- ginning of the change to the butterfly form has taken place already, one of these chrysalids may be dropped into a little warm turpentine or turpentine and Canada-balsam, directly the caterpillar skin has been cast; this will soften the gummy coating just men- tioned, and the limbs of the future butterfly will be seen. In some cases the change takes place (as with various kinds of flies) in the hardened skin of the mag- got, which may be called a " fly case " ; and in some (as with plant-bugs, aphides, grasshoppers, dragon- flies, and some others) this state of pupa is an active one, in which they move and feed, and resemble the perfect insect, excepting in having more or less rudi- mentary wing-cases. When the time for development has come, the pupa (if it is one of the active forms, as of a grasshopper, for instance) may be seen looking heavy and stupid; presently the skin of the back splits lengthwise, and through the opening the perfect insect slowly makes its way out of the pupal skin, carefully drawing one limb after another from its precisely-fitting case, the long hind legs the last, till (in the instance observed, in twenty minutes) the perfect grasshopper stands by the side of the film of its former self. Flies press out one end of the fly-case, or leave the sheaths of the limbs and body behind. Beetles and wasps cast the film from their limbs ; and butterflies and moths crack open the chrysalis case, and after a short time (during which the wings that had lain undeveloped are expand- ing) they appear of their full size. The insect is now fully formed ; it will grow" no more ; its internal, as well as external, structure is complete; and it is what is known scientifically as the imago. INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY. 17 Imago. — Beetle, Butterflij, Wasj), Fly, &e. This is defined as an animal formed of a series of thirteen rings or segments, breathing by means of tubes (tracliea^) -which convey the air from pores in the sides throughout the system, and divided into three chief portions. Of these the first is the head, furnished Avith horns (antennas), a mouth (differing very much in form in different kinds of insects), large compound eyes (which consist of many small ones formed into a convex mass on each side of the head), and frequently two or three simple eyes on the top. The second portion (called the thorax, or sometimes the " trunk ") is formed of three rings, bearing a pair of legs attached to each, and having usually a pair of wings on the second and third of the rings; but some- times the wings are wanting, sometimes there is only one pair. The third portion (called the abdomen) is formed of tlie remaining nine rings, and contains the organs of reproduction and most of those of digestion. Insects in this perfect state are of two sexes, male and female; in some instances (as vrith wasps and some others) there are imperfectly-developed females, known as " neuters." After the insect — whether beetle, butterfly, or other kind — has come forth from its chrysalis or fly-case (that is from the pupa), and its limbs have expanded, it grows no more; it is complete, and its remaining wo"k is to support life until it has propagated its species. Usually pairing soon takes place, and the male dies; but the female has great tenacity of life until she has laid her eggs. The length of life, however, is various; in some instances a few days, or even hours, is the ex- tent; in others the insects " hybernate," that is, find some shelter in which they pass the winter, and from which they re-appear with the return of warmth and sunshine. 18 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA CHAPTER II. Classification of Insects. About the classification of insects there is consider- able diversity of opinion, and even amongst the most eminent of our scientific entomologists there would ap- pear to be but little chance of some " general " system of classification being agreed upon by all. I have, therefore, adopted the system approved by such emi- nent entomologists as McLeay, Westwood, and others, as being, to my mind, clear and concise. Professor Westwood, then, has divided insects into two grand divisions, Mandihulata and HausteUaAa. The former (as is the case with beetles, w^asps, &c.) feed by means of mandibles (jaws), the latter (as plant bugs, flies, &c.) are provided with " suckers " {haustellwn)^ with which they perforate and absorb material for their sustenance. These divisions, or tribes, are again broken up, and are divided into natural orders, genera, and species, the latter sometimes merging into so-called varieties. The following table will the better explain, what is meant : — Natural Orders. Coleoptera ... Euplexoptera Orthopiera ... Thysanoptera Neuroptera Trichoptera Hymenoptera Strepsiptera Natural Orders. Lepidoptera Homoptera ... Heteroptera Aphaniptera Diptera MANDIBULATA. Beetles. Earwigs. Cockroaches, mantis, locusts, crickets, &c. Thrips. Dragon flies, white ants, &c. Caddis flies. Bees, wasps, ichneumons, ants, &c. Bee parasites (some). HAUSTELLATA. Butterflies, moths. Aphis, scale insects, cicadse, &c. Plant bugs, &:c. Fleas. Flies, mosquitos, sand-fly, &c. FORMING COLLECTIONS. 19 CHAPTER III. The Forming of Collections of Economic and other Insects Recommended, with Directions for Collecting and Preserving Same. The farmer, the fruit-grower, the vigneron, and the forester, who have to contend against the ravages of insect pests, ought surely to know something of the life-history of the insects with which they may have to deal. A few remarks bearing on this subject are offered, with the view of assisting such persons as may feel inclined to know more of insects than they do at present, so as to enable them to distinguish between their " garden " friends and enemies ; for this know- ledge can only be obtained by the study (even if some- what imperfectly) of the " manners and customs " of insect life. It will be a great help to any agriculturist who wishes to follow up this subject successfully to make for himself a collection of the insects of his district. To commence the study of practical entomology, or to form collections of insects, as a useful and pleasur- able pastime, it is not necessary to go to any great out- lay in the purchase of books or collecting material, as much of the good work already done has been accom- plished by those in humble circumstances, and often under disadvantageous conditions quite unknown to the rural population of newer countries. It will thus be seen that science and the study of natural history is open to all — rich and poor, humble as well as great — so that none need be afraid to under- take at least something useful, more especially in a new countryy where the field for observation is so vast, 20 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : and the interests at stake of such great national importance to the rural portion of our community. We must be up and doing. An enterprising American fruit-grower, as quoted by Mathew Cooke, in his valuable book,* has said : — " Our watchword must ever be, ' Onward and upward, and falter not, although difficulties apparently insur- mountable arise : he who will may overcome them.' The enterprising fruit-growers of California are filled with a spirit that no power on earth can curb. It falters not at misfortune's door or any obstacle to success, but boldly advances and removes them all; at least, it has been so, and must ever be. The time was when our glorious climate, fruitful soil, and exemption from all diseases and pests, made our Golden State the wonder of all who were conversant with its fruit and flowers. Now, alas, the spoiler's hand is felt ; a change has com& over the spirit of our dream. It seems as though all that is detrimental to the fruit interest is here or com- ing, making eternal vigilance the price of success in this, the industry of the State. The time has come when every one Avho by this occupation would thrive will find ceaseless use for head and hand; even then the fittest only can survive. AVho will supinely sit and see misfortune spoil the results of years of toil, while others gird on their armour with energies stimulated by the presence of the forces arrayed against them on every hand ?" It has been remarked previously that the necessary apparatus for forming collections of insects for or- dinary practical purposes need not be of an expensive kind. A few yards of mosquito or other net w411, with two or three small hoops and a handle, make valuable nets for capturing insects whilst on the wing. An umbrella, " for shaking," a few bottles of methylated spirit (gin or wliisky will suffice if the methylated spirit is not obtainable), a wide-mouthed bottle or jar *" Injurious Insects." FORMING COLLECTIONS. 21 — say a salt jar, into -which has been placed some cyanide of potassium [a deadly imison, which should be used with caution). To prepare the materials for the cyanide bottle — The cyanide should be crushed and mixed Avith plaster of Paris, say three parts of the latter to one part of the cyanide. Moisten, and place in a wide-mouthed and tightly-corked jar, and it is then, when firmly set, ready for use. This should be kept out of the way of children. A few closely-fitting wooden boxes (cigar boxes will, if cut down the middle and hinged with linen and made into a " double-box," answer very well) ; some pins, a few setting-boards, which anyone can make for himself out of a piece of deal and a few strips of cork; forceps (those with bent joints are the best) ; some napthaline, carbolic acid, or camphor will also be re- quired for the purpose of keeping out minute insects, as ants, mites, &c., which, if undisturbed, often play great havoc v>'ith such collections. For the permanent preservation of insects, both the cork and the insects themselves should be dipped in a solution of corrosive sublimate, and dried before plac- ino" in the cabinet or in store boxes. o Small moths, as the cabbage moth, clothes moth, wheat moth, potato moth, and others belonging to the great group of the Tineina, should be pinned in the box immediately after capture, as they soon become brittle and are easily broken. The best method of capturing the micro (small) lepidoptera is to hold a bottle containing the cyanide (which is known to collec- tors as the killing bottle) under the specimens while in the net, as the insect will then drop into the bottle and be instantly suffocated, without damage to the wings, limbs, &c. For the capture of the larger kinds of moths, butter- flies, (fcc, the net must also be used, as a specimen should never be handled if it is possible to avoid doing so, as the scales on the wings are very easily rubbed off, to the permanent disfigurement of the specimen. 22 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : but a little care and practice will soon enable any one to overcome these difficulties. In sending away the larger moths and butterflies, the specimens, after having been killed in the usual manner, should be folded neatly away in papers (old envelopes will do) and packed in boxes; and these specimens can, by damping on blotting-paper, be relaxed and softened, and may then be set out in their natural positions. When collecting insects (and particularly those of economic interest) the larvae, chrysalids (also eggs, if possible), with portions of the plant on Avhich the insect feeds, should be taken, and any interesting matter, as changes of state, habits, data, &c., should be carefully noted for future reference, and for this purpose a " Register " book should be kept. This trouble would soon repay itself, and could not fail to be a source of useful interest and pleasure, more especially to the young people of both sexes. The principal advantages expected to be derived from a study of Entomology by those engaged in rural pursuits, is to help them to a better acquaintance with insects in general, and economic insects in particular; to assist them in dis- criminating between the destructive and useful kinds, and to enable them to better understand the value of and perhaps appreciate the many books written on the subject; also, by finding out the habits of those crea- tures, they may be able to devise means for their pre- vention or eradication. If this much can be accom- plished, who shall say that the advantages gained are not worth more than the trouble taken ? This branch of the Victorian Department of Agriculture has been created for the purpose of assisting those persons above indicated, and is at the service of those who desire to avail themselves of its privileges. Insects are to be found nearly everywhere — under the bark of trees, on trees, under logs, stones, dung, on flowers, leaves, on fences, in fruit, on roots, in the soil; in fact, there are few places in the world where insects of some kind or other are not to be found. FORMING COLLECTIONS. 23 Butterflies and moths, if reared from the cater- pillars, are, as a rule, more perfect than those taken whilst on the wing, and the rearing of such will afford much useful and pleasurable instruction to those who can devote a little of their spare time for the purpose. Beetles and many other kinds of insects may at once be placed in spirits, but should never be placed to- gether while alive in boxes, as they often damage each other so much as to be next to useless for specimens. Wasps and other stinging insects should be captured with a net, and from thence transferred to the killing bottle. Minute beetles, &c., can be gummed on to small pieces of card, the localit}^ date of capture, &c., added on a label attached to the pin. In forwarding specimens for identification and re- port, great care should be taken in packing for post, and tin boxes should always be used for the purpose. The address should be written on a label, and not on the box; this lessens the chances of damage whilst passing through the Post Office. 24 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : CHAPTER lY On THE Necessity for the Preservation of Our Insect-destroying Birds, with an Alphabetical List of the Principal Kinds. To all who are engaged in either farming or fruit- growing, the preservation of our useful friends, the insect-destroying birds, is in my opinion of the very greatest importance. Nature maintains a balance between the numbers of the birds, beasts, insects, plants, &c., in any district. If by artificial means we destroy this balance, imme- diately intolerable numbers of some kinds remain with us, and we have to expend much money and labour to rid ourselves of the swarm which nature was ready to dispose of for us gratis. Some writer has well said, as quoted by Mr, Tryon in his valuable book on the fungus and insect pests of Queensland — " If the arrangements of nature were left undisturbed, the result would be a wholesome equili- brium of destruction. The birds would kill so many insects that the insects could not kill too many plants. One class is a match for the other. A certain insect was found to lay 2,000 eggs, but a single ' Tom-tit ' was found to eat 200,000 eggs in a year. A swallow de- vours 543 insects in a day, eggs and all."" There is the whole case in a nutshell. The birds will do yeoman service, and ask for no wages^ The question will naturally be asked. How and by what means is the wholesale destruction of our insec- tivorous birds to be checked '^ This would seem to be a somewhat diihcult question to answer, for have we not already game laws, but are they carried out ? I am afraid not, and thus the good intentions of those by whom they were introduced have been frustrated. PRESERVATION OF INSECT-DESTROYING BIRDS. 25 To secure active co-operation in the direction of the preservation of insectivorous birds, we must be able by the aid of the stuffed specimens themselves to show those interested the difference between the noxious and the beneficial; to point out" to those persons who are engaged in our great rural industries that their in- terest lies in uniting, as in the case of insect-pests, to maintain the balance which nature has given us, and more especially to endeavour to impress upon the young people the necessity for preserving certain birds from destruction. Those unaccustomed to dissecting birds can have but a faint idea of the enormous quantity of insects many even of the smaller birds devour, and a better acquaint- ance with both birds and insects would, I am sure, tend to prevent such wholesale slaughter. The chief enemies of birds are the itinerant sportsmen, who on holidays scour the country in all directions, until very little is left of the bird-life of former days. In the case of such birds as Parrots, Leatherheads, Sparrows, &c., which are destructive to either fruit or grain, those interested will of course know best how to deal w4th them. But a very large number of our native birds feed solely on insects, and every such bird is always on the watch to protect the farmer's crops. Let this fact be once realized by the rural population and there will be a chance of saving the birds. If once the birds be- come extinct here, it will be almost, perhaps quite, impossible to replace them. The excellent charts in the schools ought to be the means of enabling persons to distinguish many kinds of birds which should be protected and preserved as being of essential service to all cultivators, and these excellent bird illustrations could, with great advan- tage, be added to. The importation of the insect-destroying birds of other countries would also be advantageous, but in so doing great care must be used to make sure of the 26 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA particular kinds we propose to introduce, so as to enable us to guard against a repetition of former and often most disastrous mistakes. Appended is a list of those birds which have been proved by competent authorities to be destroyers of insects in our colony, and I have to thank Messrs. A. J. Campbell, D. Le Souef, and A. Coles for their as- sistance in the compilation of the list. The common names are those generally adopted, and which for convenience sake are placed before the scien- tific names. ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS OF VICTORIA. Common Name. Acanthiza (Chestnut-rumped) Acanthiza (Little) Acanthiza (Little Brown) Acanthiza (Red-rumped) ... Acanthtiza (Striated) Bee-eater (Australian) Bristle Bird Bristle Bird (Rufous-headed) Bustard, or Wild Turkey Calamanthus (Field) Calamanthus (Striated) ... Campephaga (Jardine's) ... Campephaga (White-shouldered) Cincloramphus (Black-breasted) Cincloramphus (Brown) ... Cincloramphus (Rufous-tinted) Chtlionicola (Little) Coach-whip Bird Crow-i-hrike (Black-throated) Crow-shrike (Collared) Crow-shrike (Grey) Crow-shrike (Hill) Crow-shrike (Pied) Crow-shrike (Sooty) Crow-shrike (White-backed) Cuckoo (Black-eared) Scientific Name. Acanthiza uropygialis. ,, nana. „ pusilla. ,, pyrrhopygia. ,, lineata. Merops ornatus. Sphenura brachyptera. ,, Broadbenti. Choriotis Australis. Calamanthus campestris. ,, fuliginosus. Edoliisoma teniurostre. „ tricolor. Cincloramphus cantillans. ,, cruralis. Ptenasdus rufescens. Chthonicola sagittata. Psophodes crepitans. Cracticus robustus ,, torquatus. Strepera cuneicaudota. ,, melanoptera. ,, graculina. ,, fuliginosa. Gymnorhina leuconota. Mesocalius palliolatus. PRESERVATION OF INSECT-DESTROYING BIRDS. 27 Common Name. Cuckoo (Bronze) ... Cuckoo (Brush) Cuckoo (Fan-tailed) Cuckoo (Xarrow-billed Bronze) ... Cuckoo (Pallid or Unadorned) ... Diamond Bird (Allied Pardalote) Diamond Bird (Spotted Pardalote) Diamond Bird (Striated Pardalote) Diamond Bird (Yellow-rumped Pardalote) Duck (Whistling-tree) Doller Bird (Australian Roller) Ephthianura (Orange-fronted) ... Ephthianura (Tri-coloured) Ephthianura (White- fronted) Fantail (Black) Fantail (Rufous-fronted) Fantail (White-shafted) Fly-catcher (Brown) Fly-catcher (Carniated) Fly-catcher (Leaden-coloured) ... Fly-catcher (Restless) Fly-catcher (Shining) Geobasileus (Buff-rumped) Geobasileus (Yellow-rumped) Gerygone (Brown) Grass-bird (Little) Graculus (Black-faced) ... Graculus (Ground) Graculus (Varied) Hylacola (Red-rumped) ... Ibis (Glossy) Ibis (Straw-necked) Ibis (White) Jackass (Great Brown Kingfisher or Laughing) Kestrel (Xankeen) Kingfisher (Azure) Kingfisher (Red-backed) Kingfisher (Sacred) Lark (Horsfield's Bush) Lvre Bird (Queen Victoria's) ... Magpie (Piping Crow-shrike) ... Magpie Lark (Pied Grallina) ... Martin (Fairv) Night- jar (Owlet) Night-jar (White-throated) Scientific Name. Chalcites plagosus. Cuculus insperatus. ,, flabelliformis. Chalcites basalis. Cuculus pallidus. Pardalotus affinis. ,, punctatus. „ ornatus. ,, xanthopygialis. Dendrocygna vagaies. Eurostomus Pacificus. Ephthianura aurifrons. „ tricolor. „ albifrons. Sauloprocta motacilloides. Rhipidura rufifrons. ,, albiscapa. iMicrseca fascinans. iNIonarcha melanopsis. iMiagrarubecula. Seisura inquieta. iMiagra nitida. Geobasileus reguloides. „ chrysorrhcea. Gerygone fusca. Sphenceacus gramineus. Grauculus melanops. Pteropodocys phasianella. Grauculus mentalis. iHylacola pyrrhopygia. Ibis falcinellus. Geronticus spinicoUis. Threskiornis strictipennis. Dacelo gigas. Tinnunculus cenchroides. Alcyone azureai iHaicyon pyrrhopygius. Halcvon sanctus. iNIirafra Horsfieldii. iMenura Victoriae. Gvmnorhina tibicen. Grall'na picata. Lagenoplastes ariel. yEgotheles Xovs-HoUandiac. Eurostopodus albogulaiis. 28 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA Common Name. Night-jar (Spotted) Oreoica (Crested) Owl (Grass) Petrel (Blue) Pigeon (Top-knot) Pipit (Australian) Plover (Southern Stone) Podargus (Cuvier's) Podargus (Tawny-shouldered) ... Pomatostomus (Chestnut-crowned) Pomatostomus (Temporal) Pomatostomus (White-eyebrowed) Pycnoptilus (Downy) ... Red Throat Robin (Flame-breasted) ... Robin (Hooded or Pied) Robin (Pink-breasted Wood) ... Robin (Red-capped) Robin (Rose-breasted Wood) ... Robin (Scarlet-breasted) Robin (Scrub) Robin (Yellow-breasted) Sericornis (Allied) Sericornis (Sombre-coloured) Sericornis (Spotted) Sericornis (White-fronted) Shrike (Spangled Dronga) Shrike-Thrush (Harmonious) Shrike-Tit (Frontal) ... ... Sittella (Black-capped) Sittella (Orange-winged) Smicrornis (Short-billed) ... Swallow (Masked Wood) Swallow (Tree) Swallow (Welcome) Swallow (White-breasted) Swallow (White-eyebrowed V/ood) Swallow (White-rumped Wood) Swallow (Wood) ... Swift (Australian) Swift (Spine-tailed) Thickhead (Gilbert's) Thickhead (Olivaceous) .... Thickhead (Rufous-breasted) Thickhead (White-throated) Thru.sh (Chestnut-backed) Thrush (Cinnamon-coloured) Scientific Name. Eurostopodus guttatus. Oreoica cristata. Strix Candida. Haloboena cerulea. Lopholaimus antarcticus. Anthus Australis. ^dicnemus grallarius. Podargus Cuvieri. ,, strigoides. Pomatostomus ruficeps. „ temporalis. ,, superciliosus. Pycnoptilus floccosus. Pyrrhol'aemus brunneus. Petroeca phoenicea. Melanodryas bicolor. Erythrodryas rhodinogaster. Petroeca Goodenovii. Erythrodryas rosea. Petroeca leggii. Drymodes brunneopygia. Eopsaltria Australis. Sericornis osculans. ,, humilis. ,, maculatus. ,, frontalis. Chibia bracteata. Collyriocincla harmonica. Falcunculus frontatus. Sittella pileata. ,, chrysoptera. Sm'crornis brevirostris. Artamus personatus. Hvdrochelidon nigricans. Hirundo frontalis. Cheramaeca leucosternon. Artamus superciliosus. ,, leucopvgialis. ,, sordidus. Cvpselus pacificus. Chaetura candacuta. Pachycephala Gilbert!. ,, olivacea. ,, rufiventris. gutturalis. Cinclosoma castaneonotum. ,, cinnamomeum. PRESERVATION OF INSECT-DESTROYING BIRDS. 29 Common Xame. Thrush (Spotted-ground) Thrush (^Iountain) Tree-creeper (Brown) Tree-creeper (Red-eyebrowed) Tree-creeper (White-throated) Warbler (Black-backed Superb) Warbler (Lambert's Superb) Warbler (Long-tailed Supero) Warbler (Reed) Warbler (Rufous-headed Grass) Warbler (White-winged Superb) Warbler (Blue-wren or Superb) Wedgebill (Crested) Wren (Emu) Wren (Striated) Wren (Textile) Xerophila (White-faced) Scientific Name. Cinclosoma punctatum. Geocichla lunulata. Climacteris scandens. „ erythrops. ,, leucophcea Malurus melanotus. ,, Lamberti. ,, Gouldii. Calamoherpe Australis. Cisticola ruficeps. ^Lalurus leucopterus. „ cyaneus. Sphenostoma cristata. Stipiturus malachurus. Amytis striatus. „ textilis. Xerophila leucopsis. 30 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA CHAPTER V. Horticultural Quarantine Rules. When we consider that the principal of the insect- pests in Victoria have been imported from other coun- tries, does it not behove us to tai^e some steps to prevent a repetition of this ver^^ dangerous state of affairs 'f And I unhesitatingly affirm that, if some prohibitive measures against the wholesale introduction of both insect and fungus diseases are not forthcoming, it will be a bad look-out for our farmers and orchardists- And to draw attention to this important subject, I have included in this part of the handbook a copy of the following rules as carried out by the State Board of Viticultural Commissioners of California : — "Quarantine rules and regulations for the protection of fruit and fruit trees from insect pests, namely, in- sects injurious to fruit and fruit trees, authorized and approved by the State Board of Viticultural Commis- sioners of California. In pursuance of an Act en- titled 'An Act to define and enlarge the duties and powers of the Board of State Viticultural Commis- sioners, and to authorize the appointment of certain officers, and to protect the interests of horticulture and viticulture,' approved March 4, 1881, the chief execu- tive horticultural and health officer may appoint local resident inspectors in any and all of the fruit-growing regions of the State, whose duties shall be as provided in section 4 of an Act entitled ' An Act to define and enlarge the duties and powers of the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, and to authorize the ap- pointment of certain officers, and to protect the inter- ests of horticulture and viticulture,' provided that there shall be no compensation for such services of inspection excepting a fee, not to exceed one dollar for each HORTICULTURAL QUARANTINE RULES. 31 certificate of disinfection, in case of compliance with quarantine regulations, and to exceed five dollars for each certificate of disinfection after seizure for non- compliance; provided,; however, such inspector may be employed at the option of the owners of property requiring disinfection to disinfect the same. And also said local resident inspectors will be entitled to such other fees as are provided for in cases of conviction and seizures. 1. All tree or plant cuttings, grafts or scions, plants or trees of any kind, infested by any insect or insects, or the germs thereof, namely, their eggs, larvae, or pupfe, that are known to be injurious to fruit or fruit trees, and liable to spread contagion; or any tree or plant cuttings, grafts, scions, plants, or trees of any kind, grown or planted in any county or district wdthin the State of California, in which trees or plants, in or- chards, nurseries, or places, are known to be infested by any insect or insects, or the germs thereof, namely, their eggs, larvae, or pupae, that are known to be injuri- ous to fruit or fruit trees, and liable to spread con- tagion, are hereby required to be disinfected before removal for distribution or transportation from any orchard, nursery, or place where said tree or plant, cuttings, grafts, or scions, plants, or trees of any kind are grown, or offered for sale or gift, as hereinafter provided. 2. All trees or plant cuttings, grafts, or scions, plants, or trees of any kind, imported or brought into this State from any foreign country, or from any of the United States or Territories, are hereby required to be disinfected immediatelv after their arrival in this State, and before being ofi'ered for sale or removed for distribution or transportation, as hereinafter de- scribed; provided, that if on examination of any such importations by a local resident inspector, or the chief executive horticultural officer, a bill of health is certified to bv such examinins^ officer, then disinfection will be unnecessarv. 32 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : 3. Fruit of any kind infested by any species of scale insect or scale insects, or the germs thereof, namely, their eggs, larvae, or pupse, known to be injurious to fruit and fruit trees, and liable to spread contagion, is hereby required to be disinfected, as hereinafter pro- vided, before removal off premises where grown for the purpose of sale, gift, distribution, or transportation. 4. Fruit of any kind infested by any insect or insects, or the germs thereof, namely, their eggs, larvae, or pupae, known to be injurious to fruit or fruit trees, and liable to spread contagion, imported or brought into this State from any foreign country, or from any of the United States or Territories, is hereby prohibited from being offered for sale, gift, distribution, or transportation. 5. Fruit of any kind infested by the insect known as codlin moth, or its larvae or pupae, is hereby prohibited from being kept in bulk, or in packages or boxes of any kind, in any orchard, store-room, sales-room, or place, or being dried for food or any other purposes, or being removed for sale, gift, distribution, or transportation. 6. Fruit boxes, packages, or baskets used for shipping fruit to any destination are hereby required to be dis- infected, as hereinafter provided, previous to their being returned to any orchard, store-room, sales-room, or place to be used for storage, shipping, or any other purpose. 7. Transportable material of any kind infested by any insect or insects, or the germs thereof, namely, their eggs, larvae, or pupae, known to be injurious to fruit or fruit trees, and liable to spread contagion, is hereby prohibited from being offered for sale, gift, distribu- tion, or transportation. 8. Tree or plant cuttings, grafts, scions, plants, or trees of any kind may be disinfected by dipping in a solution composed of not less than one pound (1 lb.) of commercial concentrated lye to each and every tw^o (2) gallons of water used as such disinfectant, or in any other manner satisfactory to the chief executive horti- cultural and health officer. HORTICULTURAL QUARANTINE RULES. 33 9. Empty fruit boxes, packages, or baskets may be disinfected by dipping in boiling water and allowed to remain in said boiling w^ater not less than two minutes, said boiling water used as such disinfectant to contain, in solution, not less than one pound (1 lb.) of commer- cial potash, or three-fourths (J) of one pound (1 lb.) of concentrated lye, to each and every twenty gallons of water, or in any other manner satisfactory to the chief executive horticultural and health officer. 10. Fruit on deciduous and citrous trees infested by any species of scale insect or scale insects, or the germs thereof, namely, their eggs, larv?e, or pupae, may be disinfected before removal from the tree, or from the premises where grown, by washing or thoroughly spray- ing said fruit with a solution composed of one pound (1 lb.) of whale-oil soap and one-fourth of one pound of flour of sulphur to each and every one and one-quarter (IJ) gallons of water used as such disinfectant, or in any other manner satisfactory to the chief executive horticultural and health officer. 11. Owners of fruit of any kind grown in any or- chard, nursery, or place in which trees or plants are known to be infested with any insect or insects, or the germs thereof, namely, their eggs, larvae, or pupfe, known to be injurious to fruit or fruit trees, and liable to spread contagion, and all persons in possession there- of, or offering for sale, gift, distribution, or transporta- tion, are hereby required to procure a certificate of dis- infection before removal for sale, gift, distribution, or transportation. 12. Any tree or plant cuttings, scions, plants, or trees of any kind, empty fruit bo;s:es, fruit packages, or fruit baskets, or transferable material of any kind, offered Tor sale, gift, distribution, or transportation, in violation of the quarantine rules and regulations for the protection of fruit and fruit trees, approved by the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, may be seized by the Chief Executive Horticultural and 6395. n 34 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : Health Officer, or by any of tlie local resident inspec- tors appointed by him; said seizure to be the taking possession thereof, and holding for disinfection, or for an order of condemnation by a court of jurisdic- tion. 13. Any person violating the above quarantine rules and regulations shall be deemed guilty of a misdemean- our, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars : — Mathew Cooke, Chief Executive Horticultural and Health Officer. — Sacramento, No- vember 12, 1881." B 2 3G DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : PLATE I. "Woolly Aphis,, or American Blight" (Schizoneura lanigera). I. Portion of stem of apple, showing downy covering to young insects. (From nature.) 2A. Wingless larv^ ; upper view. Highly magnified. (From nature.) 2B. Wingless larv^ ; under view. Highly magnified. (From nature.) 3. Winged mal^ ; upper view. Highly magnified. (After Cooke.) 4. Queen Aphis, or foundress of the colonv. Highlv magnified. (After Buckton.) 5A. Young insect. Highlv magnified. (From nature.) 5B. Young insect, with downy covering. Highlv magnified. (From nature.) 6. Winged viviparous female. Highlv magnifier]. (After Buckton.) 7. Roots of apples, showing downy covering to insects. (From nature.) C French. Du-exit h.S Brair; Goy^ Pruit/rr AMERICAN BLIGHT. 37 CHAPTER VI. THE WOOLLY APHIS OR AMERICAN BLIGHT. Schizoneura lanigera {Hausmann.) Order : Hemiftera. Sub-Order : Homoftera. Family : Afhidte. This pest, which is supposed to be an introduction from either Europe or America, has been known to Victorian fruit-growers and gardeners for 40 years or more, and, in the early days of the colony, was con- sidered to be little short of a scourge. In the opinion of some writers, it is supposed that the woolly blight affecting the roots of the apple is a distinct species from that which attacks that portion of the tree above ground, but from long experience I fancy that those in Victoria who are accustomed to the cultivation of apple trees, either in the nursery or orchard, hold a different opinion. Before the advent of those excellent blight-proof stocks, the "Majetin " and " Northern Spy," it was ex- ceedingly difficult to find, in most orchards, an apple tree that was clean or in perfect health; now, with a little care and attention, the fruit-grower, as a rule, may snap his fingers at the " American Blight," as, even if it should appear, it can now be kept within reasonable bounds, if not stamped out altogether. But, although the blight-proof stocks have answered so admirably, it must not be supposed that the " American Blight " will not appear on the stems and branches of the trees ; it is on the roots where the value of the non-blighting stocks is seen; for, even if an 38 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : apple which is subject to the "woolly blight" be grafted on one of these stocks below ground, it is perfectly safe, so far as the roots are concerned ; so that, w ith ordinary attention to cultivation and cleanliness, the grower of apples has little to fear from this pest at any rate. The earliest records which I can obtain regarding the advent of the " Woolly Aphis " into Victoria has been supplied to me by my old friend Mr. Adcock, the well- known Geelong nurseryman, who informs me that the " American Blight or Woolly Aphis " w^as first observed by him on apple trees imported from Tasmania to Geelong in 1849. Mr. T. C. Cole observed it, however, in 1846, and I am not aw^are of it having been seen earlier than the above dates. The introduction of Schizoneura lanigera into Eng- land has, it is said, been traced to the year 1789, at which period it seems to have been brought from America to an old nursery in Sloane Lane. How long it is since this pest was introduced into New South AVales and Tasmania I am not aw^are. According to the late Mr. Treen, the first systematic experiments with the non-blighting stock, the " Majetin," Avere carried out by Messrs. T- Lang and Co-, the well-known nurserymen of Melbourne and Ballarat, in 1868-70, their attention having been drawn to this apple in 1862, and to the descriptions thereof given by Geo. Lindley in his " Guide to the Orchard." Lindley says that, at the time of the publication of his book, 40 years ago, it was noticed that an old apple tree grow ing at Norwich in England, which had been grafted three feet high, had been attacked by the " Aphis lanigera " or "American Blight," below the grafted part, but never above it; the limbs and branches continuing per- fectly free, although all the other trees in the same garden w^ere infested, more or less, with this blight. The variety was a Norfolk apple named the " Winter Majetin," and the Messrs. Lang and Co. concluded that, if this variety w^as so very free from blight as described, it should form a valuable stock for the apple, and they AMERICAN BLIGHT. 39 accordingly procured some trees from England, and such I understand, and have no reason for doubting, is the history of the introduction of blight-resisting stocks into Victoria. The variety called the " Northern Spy " was raised in America, and was also introduced here by Messrs. Thos. Lang and Co. It is said to be superior in every way to the " Majetin," and but little else is no^Y used on which to work young trees of the apple. Another variety, said to be superior even to the " Northern Spy," has been raised by Mr. J. C. Cole, whose father, the late T. C. Cole (the pioneer fruit-grower of Vic- toria), has always been to the front in matters pertain- ing to high-class fruit culture. The name of the new blight-resisting stock is "Perfection Paradise." Some of the advantages wdiich the " Northern Spy " possess over that of the " Majetin " are that it is much hardier in its nature, and its roots are not nearly so easily damaged by lifting as in the former variety. Doubtless there are some persons who would like to know the reason of the non-bli2:htinc^ stocks beins: dis- tasteful to the aphis, and, for the benefit of such, I have here given the results of the analysis as ascertained by the late Mr. W. Johnson, Government Analyst, being a reply to a letter forwarded to him on the subject by the late Mr. Treen. Mr. Johnson says: — " I have made an examination of the young apple trees sent by yourself, the one being a crab-apple, and much infected vrith a species of white woolh' blight; the second one, the Majetin, being quite free from blight. Both were digested in water, and the infusion concentrated by evaporation. The total amount of extractive matter was as follows : — From 2|-oz. weight of dried plants each— No. 1, Crab, 867 grains; No. 2, Majetin, 108 grains. The " Majetin " was more astringent to the palate than the " Crab,' but otherwise very similar. The residues left after exhaustion with water- were then ignited, in order to ascertain the nature of the ash left. Weight of ash— Crab, 33'3 grains; Majetin, 40 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : 33 grains. The total amount of ash was therefore nearly the same. Upon being analyzed the following results were obtained : — Crab. Majetin, Carbonate of lime 7'5 i6'3 Alumina and iron, soluble in weak hydrochloric acid .. 6'i 4 Siliceous and clayey matters, insoluble in acid ... i6'6 g'6 Other earthy matters and loss ... ... ... 3'i 3'i These results show that the Majetin apple tree, which is free from blight, is a much larger consumer of lime, and it is most probably to the presence of this substance that such immunity from blight is due. The Crab, on the contrary, seems to have absorbed a much greater quantity of clayey matters, which have not been able to protect it from the attack of these in- sects. The total amount of ashes in each case was remarkably close. The result of the analyses seems to show the importance of a limey soil for apples; but in this matter I hardly feel competent to pass an opinion, as the experiences of fruit-growers necessarily vary very much. Still the matter is worthy of con- sideration, as in a comparativel}^ new countr}^ where apples, as well as other trees, are often planted without due consideration for either soils or drainage, and, when the failures come, all is attributed to the attacks of blights of various kinds, and little or nothing to neglect, and the want of a little circumspection when choosing the site and preparing the land for the pur- pose of an orchard. A few words as to the life-history of the " Woolly Aphis ' will, I trust, be useful, and this embodies the experience of many writers, both scientific and practi- cal, in addition to my own long experience as an horti- culturist in this colony. The "Woolly Aphis," then, may be described as. an insect living in hollows and in crevices on the roots, trunk, and limbs of the apple tree. They live in numerous communities, and produce, by the pricking of their beak-like rostrum, the very unsightly swellings AMERICAN BLIGHT. 41 or excrescences so well-known to orchardists here and elsewhere, and by this means absorb the juices of the tree, which, if not attended to in time, will lose its vigour, and often die. Buckton says that the generations from the Queen Aphis vary very much, both in form and size, from their parents. They are of various shades of red or brown, and are less flattened, and longer in the body. When first born they have a most disproportionally long and stout rostrum, or beak, protruding beyond the tail. This organ soon ceases to grow, whilst the rest of the insect rapidly develops. The insects, when adult, exude from their pores long silky threads, which curve round a centre, and often form long spiral filaments, under which they hide. The Queen Aphis, or foundress of the colony (see Plate I., Fig. 4), must produce an enormous number of insects; but, when it is considered that the celebrated naturalist Reaumur states that an insect in five genera- tions may be the progenitor of 5,904,900,000 descend- ants, and it is supposed that in the course of twelve months there may be no less than ten generations, thus exceeding in fecundity that of any other known ani- mal, the difficulty of destroying and of keeping an orchard clean of such an insect becomes a very serious matter, at any rate to those whose trees are not worked on blight-resisting stocks. The most common form, Mr. Crawford tells us, is that of the wingless female (see Plate I., Fig. 6), and this, as also the other figures, will be easily understood by referring to "Explanation of Plates."' Prevention and Remedies. When the roots of the trees are badly affected, the soil should be removed from the surface, and either sprayed with a strong kerosene emulsion, or, what would be perhaps better, the application of kerosene in some form of heated vapour, as this, I have lately 42 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : observed, is of a far niore penetrating nature, and seems to be quite harmless to the trees. The application of gas-lime to the roots and soil has also been highly spoken of, and Mr. Tryon, in his excellent book on the insect and fungous pests of Queensland, gives the fol- lowing directions for its use, as taken from the Gardeners' Chronicle for 19th June, 1886 : — Spread about one shovelful or more, according to the size of the tree, in a dry state within a radius of 5 feet over the surface. The gas-lime, being a caustic substance, should not be placed immediately around the trunk,, especially if the trees under treatment are young, and to kill the Aphides that may therefore remain at the root-crown, and also to prevent others from working downwards from above, fresh ashes are to be piled in this situation. In England it is the custom to trust the rain to wash the lime into the soil. When applied to a given spot it is said to retain its effectiveness for three years, but its powers are doubtless diminished if it is exposed to air and rain. The Minister of Lands, New Zealand, has officially recommended the following effectual method of treat- ment in dealing with the occurrence of the " Woolly Aphis " on the roots : — Four pounds of sublimed sul- phur in an iron pot, with enough water to stir con- veniently while boiling for twenty minutes; then add 1 lb. of caustic potash, previously dissolved, and, whilst still hot, add as much colza, or other vegetable oil, as will make it into a thick paint. Then, when warm, with a large paint-brush daub it for the space of a foot round the butt of the stem of the tree. Rain will wash it into the roots, and the oil will tend to preserve its strength for years. Where 3'omig trees have to be planted, and there is any reason to believe that the plants are infested, it is a very good plan to immerse the bundles of trees in tobacco- Vv^ater, to which a little soft soap may be added — this is an old but very necessary precaution, and, by l^ersonal experience, its success can be vouched for. AMERICAN BLIGHT. 43 The trees may remain in the solution for twelve hours, and, it necessary, can be planted immediately. 'i'he old remedy of painting the trees with kerosene and grease (the emulsion of kerosene would be preferable) is a good one, and, if a strong brush is used, very few living insects will remain atter the operation has been performed. i\Ir. Koebele states that he has always had siiccess in destroying " Woolly Aphis " wdien it occurs, both above ground and on the roots of apple trees, by the use of the " Resin Compound." For work above ground he sprays a fluid containing one part of the compound to 8 of water; but he appears to recommend a stronger solution — viz., 1 to 6 — for contending with the pest when it affects the roots. To mix the " Resin Com- pound," take 3 lbs. of caustic soda and 4 lbs. of resin, dissolve in 3 pints of water over fire; w^hen properly dissolved, add w^ater slowly W'hile boiling to make 36 pints. One part of the compound to 4 parts of water, or a mixture no stronger than such as contains 3 parts of the compound to 8 parts of w^ater, would in all pro- bability be fouiid to be effective as a fluid for use w^th the spray. These are the best know^n remedies, and, if properly applied, seldom fail. In kerosene we have a powerful auxiliary in enabling us to keep down insect pests of most kinds. Before treating the branches or upper part of an apple tree, thin out all superfluous wood, as by this means the spraying material can be made to go much further, and the result will be, or ought to be, much more satisfactory. Before leaving the matter of the affected roots of the apple tree, I may be permitted to make mention of a trial, at which I was present, of the use of Peruvian Guano, applied to the roots of the tree, the surface soil having been previously bared. The effect of this test proved the thorough efficacy of the guano, and a repeti- tion of it is, I think, w^orthy of further investigation. 44 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA In spraying the branches, the material may be used in a more dihited form, but, when trees are grafted on ordinary stocks, and the roots have become rotten by reason of neglect, coupled with the attacks of the "Woolly Aphis," it would be better to take them out at once and destroy them. There are many other so- called remedies against the attacks of the apple-blight, but the few here given will, it is hoped, be quite suffi- cient for the purpose. Appended is a list of those varieties of apples which are not susceptible to blight. I am indebted to Mr. Geo. Neilson, the Avell-known curator of the Royal Horticul- tural Society's Gardens, of Melbourne, for this list, which may be useful to those about to plant new orchards throughout the colony APPLES PROOF AGAINST ATTACK OF WOOLLY APHIS. best blight- Autumn Tart. Magg's Seedling. American Golden Pippin. New England Pigeon, Chastatee. Northern Spy (the b Earlv Richmond. proof stock). Fall' Beauty. Primate. Golden Queen. Ruby Pearmain. Irish Peach. Stubbart Codlin. Lord Wolseley. Striped Beaufin. Lincolnshire Halland Pippin Tetofsky. (nearly blight-proof). Winter Majetin. Menagere. Yarra Bank. 46 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA PLATE II. " CoDLiN Moth " (Carpocapsa pomonella). I A. Branch of apple and fruit, showing damage u^ ^r lO pips, and mode of escape of caterpillar. (From natiue.^ IB. Upper portion of fruit when newly formed, showin-,^ where egg of moth is deposited. (From nature.) 2. Perfect insect on wing and at rest. Slightly enlarged. (From nature.) 3. Showing caterpillar lowering itself from apple by means of a silken-thread spun by the insect for the purpose. Life size. (From nature.) 4. Chrysalis of moth in portion of bark. Life size. (From nature.) 5. Caterpillar, preparing for change into the chrysalis stage. Life size. (From nature.) 6. Upper portion of caterpillar, showing mandibles, &:c. Magni- fied. (From nature.) 7. Under portion of caterpillar, showing mandibles, &c. Magnified. (From nature.) CC BrMLeiank.Bel C French, Direxi Plate 11. R S Br 98 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : Further investigations, we hope, may enable us to state positively whether we have amongst us any of the addi- tional kinds above alluded to. As the vine-growing interest is of such great import- ance in this colony, it may be well, in the event of the Vine Spider making its appearance in our vineyards, to give a description of it from the pen of the well- known entomologist, M. Boisduval, as quoted by Andrew Murray: — "When, towards the end of sum- mer, we see the leaves of the vine marbled above with broad yellow blotches, it is often the indication of the presence of a very small parasite, which lives in fami- lies on its under side. On examining such a leaf with a very powerful lens, we see at first that it is carpeted with a rather loose silken tissue, like very small spiders' webs, in the midst of which we can see numer- ous acarids of very small size moving about. They are greenish-yellow, transparent, a half smaller than the true Red Spider, to which they bear some resemblance. We (M. Boisduval) have not found this minute insect mentioned in any of the authors that we have con- sulted." In Victoria this pest seems to have made considerable headway, and, in some of the drier portions of the colony, apples, almonds, and other fruits, to say nothing of vegetables, often suffer very severely, the worst case which has come under the notice of the writer being a crop of French beans growing in a slightly sheltered garden on the St. Kilda-road, the whole crop being badly affected, and the plants had to be pulled up and destroyed. As showing the enormous numbers of these mites, it may be mentioned that on some of these bean plants the masses of Red Spiders were quite a quarter of an inch in depth, a statement which seems almost incred- ible, and in some parts of the colony fruit trees are often quite defoliated from the attacks of these tiny insects, the leaves falling and allowing the rays of the THE RED SPIDER. 99 sun to penetrate into the tree, with the result that the bark becomes hard, and the fruit often " scalds," and drops off before being fit for gathering. " Under glass" the Red Spider is a perfect terror to the gardener, although he has a better chance of fight- ing them when thus covered than when in the open air. Prevention and Remedies. Allow no stones, logs, or rubbish of any kind to exist in the orchard. Spray the tree with a fairly strong kerosene emulsion — say, 1 in 25 — when the tree is without leaves, and again when the fruit has been gathered. Sulphur in any form (crushed lump sulphur being preferable to the so-called powdered sulphur) is very fatal to the Red Spider. Soft soap and Gishurst's Compound, as used by gardeners, are old and well-tried remedies, and, when the fruit is off the tree, tobacco water is a very good remedy against this and many other insects. In using either the syringe or spraying pump against Red Spider, it should be remembered that the mites are mostly on the under part of the leaves, so that the various solutions must be sprayed in an upward direc- tion, and with considerable force, otherwise the treat- ment will have very little effect on this pest at any rate. When a tree is badly attacked by Red Spider, shake as many leaves as possible oft' the tree into a sheet and burn them. Paint the stems with a hard brush, using slake lime and sulphur mixed for the purpose. In a small garden, the sulphur bellows can be used with good effect. In heated conservatories, the best plan is to strew sulphur upon the pipes; this, however, must be done with care, or else the tender plants may be irre- ]')arably injured, as it is imperative that a proper mois- ture be maintained during sulphuring time. In the kitchen garden, if beans, &c., are badly affected, destroy them at once, and constant hosing, especially where D 2 100 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA. plants are under glass, is of great benefit as a preven- tive against the Red Spider, Thrips, &c. In large orchards the use of sulphur steam may yet prove the best remedy. For Crotons, Cordylines, and many other plants, dipping in a solution of tobacco water is an old and very effective remedy. Luckily for growers, this pest is not difficult to destroy, but to do this the treatment should be carried out with both care and promptitude. 102 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA PLATE XL " Pear and Cherry Slug " (Selandria cerasi). Fig. Branch of pear tree showing young larvae, also upper surf are of leaves destroyed. (From nature.) Larvae, slightly magnified. (From nature.) a. Larva ascending stem of tree. Magnified. (From rrture.) Perfect insect. Natural size. (From nature.) Perfect insect. Magnified. (From nature.) Section of pear leaf, with supposed eggs. (From nature.) Section of edge of leaf with supposed eggs. (From nature.) C CBnttUhank.Dd CSraich.Dmxtt Plate ;a. a. S. Brav^, Co V '■Prinier THE PEAR AND CHERRY SLUG. 103 CHAPTER XVI. THE PEAR AND CHERRY SLUG. (Selandria cerasi.) Order : Hymenoftera. Family : Tenthredinidce. This most destructive insect, when in the larval state, is a small dark-green slimy caterpillar, infesting the leaves of both pear and cherry trees, which they injure very much by gnawing the epidermis off the upper por- tion of the leaves, leaving the skeleton and the lower portion of the leaves imtouched. Trees, according to Harris, attacked by this pest "are forced to throw out new leaves, during the heat of the summer, at the end of the twigs and branches that still remain alive. This unseasonable foliage, which should not have appeared until the next spring, exhausts the vigour of the trees and cuts olf the prospect of fruit." But this is not the only damage for which the Pear Slug is responsible, as by destroying the epidermis of the leaves (see Plate XL, Fig. 1) the blazing sun of a Victorian summer is by this means enabled to penetrate with its full force right into the centre of the tree, thereby causing a shrivelling of the bark, scalding of the fruit, and otherwise injuring the trees. The egg of this saw-fly is deposited in a cut made in the leaf by the saw-like ovipositor of the female, and Mathew Cooke tells us that as many as nineteen eggs have been found deposited in one leaf. The larva (see Plate XL, Fig 2) is, according to Har- ris, " hatched from the egg in two days, and feeds upon the leaves as described above. It attains its full growth in from 20 to 25 days. During the time it is feeding it exudes an olive-coloured slimy substance, which covers the body and gives it the appearance of a small 104 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : tadpole. When it ceases eating it casts its skin and slimy coat, and appears with a clear yellowish skin; the divisions of the segments of the body are plainly seen; it then descends to the earth and crawls beneath the surface from 1 to 4 inches, and forms a cocoon, where it undergoes its metamorphoses, or changes, and in about fifteen days the perfect insect appears." (See Plate XI., Fig. 4.) In America, according to Harris, "the first brood appears late in April or early in May, the second early in July. When the larvae of the second brood are full grown they enter the earth, and remain unchanged until the following spring. It seems that all of them, however, do not finish their transforma- tions at this time; some are found to remain in the ground unchanged till the following year, so that if all the slugs of the last batch in any one year should hap- pen to be destroyed, enough from a former brood would still remain in the earth to continue the species." Larvae, when full grown, five and one-half lines. Perfect insect, body shining black, nearly three and one-half lines long, expanse of wings six lines, wings transparent. This scourge of the fruit-grower is a somewhat re- cent introduction from either Europe or America, it matters not which; but, according to the most reliable information at my disposal, I find that it first made its appearance in Victoria at a private garden at East St. Kilda, near Melbourne, and is said to have come from a nursery near Auckland, in New Zealand. The speci- mens of the perfect saw-fly, from which our drawings have been made, were taken by Mr. Knight, Govern- ment fruit expert, who, at my request, undertook to watch and wait for this destructive little brute, and although no one here had previously seen the " fly " I felt quite certain that we had the much dreaded Euro- pean pear slug amongst us, and after several days of patient watching in the orchard of Mr. C. Allen, junr., of Cheltenham, Mr. Knight was fortunate enough to capture three specimens, two females and one male. THE PEAR AND CHERRY SLUG. 105 these being, I believe, the first specimens of the per- fect insect taken in Victoria, the difficult}^ of obtain- ing fresh food for the hxrvae to feed upon Ijeing the principal cause of my having failed to rear them. In speaking of the damage done by this insect it may be mentioned that both Mr. Neilson and Mr. Allen are of the opinion that the Pear Slug is the worst enemy with which growers of fruit have to contend, and surely when one sees the havoc done, more especially to cherry trees when the fruit is ripening, we cannot help agreeing with these and other growers that some com- bined action should be at once commenced against this new and much dreaded pest of the pear and cherry. Prevention and Remedies. Now that growers have been made aware of the real identity of the above insect, and have also learned something of its habits, the task of dealing with the Pear Slug in all its stages will, we hope, be consider- ably lessened. The great difficulty in dealing with the above pest would seem to be in the fact of the larvae being on the leaves when the fruit is either ripe or ripening, in wliich case the ordinary material used for spraying, as kerosene emulsion, the resin compound, London purple, and others, could not well be applied with safety, as the fruit would, in all probability, be ren- dered unfit for sale, caused by the presence of the flavour of either kerosene, tar, or eucalypti oil, to say nothing of the well-known poisonous qualities of Lon- don purple when not used at the proper time. The best time to tackle the Pear Slug is before the fruit becomes far advanced, and not when the tree is in bloom, as the material, if used at this period, might prevent the fruit from setting properly. Treat the roots of the trees as recommended for using ao'ainst the apple root borer, both the bisulphide of carbon and QuibelFs mixture being very good 106 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : for the purpose, the effect of the latter being, how- ever, of a more lasting nature, and at the same time not so offensive to use as the bisulphide of carbon. Sulphate of iron (1 oz. to gallon of water) is also an excellent " ground " mixture. As a material for spraying, when the fruit is not on the tree, the kerosene emulsion, say 1 part of the emulsion to 25 parts of water, and sprayed on to the tree whilst hot, is about all that is necessary, although Mr. Neilson has informed me of his success with the crude oil of eucalypti, which he says is both cheap and effective. Dusting the trees with slaked lime mixed with sulphur is also an excellent remedy, and even sand or light dry soil shaken over the leaves will de- stroy the grubs, but not the eggs, hence the advantages to be derived from the use of more powerful remedies. When the fruit is ripe, if the slug is still in great num- bers, try the benzole spray — equal parts of benzole and water — which must be kept well stirred w^hilst using. This material has been tried, where many other supposed remedies had failed, on the " Ruther- glen Vine Bug," and even when the grapes were quite ripe, the berries, in a couple of days, were found to be quite uninjured, either in taste or smell, by the appli- cation of the benzole. Some pieces of bagging damped with kerosene might also be placed under the trees, and into which the flies, at night or early morning, might be shaken. In fighting the Pear Slug, do not be discouraged if your best efforts would appear to be of little avail; keep at it, give no quarter, and now that we have a clue to its "habits, we have gained half the battle. Removing the surface soil, as recommended by Miss Ormerod and others, has proved very successful, as has also the application of quick-lime to the soil below the surface. Before closing these remarks on the means adopted by others for the purpose of combating the ravages of this insect, I wish to draw attention to what appears THE PEAR AND CHERRY SLUG. 107 to me to be a most valuable remedial measure. I quote from the late Mr. Crawford, who says, " I am in- debted to Mr. George Goyden, junr., for the sugges- tion that iron sulphate (ferrous-sulphate, sulphate of iron, proto-sulphate of iron, green vitriol) might prove a remedy for jusicladiuiii (scab fungus of the apple). According to Dr. Griffiths, of the Technical College,' Manchester, iron sulphate acts on the soil as an antiseptic. Under the microscope, a very dilute solution of 1 to 1,000 destroyed the spores of the potato disease and red rust. I w^ould therefore re- commend the same strength to be used as a spray, say one ounce to six gallons of water. In case this strength is found to have no effect on fiisicladium, it might be doubled, I should think, without risk to tree, foliage, or fruit." In reading these remarks in the report on the fusi- cladiums published by Mr. Crawford, of Adelaide, it has occurred to me that the iron sulphate ought to have a fair trial here as an insect destroyer also. It has of course been tried on the phylloxera, but I be- lieve it has so far proved unsuccessful; let us hope for better results. Mr. Byron Moore, so well known in our city, from whom I have just received a letter in- forming me that, by a liberal use of the iron sulphate, he has been able to keep his tomatoes and other vege- tauies quite clear of both insects and fungi. Mr. Crawford has made an estimate of the cost of the above solution, being, as he says, but a mere frac- tion of a penny per gallon. Luckily for the growers of pears and cherries this slug is easily destroyed, so nothing else remains for us to do but to attack it persistently until we have it within reasonable bounds, when, by a little united ac- tion, it can without a doubt, be stamped out altogether. 108 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : PLATE XII. " RUTHERGLEN BuG " (RhYPAROCHROMUS ? SP.). Fig. 1. Branch of cherry tree with fruit, and with insects. Natural size. (From nature.) 2. Perfect insect ; under view. Magnified. (From nature.) 3. Perfect insect ; upper view. Magnified. (From nature.) 4. Head of adult insect. Magnified. (From nature.) 5. Adult insect. Slightly magnified. (From nature.) C. CBrtaZeiani.Dd CJrench.Direxii. Plate Xll. R.SBraiTi: Qov'^Prmlf.r THE RUTHERGLEN FLY-PEST. 109 CHAPTER XVII. THE RUTHERGLEN FLY-PEST. {Rhyjparochromus sj).) Order : Jlemiftera Heteroftera. Family : LygiadcB. A small insect belonging to the so-called " Wood Bugs " owing, I suppose, to the fact of the common House Bug belonging to the same natural order of in- sects. This comparatively new pest is about two lines in length, the body being of a light greyish-brown, but after nearly black. Antennae, or " feelers," barely two-thirds the length of the body, and covered with fine hairs. Wings quite transparent. Legs dirty yellowish white. Under- neath the insect (see Plate XII., Fig. 2) can be seen the rostrum or beak, with which instrument the damage is done by piercing the fruit as described hereafter. This Bug, the species name of which has not yet been determined, belongs to the family of Lygicedce, and closely resembles in appearance the False Chinch Bug (Nysins angustatus) of North America, to which insect the " Rutherglen Pest " is closely allied. In America, the damage done by the latter insect is very great, and I have to thank my friend, Mr. West, our irrigation expert, for his thought fulness in sending me the specimens of the * " False Chinch Bug " from America for comparison and observation. In the British Museum collection, there are no less than thirteen different kinds of the genus Rliyiparo- chrormis, labelled as having been sent from Australia, *Mathew Cooke calls the latter Nysius destructor, which name is possibly a synonym of N. angustatus. 110 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : SO that it IS quite possible that we have to deal with a native insect, and not with an imported one. The common name of this insect is now^ so w^ell-known, that I have hesitated to alter it, although, probably a much more appropriate name might have been adopted. The insects, figured as being on the stems of the cherries (see Plate XIL, Fig. 1), are only slightly smaller than the natural size; and the black perfora- tions, or holes, are intended to show^ where the fruit has been attacked and pierced. Between three and four years ago, the rich Goul- burn Valley and other North-Eastern districts, were visited by what the growers themselves took to be a small fly, which indiscriminately attacked many kinds of fruit, and a number of vegetables ; but from the in- formation which I could gather, I find that the number of these little insects was at first comparatively few, and could be dispersed by causing a smoke by burning cow dung, green leaves, &c. Late in 1889, and up to the first three months in 1890, this terrible pest again made its appearance, and in such vast numbers as to cause considerable ap- prehension to vignerons, orchardists, farmers, and others. This somewhat sudden inroad of so formid- able an enemy, caused the good people to wonder what was going to happen next, and being in this dilemma, applied for the services of the Government Entomolo- gist to assist them with his advice, and to provide if possible some remedy; and the matter being a very urgent one, Mr. Knight, fruit expert, was sent up to Rutherglen for the purpose of trying several supposed remedies, which in our innocence, we thought would banish the " FJy," bag and baggage, but in this, how- ever, we were grievously disappointed, until at length, after trying such material as one might reasonably suppose would be fatal to such minute soft-bodied in- sects, I was asked to visit the district, and, if possible, to do something more than had already been done to combat them. In accordance with the wishes of the THE RUTHERGLEN FLY-PEST. Ill growers, I proceeded to the Goiilburn Valley, Riither- glen, and other places in the North-Eastern districts, and here I found the pest more numerous, and the ex- tent of damage done by it more serious, than I could possibly have anticipated, acre after acre of grape- vines, with the fruit fast ripening, were literally covered with these tiny Wood Bugs, which by intro- ducing their rostrums, or beaks {see Plate XII., I'ig. 4) into the fruit, and thereby sucking out and ab- sorbing the juices, caused the fruit to shrivel up, be- come dry, and perfectly useless for either the table or wine-making. Other fruits, as apricots, plums, cher- ries, and peaches were in many cases rendered per- fectly useless and unsaleable; the peaches and apricots especially having both the appearance and texture of leather. In vegetables, potatoes and tomatoes were specially visited by this pest, and in many cases the crop was partially if not wholly destroyed. What was to be done ; And beins: in this nx, it occurred to me to trv the use of benzole, by using it with a sjDray-pump, 1 having used the former material for many years as a destroyer of insects of all kinds, especially the minute Beetles and Acari which do so much damage to furs, as also to preserved collections, both entomological and botanical. Accordingly some trials were arranged for, these taking place by permission of several of the vignerons in the district. The day was very hot (nearly 100 in the shade) and the Bugs were in count- less numbers, covering the berries of the nearly ripe grapes until the latter were hardly recognisable. We set to work with the benzole, and the effect was almost magical, as the distribution of the benzole by means of the " Crawford Spray-pump " w^as so fine and mist- like that every insect touched by the material fell to the ground. A few managed to partially revive, but the great majority were killed almost instantaneously. We then, -by agreement, allowed the fruit which had been treated to remain about fortv-eight hours on the 112 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : vine, the result being that, at the expiration of that time, the grapes were perfectly free from either the taste or smell of the benzole, and the . bunches so treated were brought to a meeting of the local horti- cultural society at Rutherglen, at which many repre- sentative gentlemen of the district were present. The geographical range of this comparatively new pest would seem to be very great; I having first re- ceived them from the Upper Yarra, near Beenak, a locality which has the heaviest rainfall of any part of the colony, where the insect had attacked the potato crops. I next received them from South Gippsland, then from Ballarat, Corowa, and even from Adelaide and other parts of South Australia, showing that this insect, although small, requires to be well watched, otnerwise the consequences to growers may be most serious. Prevention and Remedies. Keep orchards, vineyards, and gardens as free as possible of weeds and rubbish of any kind, and a sec- tional roller if passed over headlands, when practic- able, would be the means of destroying not only a large number of the insects themselves but of their eggs and larvae also. Sulphate of iron, in the proportion of, say, one ounce to each gallon of water, has also been tried with good effect on insects of many kinds (that is, of course, whilst the insects are in the Qgg and larvae stages). The " forking or ploughing in " of a little gas-lime into the soil is also useful, as it is supposed that the eggs of these little Wood Bugs are deposited either amongst rubbish and weeds or beneath the soil; but this fact we have so far failed to trace with any degree of accuracy, although many devices have been resorted to by those growers who have kindly assisted us to find out where the eggs are deposited. One of the most singular circumstances connected with this little pest is its extreme activity, and its apparent immunity THE RUTHERGLEN FLY-PEST. 113 from the usual results of the application of strong solutions. At Rutherglen and Barnawartha, places in the great vine-growing districts of Victoria, we tried kerosene emulsion and soap, rectified spirits of wine, insect powders (several), and fusel oil (undiluted), but all to no purpose, the benzole alone seemed to be the only thing which had the merit of instantly destroying tlie insect without injury to the fruit. " Quibell's mix- ture " was fairly successful in killing the Bugs, al- though it left a decided flavour of tar upon the fruit. When this pest again makes its appearance some concerted action must be at once taken for the purpose of destroying as many of the insects as possible. In the case of ripening fruit of any kind, London purple, Paris green, and other arsenious preparations should not he used, and the same remark will apply to any tree when in bloom, as the applications of such solu- tions may not only injure the flower and prevent the fruit from setting properly, but bees in visiting the trees may become poisoned and the honey possibly in- jured. In the "Rutherglen Fly-pest" we have an insect which will thrive even on ripe capsicums, and remain unin- jured after a heavy spraying of fusel oil, and, at pre- sent, benzole, in some form, although perhaps expen- sive, seems to be the only remedy which can safely be relied upon. The old system of driving away insects from orchards bv means of smokins; is, at the best, a half-hearted measure, as the pest, instead of being destroyed, is merely driven into the orchard or vineyard of one's neighbour, which we must admit is a somewhat selfish proceeding. Every possible perseverance should be used in endeavouring to find out the place in which the insect deposits its eggs, as, having once gained so much knowledge, we may be the better able to cope with this serious enemy of the vigneron and fruit-growler. The agriculturist is, however, by no means ex- empted from the losses occasioned by the attacks of this 114 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: pest, as it has proved to be terribly destructive to green maize, as also to potatoes. It behoves all those interested in rural pursuits to unite in this and in other cases whenever a new destroyer, whether it be insect or fungoid, makes its appearance in our midst. Before closing these remarks on prevention and remedial recommendations, it may be well to draw the attention of growers to a remedy which has, according to Mathew Cooke, been tried with success against the " False Chinch Bug " in America, in which it is stated that " Early in spring (or as soon as the insects appear on the plants or vines), place loose straw, hay, or other like material around or under plants or vines, so that the insects can take shelter at night; in the morning before sunrise remove the material laid down and burn it. I recommended this for the destruction of the 'False Chinch Bug' on grape vine. The vine-owner reported success; but he sprinkled some coal oil on straw, which he placed on the ground under the straw taken from around the vines, and in this way prevented the insects from escaping into the ground while the straw was burning, making the application a complete success." THE CHERRY BORER. 117 CHAPTER XVIII. THE CHERRY BORER. {Maroga giganteUa.) Order : Lefidopera Ileterocera. Family ; Golichida. This pest of the cherry and peach grower is a Moth, the larvae of which are terribly destructive to cherry and peach trees and sometimes to plums. The lava is a pinkish-white grub (see Plate XIII., Fig. 3), hairy, and when full-grown, about two inches in length. The perfect insect (see Plate XIII. , Fig. 5) is white, shining ; head, in front and antennas black ; fore-wings, in some instances more or less greyish, the whole wings having a somewhat silky appearance, with a black spot on each; hind-wings darker, fringe white; length of the body, 10-12 lines; spread of wings, 20 to 30 lines. This insect (it is supposed) also attacks elm trees by boring into the thick branches, and is one of the worst of the wattle-borers, and has left its native food for the less bitter wood of the cherry and peach. Until quite recently, many persons have had their doubts as to the proper identity of this Moth, as the rearing of the grubs from the wood is, in some cases, a difficult matter ; in others again, as several moths and beetles, nothing is easier, and I must confess a doubt as to whether I had got hold of the real culprit. I am indebted to mv friend, Mr. Henry Edwards, the well-known entomologist, now of America, who collected around Mel])ourne in the early days of the colonv, for the proper identification of the insect, as he 118 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : (Mr. Edwards) informs me that 30 years ago or more the same insect destroyed nearly the whole of the cherr}' trees in the old garden of the late Hon. H. Miller, who then lived at Richmond, and Mr. Edwards at once recognised both the larvag and the perfect insect, he having reared it from the cherry-w^ood. The larva? of this Moth have also been known to attack plum, apricot, nectarine, and even quince trees. (H. Edwards.) The name Maroga gigantella has been adopted from " Walker's list." Mr. H. Edwards, however, in a very interesting paper, read recently before the Linnean Society of New South "Wales, calls it Cryytoflia^a unifunctata (Don), and remarks that the insects are easily attracted by a light, so that the lamp [an engrav- ing of which is here given] should be of extra value in the capture of this and other nocturnal kinds of in- sects. The larvae of this Moth destroy the trees by boring, first tunnelling for some distance under the bark, and then gnawing their way right into the very heart of the tree (see Plate XIII. , Fig. 3). The sawdust-like excrescence on the trees being quite sufficient indication of the presence of borers in general, and this one in particular. The jaws of the larvae are very strongly made, whicVi enable them to gnaw with great rapidity, it being per- fectly surprising to find what a large amount of damage they are capable of doing during a single night. As an instance of the boring power of some even small grubs, I may mention the fact of the larva of a moth (the former about an inch in length) in one night having bored through a box in which I had the grub confined, and nearly through a thick table of old sea- soned cedar, so that in green wood it is hardly to be wondered at when they do so much damage to trees. The losses caAised by the depredations of this insect are very serious, and if not at once attended to, the growers of both cherries, peaches, and even apricots may suffer more severely than they have hitherto done. THE CHERRY BORER. MO' Prevention and Remedies. Remove, or if possible have removed, all old and badly-infested ^vattle trees growing in the vicinity of the orchard. Give the tree when dormant a spraying or two with either kerosene emulsion, tar-water, Quibell's mixture, Phenyle, or any other solution which would tend to make the flavour of the surface of the bark un- palatable for the female to rest upon for the purpose of depositing her eggs. After pruning, paint the stumps with a solution of tar and grease. Kemove all loose bark, and daub, with a conmion whitewash or similar kind of brush, any of the solutions into the crevices or crutches of the tree; and to prevent the larvas from descending from one tree and ascending another, a good plan would be to paint the lower portion of the stem with a mixture of kerosene, lime, tar, and grease. When the presence of this borer is suspected, first clear away the sawdust-like matter before mentioned, the removal of which will indicate the direction taken by the grub, but as the holes are usually made in a hori- zontal position, the ordinary method of spraying should be somewhat departed from. If the spraying pump and nozzle be used, project, with as much force as can be commanded, the liquid into the hole, being guided by the direction taken by the grub. In gardens where there are but a few trees, small pieces of stick dipped in a mixture of tar and carbolic acid (three parts of the former to one of the latter) could be driven into the holes, which will, in most cases, cause the grub to at once shrivel up and die. In large places this method would be, perhaps, too tedious, still the services of children might be utilized with advan- tage for this purpose, as the little sticks could be pre- pared by night around the family fire ; and any active boy could go over a large number of trees in a very few days. The little sticks, as also the solution, could be carried in an old tin billv in front of the operator. 120 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : As the grubs of this Moth, if not destroyed, remain a long time in the trees (how long has not, I believe, been well ascertained), it will be all the more necessary to tackle them at once, as prevention is, after all, said to be better than the cure. The use of a lamp might be also tried with advantage in capturing the Moths, both males and females, which as a rule are not numerous. The forcing of steam into the holes made by this and other boring insects would, I feel certain, be of great benefit, and as the Moth itself is not of a small size, and by its colour is somewhat conspicuous, there should not be much trouble in combating the ravages of this pest. Old and abandoned orchards are fertile sources of infection, and should be carefully watched by growers and by all interested in fruit-growing as a profitable industry. 122 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : PLATE XIV. " Pear Phvtoptus " (Phytoptus pyri). 1. Pear branch, showing injury done to leaves. Natural size. (From nature.) 2. Section of pear leaf, showing galls and insects. Magnified. (From nature.) 3. Perfect insect. Highly magnified. (From nature.) .4. Section of gall with insects. Magnified. (From nature.) 5. Gall, showing chamber from which the little insects have escaped. jMagnified. (From nature.) C.C.BrittlebaTikJJel C French, J)i7'extt. Plate XIV. R. S-Braui, Gov^Pn^'' ■ THE PEAR PHYTOPTUS. VJo CHAPTER XIX. THE PEAR PHYTOPTUS. {Phytoptus pyri.) Older : Arachnoidea. Family : Acarin(S. Sub-Family : Phytoptida. Orchardists and others who are familiar with pear- growing will have observed the leaves of the pear tree to be partly covered with greenish-brown blister-like looking blotches (see Plate XIV., Fig. 1), rendering the trees very unsightly and causing them to prema- turely shed their leaves, to the undoubted detriment of both the tree and its fruit. This damage, then, is caused by a tiny insect belong- ing to the family phyt02:)ticlce, or gall Mites, a group of insects which includes also in its ranks the well-knov.n Red Spider of our gardens and conservatories. " On examining a pear-leaf," as Mr. Crawford* re- marks, " that has been attacked some little time, a num- ber of brown blister-looking spots will be seen. These are at first nearly round, but as they grow in size they spread laterally, generally taking the direction of the venation of the leaf. These are galls, for there is a decided thickening of the inside portion of the leaf, and each of these contains a greater or less number of these Mites (see Plate XIV., Fig. 2), which have been magnified and drawn irom nature. As the phyfopti suck away the juices of the leaf, or otherwise destroy the cellular tissue, it turns brown, and finally nearly black, but beyond stimulating the tissue so that it is developed abnormally, as in the case of all gall pro- ducing insects, it does not appear to do further injury. As the galls enlarge, owing to the food requirements *Report on the Fusicladiums, p. 46. 124 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : of the population within they often coalesce, so that in time the greater portion of the leaf becomes a blackish scab, containing probably one thousand phytopti." This Mite, even when full grown (see Plate XIV., Fig. 2), is so small that it is next to invisible without the aid of a lens, is, as the magnified drawing shows, a most curious looking creature, and I should say well deserves its title to be considered an entomological puzzle ; and Murray, in quoting from Kallenbach, tells us that according to Kirchner, " The Mites live on the small yellow shining leaves, where they cause red swol- len places, which later on become dark-red and black. On the underside of the leaf a small hole can be seen, with a lens, in each of the swellings through which the old Mites go in and out (see Plate XIV., Fig. 5). [Any of our readers can, with a fairly powerful lens, observe these interesting but destructive little insects for them- selves.— C.F.] When one cuts through one of these swellings horizontally (see Plate XIV., Fig. 4), the cellular tissue seems to be loosened, yellow and blackish, and between and under the loosened parts are found the eggs and Mites." How long this enemy of the pear has been known to Victorian orchardists I am not aware, and Mr. Craw- ford tells us that public attention in South Australia was first called to the fhijtoptus fyri by Sir R. D. Ross, in April, 1881. I fancy, however, that in Vic- toria this little insect must be classed amongst the more recently imported pests, and so curious are they in their structure and economy that, accor'ding to Murray, " Some botanists jumped to the* conclusion that they were cryptogamic growths. This idea once received, botanists took them under their charge, and described the various kinds under the name of erineum, &c. Sub- sequent discoveries, however, have shown that these species of erineum, in almost every case, are growths or products caused by some species of the small Mite which we have now under consideration; a Mite so small and THE PEAR PHYTOPTUS. 125 ■sometimes so crystalline and transparent (as in the 'phy- toptus of the ash, for example) that it cannot be seen in the gall at all, and it is only by washing out the galls and searching for them in the water in which they have been washed that it can be seen that there has been a living creature there at all. The first step towards a knowledge of this was made nearly a hundred and fifty years ago by Reaumur, the celebrated French entomologist." Fortunately for us in Victoria, there is, I believe, no authentic record of the presence of any of the bud- destroying fhytoiHi, which, according to all accounts, are much more to be dreaded than those attacking the leaves only. So far as can be ascertained, as quoted by Murray,there are only four species named and described as living in buds, and 46 that prey upon leaves, these latter insects being again subdivided into various genera, and as in tetranychus, or Red Spider, these bear the generic names of the various plants on which they feed, as fruni, for the plum; mali, for the apple; vitis, for the vine, and so on. With regard to the life-history of these singular little animals, Mr. Crawford gives it as his opinion, " That there are two ways in which the Mite survives the winter when all the leaves are sKed ; first, by hyber- nating among the hairs of and in the leaf-bud, and secondly, by forming colonies under the tender bark of the last year's growth, as I have found them in botli situations. It may be the eggs are laid in the buds, as very young leaves, when still unfolding, have often very small galls, which are then of a pink colour. I expect, therefore, that the majority of the Mites quit the leaves on the approach of their fall, to take up their winter quarters in these places. The Mites that fall with the leaves would soon die, but their eggs might be blown about with the decayed leaves, and by chance alighting on the pear trees, colonize them. The wind, birds, and insects are, doubtless, the principal means of dissemi- nating this pest in the summer time. The numl)er of 126 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : living lohytofti on an ordinary-sized pear tree that is badly attacked must amount to several thousands, if not millions; so that, allowing for a most lavish waste of life, the chances of a few being carried to other pears in the neighborhood must be considerable." Here we have the practical experience of a gentleman who has done so much in a very unostentatious manner for the fruit-growlers and farming industry of South Australia, and whose loss we all must deplore. As to the habits of this particular ^^^^ytoytus, these useful hints should enable us to deal promptly and effectually wdth this and similar insect pests. Prevention and Remedies. I quite agree with the late Mr. Crawford and others, wdio recommend the use of kerosene emulsion, propor- tion, say 1 to 14; caustic soda, 4, 8, and 12 ounces to the gallon; and sulphuretted lime, of the strength made according to the receipt, and the same diluted with one- half and one equal quantity of water. Mr. Crawford also recommends these to be used in three washes as an experiment, but which as yet I have had no opportunity of testing for m3''self . According to Hubbard's experiments with insecti- cides on the fhytoptus of the orange, which is verj^ troublesome in Florida, in the Southern States of the American Republic (and which insect may in all pro- bability appear here in Victoria), the kerosene emulsion, 1 to 14, killed the living mites, but not the eggs; two pounds of caustic potash to a gallon of water killed both mites and eggs, and charred the leaves ; but the best re- sults were obtained by whale-oil soap. Soft soap, our nearest substitute, with perhaps the addition of sul- phur, say 1 lb. to 5 gallons of w^ater, might be tried as a summer wash, to be repeated two or three times at intervals of one week; a kerosene emulsion of 1 to 20, and 1 to 40 might, Mr. Crawford thinks, be tried. THE PEAR PHYTOPTUS. 127 Winter sprc\ying should never be neglected, as it is of the greatest importance, and more especially, us has been previously remarked, should it be used against the resting spores of micro-fungi, with which a large num- ber of our fruit trees, vines, cereals, &c., are affected. As a precaution, the falling leaves of the pear trees should be raked up and burned, so as to prevent, as far as possible, the insects from accumulating. Sulphate of potassium, in the proportion of say half-an-ounce to the gallon of water, has been highly recommended as a sure remedy against Aphidae and Plant Lice, and might with advantage be tried on all soft-bodied insects, wdiether large or small, and "Magic soap," if used in the proportion of say 1 lb. to 8 gallons of water, has been proved to be a cheap, sure, and effective remedy against the much-dreaded Peach Aphis, as also similar insects. For certain kinds of insects, as Red-Scale, Cottony- cushion Scale, and others, which are difficult of eradica- tion, the canvas covering for the trees, mentioned by Mr. West, irrigation expert, as being largely in use in America, and under which the trees can be thoroughly treated with gas, &c., would, in my opinion, be very useful also for the phijtojyti and other minute insects. [An illustration of these covers are given elsewhere.] In spraying trees against phytopti, care should be taken that the liquid used is projected upwards, as the galls containing the insects are to be found on the under side of the leaves, so that the falling of the " mist," if sprayed in the usual manner as for Aphis, &c., would, no doubt, fail to reach either the insect or their habita- tions. With regard to the spraying of the trees against the attacks of icerya, and other insects difficult of destruc- tion, Professor MacOwan, of Cape Town, wisely states, " It is next to useless to spray the trees from the out- side; the labourer, dressed in a sack, with holes for the head and arms, should get up inside the spread of the tree, if it be laro-e, and swi.sh the back of the leaves, i.e , take the enemv in the rear." 128 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : Professor MacOwan, as also Mr. W. G. Klee, inspec- tor of fruit trees, California, thinks that the soapy solution (referred to elsewhere) has a better effect when applied hot, i.e., as warm as the hand can bear it, than when cold, opinions which have been borne out by the results of many experiments both in America, Europe^ as also in the colonies. MATERIALS FOR DESTROYING. 129 CHAPTER XX. Tabulated List of the Principal Materials in use FOR the Destruction of Noxious Insects, adapted FROM MaSKELL, with PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS. 1. Alcohol (Spirits of Wine, &c.). — Will kill most soft-bodied insects, but sprayed over scale prod need no apparent effect. — Comstock. Tried against Hutlierglen bug pest, but failed to kill the insect. Is also too ex- pensive for general use. — C. F. 2. Ammonia. — Whether used pure (diluted) or in wine damages the jDlant much more than it does the in- sect.— Hubbard, ComstocI:. 3. Ashes. — Ashes, powdered or mixed with lime, salt, soot, &c., of no use whatever. — Hubbard. I have seen wood ashes used with good effect on peach aphis and pear slug. — C. F. 4 Benzole. ^A valuable and well-tried remedy against insects attacking ripe or ripening fruit, as grapes, cherries, &c., as it will kill almost any insect by contact; no perceptible flavour of the benzole being noticeable on the fruit. Must be kept well stirred, and used with a very fine spray pump and nozzle; should not be used on young and tender foliage of fruit trees of any kind. — C. F. 5. Carbolic Acid. — Of no avail, either as spray or brushed on, unless used in such strength as to seriously injure the tree. — Hubbard, Riley, ComstocI-. A weak solution is very good for use against the elm-borer and peach-borer, also for the preservation of cabinet speci- 'nens of insects, and against clothes moth= — ('. F. 0. Carbon Ri-sulphide. — A very useful material but very combustive and offensive to those who use it. It is especially valuable in destroying the white ants at 639.T E 130 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : roots of vines and the citrus family; but as it evaporates very quickly, Quibell's Mixture was found to be more suitable as being more lasting in its character. Bi- sulphide has been tried with varying success against phylloxera, and were it more lasting in its nature, it is difficult to understand the cause of even a partial failure. For the preservation of furs, seed grain, - bard. If used in weak solution it is perfectly safe, and for many insects— particularly those below ground — it is an invaluable remedy. — C. F. 30. Sulphur.— One of the oldest and most valuable of insecticides and fungicides at present in use. Of ^reat value against red spider, phytoptus, &c., and has 134 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : recently been successfully tried for the purpose of pre- venting winged locusts from settling upon and destroy- ing fruit trees. Of no use against scale and like hardy insects. The lump sulphur, if crushed, is better for use than the ordinary " flowers of sulphur." — C. F. 31. Tobacco. — An invaluable indoor remedy against aphis, thrips, &c., also, if strong, on mealy bug. It can be used either in solution or for fumigation, the latter mostly for plants growing under glass. Can be obtained cheaply from any wholesale tobacco merchant or from factories. — C. F. APPENDIX. 135 APPENDIX. THE GAS TREATMENT OF SCALE-IXSECTS. The following matter having reference to the gas treatment of scale- insects, with explanations of Figs. 17, 18, and 19, has been extracted from the " Report of the Entomologist, Charles V. Riley, M.A., Ph. D., for the year 1887 " (Annual Report of the United States De- partment of Agriculture for the year 1887). The Figures 17, 18, and 19 have been reproduced from the above report. REPORT ON THE GAS TREATMENT FOR SCALE-IXSECTS. By D. W. CoQuiLLETT, Special Age Jit. Los Angeles, Cal., 20th Januarv, 1888. Sir, — I have the honour to transmit herewith my report upon the gas treatment for scale-insects (Coccidoe). Shortly after my reappointment last Julv as an agent of your divi- sion, the supervisors of this country withdrew their offered reward of $1,000 for a perfect exterminator of the Icerya, and their reason for so doing is thus given by the Los Angeles Herald: — " On Saturday last the board of supervisors decided to rescind the reward of $1,000 which they had offered for the discovery of a remedy which would exterminate the White Scale Bug and other pests injurious to fruit trees. They came to this decision for the reason that it is believed that Mr. Coquillett, the Go\-ernment appointee, has, by his gas system, mastered the problem wh'ch has so long been a puzzle to all fruit-growers." My experiments have been conducted in the orange groves of Mr. J. W. Wolfskin, of this city. Both Mr. Wolfskill and his foreman. Mr. Alexander Craw, have aided me much in my work, as has also Mr. W. G. ^McMullen, one of the members of the Los Angeles County Hor- ticultural Commission. Your own advice and frequent expressions of confidence have done much toward giving to my work whatever of merit it may possess. Very respectfully. D. W. CoQt ILLETT, Special Agent. Prof. C. V. Riley. U.S. Entomologist. The Gas Treatment of Scale-Insects. The process of destroying insects on plants in hot-hou.ses by fumi- gating with sulphur, tobrcco, and various other noxious substances, has long been in vogue, but up to a recent date this mode of warfare 136 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : against insect pests has not been extended to trees and plants growing in the open air. The earliest record I possess of any attempt of this kind is a copy of the specifications for a patent (No. 64667) granted to Mr. James Hatch, of Lynn, ^lass., on the 14th of May. 1867. The following extracts from these specifications will sufficiently explain the method pursued by Mr. Hatch : — " The invention relates particularly to the manner of effecting the destruction of insects known as Canker-worms, after their lodgment in trees and while consuming the foliage thereof. * * * i cover the entire head of the tree with a thin cloth of close texture, drawing the edges around the trunk, so as to envelop the branches in a sort of sack. Near the tree T have a furnace, over which is placed a pan containing tobacco, pepper, or other substances, the smoke from which will stupefy or kill the worms ; and from this pan I lead a pipe directly into the sack. Applying the heat to the pan by a lamp or by fuel introduced into the furnace, the smoke generated from the tobacco or other substance in the pan is thrown into the sack and soon fills it,, coming into contact with all the leaves, and either killing or instantly dislodging everv worm, and all other insects that may be in the tree."^ This me -hod of destroying insects on trees could not have been very widely adopted. Dr. A. S. Packard, who for several years held the office of entomologist to the ]\Iassachusetts State Board of Agriculture, writes me that he is not aware that this method has been practised in any part of the Atlantic States. I can find no reference to it, nor to- any similar method having been used in any of the States east of the Rocky Mountains from the date of the Hatch patent up to the present lime. For several years past many attempts at destroying scale-insects with gases and fumes have been made in southern California. For this purpose the infested tree was inclosed in an air-tight tent, the lower part of which was either fastened around the trunk of the tree or allowed to fall upon the ground ; in the latter case, a small quantity of earth was thrown upon the lower part of it. to prevent the escape of the gas or smoke. The tent was then filled with the smoke or gas experimented with. Among the first to make experiments of this kind were Messrs. J. W. Wolfskin and Alexander Craw, of Los Angeles ; Mr. John Wheeler, of San Francisco; Hon. J. DeBarth Shorb, Col. J. K. Dob- bins, and Mr. B. M. Lelong, of San Gabriel. The substance most commonly experimented with was the liquid bisulphide of carbon (CS2), but this did not prove entirely satisfactory, owing to the time required for it to evaporate and become diffused in the tent. Probably no person has spent more time and money in trying to discover some effectual method for destroying the scale-insects with gas than has Mr. J. W. Wolfskill, of Los Angeles. In a paper read at a meeting of fruit-growers, held in this city on the 7th of October, 1887, Mr. Alexander Craw gave an account of the experiments made by Mr. Wolfskill and himself, from which we extract the following : — APPENDIX. 137 " Previous to the year 1884 we had only the Black Scale (Lccaniinn olea) to contend with in the Wolf skill orange groves, and these scales were easily kept in check by an application of whale-oil soap in the form of a spray ; one application every two years ,vas suflicient. In the fall of the year 1884 we found a few trees on the south side of the large grove infested with the Cottony Cushion-scale (Iccrya pur- chasi); they became infested from an adjoining grove. We prepared for war, and soon had our spraying ap{)aratus at work upon them. As we were in for extermination, we made a strong solution of the whale-oil soap — so strong it almost defoliated the trees — and upon examination it looked as if we had gotten rid of the Icerya. A short time afterward, however, we found that the trees were again infested, and we sprayed again, using as much as 50 gallons of the solution to each tree ; but even with all this care, some of the Icerya escaped and soon covered the trees again, spreading in a north-easterly direction through the grove. We then cut the trees back, letting the branches drop upon a large canvas and afterwards burning them; we washed the stubs and trunks of the trees with the whale-oil soap solution, but even this severe treatment was not effective, so we concluded that spraving would not check this prolific creeping curse. " Knowing the fatal effects of a high temperature upon the young of the Black Scale, Mr. Wolfskill suggested experimenting with heat ; accordinglv he had a tent constructed, and also a sheet-iron stove that would send the heat into the tent. We put the tent over an orange tree, and raised the temperature to 128 deg. Fahrenheit for over an hour; this killed the Black Scales, but the Icerya seemed to enjoy the heat. The tree was injured, so we gave up dry heat. We next tried steam from a small steam-boiler ; this cooked the top of the tree, but upon the lower half the Icerya was as lively as ever. Our next expe- riment was with tobacco smoke ; this test lasted six hours, but has no effect upon the tree or scales. Sulphur fumes were also tried ; this bleached the foliage, but did not harm the Icerya; a heavier charge killed both the tree and the scales. Among other experiments made under the tent were : Concussion from gunpowder ; muriatic acid gas ; carbonic acid gas ; liquid chloroform, and also the gaseous chloroform manufactured under the tent from chloride of lime and methyl alco- hol ; arsenic, and other fumes and gases. We had very encouraging ^results from the liquid bisulphide of carbon; when confined for ten. twentv, or thirty minutes, or even for one hour, no satisfactory results were obtained, but when it was confined three hours it killed all of the scales, which soon assumed a pale buff colour. The gas, being a very powerful solvent, also acted upon the eggs, and they were destroyed, while the trees were not injured; in fact, a few weeks afterward thev started into a vigorous growth. Our efforts were then directed towards evaporating the bisulphide quickly ; heat, steam baths, agitation, circulating the air in the tent, exposing the bisul phide in shallow pans, and .saturating sponges with it were tried, but without hurrying matters much. 138 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : " Prof. D. W. Coquillett was so well impressed with our method of treating trees that he decided to investigate the subject ; accord- ingly, in the month of September, 1886, he began experimenting with the Wolfskin orange grove, and soon discovered that hydrocyanic acid gas would kill the scales and their eggs, but it also injured the foliage of the tree. We then united our efforts to remedy this evil, but it was something that required very close observation. We found that by withholding the water and allowing the sulphuric acid to come in contact with the dry cyanide of potassium in a fine stream we could treat trees without injuring even a blossom, while the gas proved fatal to the Black Scale (Lecanimn olece). Red Scale (Asfidiotus auraniii), and the San Jose Scale (Aspidotiis ferniciosus) confined in it ten minutes, but the Cottony Cushion-scale (Icerya purcJiasi) and eggs required a confinement of nearly thirty minutes. " We then perfected an apparatus for putting the tent on tall trees quickly. This occupied a great deal of time, but we finally succeeded so well that we could change the tent from one tree to the other in less than two minutes. Mr. A. B. Chapman and Mr. L. H. Titus, of San Gabriel, became impatient of the delay, and requested Professor Hil- gard, of the State University, to send them a chemist, and they would pay his expenses. In the month of April, 1887, Mr. F. W. Morse was delegated for this purpose, and he. too, finally discovered that hydrocyanic acid gas would kill the scales ; but Professor Coquillett had made the same discovery over six months previously, so that the credit of this discoverv belongs to this latter gentleman. Much credit is also due to Mr. J. W. Wolf skill for the great amount of time and money that he has devoted to this cause. " Alexander Craw." I am not aware that either of the above experimenters mentioned above have ever published the results of their experiments, nor have I been able to obtain any notes from them upon the subject. Many years ago Dr. George Dimmock, one of the editors of Psyche, made a number of interesting experiments with pure gases on various insects, and his account of these experiments is given in the March- April number of that journal for 1877. The results obtained by him re brieflv as follows : — " Carbon'c acid gas (carbon dioxide) did not prove fatal to beetles confined in it for one or two moments, but several sow-bugs (Ontscus) confined in it from twentv to thirty minutes never recovered. Mixed with oxvgen in the proportion of three parts of the former to one of the latter, it did not prove fktal to a beetle confined in it three minutes. When mixed in the proportion of sixty-six parts of the carbonic acid gas to thirty-four parts of oxygen, it did not prove fatal to a beetle confined it in five minutes, nor to a Avire-worn (Elaierida) confined in it thirtv minutes, and of several sow-bugs (Ontscus) confined in it fifty minutes, to some it proved fatal, while to others it did not. APPENDIX. 139 " Carbonic oxide gas (carbon monoxide) did rot prove fatal to beetles confined in it ten minutes, nor to butterflies confined in it thirty minutes. '■ Hydrogen d'd not prove fatal to a beetle and butterfly confined in it five n:inutes. " Oxygen did not prove fatal to a spider confined in it one hour, nor to a beetle confined in it for three days. " Nitric oxide (NO) proved fatal to a beetle confined in it onlv fifteen seconds, while several sow-bugs (Otiiscus) confined in it from forty to sixty seconds never recovered." My own experiments with the nitric oxide mixed with air did not prove as successful as those made bv Dr. Dimmock with the pure gas ; in fact, the brown fuming tetroxide proved more fatal to the Icerya than did the colourless oxides. I first began experimenting with gases in the month of September, 1886, and have since continued it at intervals up to the present time; an account of these experiments will be found at the end of this report. Among the numerous gases tried none have given as good satisfaction -as the hydrocyanic acid gas ; an account of the discovery of the effects of this gas is given in the paper by Mr. Craw, repro- duced above, and need not be "repeated here. Several of the other gases experimented with by me have not as yet been given sufficient trial to justify me in reporting either for or against their use as insecti- cides. In the n.on'h of April, 1887. se\eral of the fruit-growers of San Gabriel, who had become acquainted with the results that Mr. Wolf- skill, ^fr. Craw, and myself had obtained from the hydrocyanic acid gas, applied to Prof. E.' W. Hilgard, of the California State Univer- sity, at Berkeley, for a chemist to assist them in experimenting with various gases, and he delegated Mr. F. W. Morse. Mr. Morse expe- rimented with about half-a-dozen different kinds of gases, but found nore so effectual as the hydrocyanic acid gas, which I nad used o\er six months previously. iHis report will be found in Bulletin No. 15, Division of Entomology of this department. iHe was the first to use an ai pr.ratus for pgi'tating the air in the tent, but this idea ajipears to have originated with Professor Hilgard, who writes me that he instructed iNlr. iMorse to always agitate the air in the tent after intro- ducing the gas. In the months of September and October, 1886, Mr. Albert Koe- bele. one of the entomological agents of this department, made a few experiments with the liquid bisulphide of carbon, an account of which he cave in his report to Prof. C. V. Riley, published in the report of this department for the year 1886, page 569. The results of these experiments, however, especially tho.se made under a tent, are so discrepant as to leave one in doubt as to the value of the bisulphide as an insecticide. During the past season T have made several experiments with the liquid bisulphide, the main object being to devise some method 140 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : whereby it could be evaporated more quickly than by merely expos- ing it to the air, but the results of these experiments were not' entirely satisfactory. I next manufactured the bisulphide by passing the vapours of sulphur over red-hot charcoal and conducting the gaseous bisulphide into the tent; but the numerous experiments I have made with the bisulphide thus produced indicate that it can never be suc- cessfully used for the destruction of insects on .trees. ^ The Tent. — The tent used in enclosing the tree is of the usual circular form, with a conical or dome-shaped roof. It is usuallv made of heavy bed-ticking, and is afterwards thoroughly oiled with boiled linseed oil ; care should be exercised not to leave the tent folded or rolled up while still damp with the oil. A tent belonging to Mr. J. W. Wolfskin, of this city, had been recently oiled, and when nearly dry was rolled up and thrown upon the ground where the sun shone upon it ; this was in the forenoon, and when it was unrolled the next, morning the greater part of it was found to-be charred, as if bv fire. It_ would be desirable to use some kind of ready-prepared cloth for making the tent, but thus far no substitute for the oil-cloth has been found. I have received samples of water-proof cloth from the United States Water-proof Fiber Company, of New York, but even the heaviest grade, although evidently water-proof, is far from being air-tight. A sample of twilled sheeting, prepared especially for this purpose, is much closer in its texture than the above, but is not air- tight ; they offer to furnish it at about lo cents per yard, the heavy bed-ticking referred to above costing in Los Angeles about 19 cents per yard. I have also received samples of rubber cloth manufactured by the Boston Rubber Company, of Boston, Mass. Their lightest' and cheapest grade is a thin black cloth, which they offer to furnish and make into tents of any desired size, and with the seams closed up ; the price would be about 23 cents per yard. This grade might answer for small tents— those not more than 5 or 6 feet high — but it is not strong enough for large-sized tents. At my request the company manufactured a tent about 12 feet high from this grade of cloth, but found that it was not strong enough for the use I intended to make of it. They also sent three other grades of rubber cloth manufactured bv them, and costing from 50 to 65 cents per yard made into tents, but it is doubtful that either of these grades would be strong enough for making large-sized tents. I have also received samples of rubber cloth from the Goodyear Rubber Company, of San Francisco. Their light gossamer cloth is evidently not strong enough for making large-sized tents ; its price is about 60 cents per yard. Their black rubber sheeting is the best that I have seen for this purpose, but the price, 54 cents per yard, would doubtless prevent its being used for this purpose. APPENDIX. 141 Apparatus for Operating the Tent. — Where small trees are to be operated upon a sheet might be used for the purpose of confining the gas ; or the sheet could first be sewed in the form of a sack, which could be easily slipped over a small tree from above, the operator standing on the ground, or upon a step-ladder. For operating on large trees, however, a device of some kind must be used for putting the tent on the tree, and also for removing it again. The Wolfskin f'umigator. — This apparatus was designed by Messrs. J. W. Wolfskill and Alexander Craw, of Los Angeles, and is the first that has been used with success upon the largest orange trees. A good idea of its appearance is given in Fig. 17. This fumigator consists of a strong wooden frame mounted on a low waggon or truck ; in the centre is a tall mast, the bottom of which rests upon the waggon reach, which is strengthened by iron braces attached to the side pieces of the frame. The mast is placed between two pieces of pine timber and a stout iron pin passes through these pieces and through the mast. The bottom of the mast is kept in place by two blocks of hardwood bolted to the reach on either side of the mast ; their inner ends are concave, so as nearly to encompass the lower end of the mast. For staying the mast, four iron rods are attached at one end to the four corners of the frame on the Avaggon, while their upper ends are attached to an iron clamp which encircles the mast a little above the middle of the latter. A short distance above this clamp is an arm or lx)om and its trian- gular brace, bolted together so as to encompass the mast ; at either end of this arm is a frame carrying one main roller and two side rollers, the latter being placed at a distance of about 6 inches from either end of the main roller, and their office is to prevent the tent from passing off of the ends of the main roller while it is being drawn over the latter. For the support of these rollers and the triangular brace, iron rods are attached to the top of the mast and pass to either end of each of the roller frames, and also to each outer corner of the triangular brace, while two other iron rods are fastened at one end to each outer corner of this brace, their other ends being fastened to one of the wooden side-pieces of the frame on the waggon. An iron rod also passes from each outer corner of the triangular brace to either end of the roller frame at the outer end of the arm to prevent side motion. The tent is drawn off of the tree by means of a rope that passes through the two main rollers and down the mast to a windlass attached to the frame of the waggon, extending from one side piece to the other, and passing just behind the mast ; by turning this wind- lass the tent is drawn off of the tree, passing over the main roller at the outer end of the arm, then over the one at the opposite end, and down the mast till the bottom of the tent has been elevated above the tops of the highest branches of the tree. At the bottom of the tent is fastened a circle of gas-pipe, for the purpose of keeping 142 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : the bottom of the tent spread out while it is passing down over the tree ; iron or steel rods made into a circle would be preferable to the gas-pipe, which is liable to break at the joints or couplings. To this circle are attached two or three ropes, to be used in pulling the tent down over the tree. The main rollers at either end of the arm are provided with a deeply-grooved pulley in the centre of each, over which the rope passes in drawing the tent off of the tree, or allowing it to pass down over one. When it is desired to transport this fumigator to a considerable dis- tance the mast is lowered by means of a derrick composed of four pieces of pine timber ; the lower ends of the foremost pieces are at- tached to the front corners of the fraime on the waggon, while the ends of the other two pieces simply rest upon that frame on either side of the mast. The upper ends of these pieces are fastened together by a strong iron bolt to which a large pulley is attached. In lowering the mast a large rope is attached to it just above the point where the iron clamp encircles it ; the other end of the rope is then passed through the pulley at the upper end of the derrick, and from this point it passes to the windlass, upon which the rope is then wound. The block of wood bolted to the waggon-reach in front of the mast is then re- moved, and the stay-rods fastened to the frame on the waggon are disconnected ; then, by unwinding the windlass, the mast is lowered until it rests horizontally upon the waggon, turning upon the iron pin that passes through the mast near its base. I have used this fumigator repeatedly, and it has given good satis- faction when used on level ground and at a time when the wind was not blowing very hard. Two men can operate it with ease. For transporting from place to place it is the best apparatus that has yet been produced. It is desired to have the stay-rods and windlass at- tached to a turn-table, so that the tent could be taken off one tree and put upon another without moving the waggon ; by this arrangement three tents could be operated by the one apparatus without any loss of time. It might also be desirable to mount this apparatus upon run- ners, like those of a sled, but placed as wide apart as the trees would admit. This fumigator has not been patented up to date. Tlie Titus Fumigator. — This apparatus was devised bv Mr. L. H. Titus, of Van Gabriel, and is especially designed for operating on tall trees. It is shown in Fig. i8, and consists of four corner posts made by bolting together two boards in such a manner that they form a right angle with each other ; at the upper end these posts are connected by cross-pieces formed of boards bolted together like those forming the corner posts. Two of these cross-pieces are longer than the other two, and are placed on opposite sides of the frame ; they are connected near the middle by two cross-pieces, between which is placed the roller upon which the tent is to be wound when being drawn off the tree. These various cross-pieces are braced. APPENDIX. 143 The lower end of each of the rear corner posts is rigidly attached to an axle, on the outer end of which a light wheel is placed, while the inner end is connected with the corner post by an oblique brace. The lower end of each of the front corner posts is attached to the middle of an axle having a light wheel at each end ; the post is attached to the axle by an iron bolt which permits the wheels to be at the same moment turned, the one forward and the other backward, like the forward wheels of a waggon or buggv. Bv means of this arrangement the fumigator can be turned about in a circle. The front and rear corner posts on each side of the fumigator are connected with each other by a cross-piece extending from one to the other, and strengthened by braces which extend obliquely from the cross-piece to the posts. When, this fumigator is in use the front and rear cross- pieces shown in Fig. i8, as extending from the posts on the one side to those on the other are removed, so as to permit the frame to pass either forward or backward over the trees. The top of the tent is attached by three ropes to the roller, while to the lower edge of the tent are attached four ropes, placed at equal distances from each other ; each of these ropes passes through a puUev attached to a frame near each upper corner, and the end of the rope is attached to the lower edge of the tent at the place where the oppo- site end of the same rope is attached. For winding the tent upon the roller an endless rope is used ; this passes around a grooved wheel at one end of the roller, and is carried through a pulley near the upper end of one of the rear corner posts ; from this point it passes to and around a grooved wheel fastened to the cross-piece near the lower end of this post, and this grooved wheel is operated by a crank. In taking a tent off of a tree, each of the corner ropes is pulled through its pulley, drawing the bottom of the tent upward, thus turning the tent inside out ; after the tent has been drawn up as far as possible, the crank operating the grooved wheel that works the endless rope is turned, winding the tent upon the roller until it has been entirely removed from the tree. The fumigator is thus drawn forward until the tent is brought directly over the second tree, when the ropes attached to the lower edge of the tent are loosened, permitting the tent to drop down over the tree, at the same time unwinding the tent from the roller, and continuing this until the tent rests upon the tree. . I have helped to operate a fumigator of this kind several times, and it gave vers- good satisfaction, especially the manner in which the tent was let doun over the tree and taken off again. The frame of the fumigator should be so constructed as to admit of its being lowered when' not in use. to prevent its being injured by high winds; three of these fumigators have, to my knowledge, been totally wrecked 144 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : by high winds within the last three months. There is also need of some device by which one of these apparatuses could operate two or three tents. I am not aware that this fumigator has as yet been patented, although I am of the opinion that the inventor has applied for letters patent. The Culver Fumigator. — This fumigator was devised by Mr. John P. Culver, of I,os Angeles, who, on the 26th July, 1887, obtained a patent on the same (No. 367134). While both the Wolf skill and the Titus fumigators allow the tent to pass down over the tree from above, the present one encloses the tree from one side, being made in the form of two half tents, which encompass the tree and meet upon the opposite side. A very good idea of this fumigator can be gleaned from Fig. 19. The frame-work of the tent may be constructed either of wood or of band iron, and the covering may be a light grade of tin, or a heavy grade of canvas, or of bed-ticking, well oiled with boiled linseed oil. The edges, which are to meet when the tent is closed, should be covered with a thick layer of felt. The tent is transported from tree to tree upon a pair of runners, like those of a sled, fastened together by several cross-pieces, one of which is exactly in the middle, and near one end of this cross-piece is firmly attached an upright post, tall enough to reach a little above the lower edge of the roof of the tent ; this post is further strength- ened by two wooden braces attached to it near its upper end, their lower ends being attached to the runner on the opposite side of the sled. The two halves of the tent are attached to the post by means of four hinges, two of which are attached to the frame of the tent, near its lower edge and not far from the juncture of the two halves, while the other two are attached to the frame near the lower edge of the roof. The opposite ends of these hinges are attached to upright rods fastened to the post near its upper and its lower ends, and are so arranged as to allow the tent to be raised or lowered, independent of the post ; they are so constructed that when the tent is being closed it is pushed forward until it is entirely clear of the sled, so that when the tent is closed it can be dropped upon the ground. The raising and lowering of the tent is accomplished by means of a lever applied to the frame of the tent near the point where one of the lower hinges is attached. In taking the tent off of the tree the tent is first raised up with the lever until its lower edge is above the upper side of the sled, after which the tent is opened and the two halves are swung around and allowed to rest upon the sled, as shown in Fig. 19. The sled is then drawn forward until the injunction of the two halves of the tent is brought opposite to the middle of the second tree, when the tent is slightly raised by the lever and the two halves swung around until they enclose the tree, after which they are fastened together and dropped upon the ground. The hinges at the upper end of the APPENDIX. 145 upright post on the sled are so constructed as to allow the tent to lean either backward or forward, so that its lower edge may conform to the surface of the ground. I have been able to make only a single lest with a fumigator of this kind, and it gave very good satisfaction. I am of the opinion that this fumigator will prove to be both cheaper and easier to operate than either of those described above. There is still need of some device by which the same lent could be made smaller or larger, at the will of the operator, so that it may be made to conform to the size of the different trees. Mr. Culver, the inventor, informs me that he intends to use two of these fumigators, transmitting the gas from one tent to the other ; but it is impossible at the present writing to say whether or not he will meet with success, as no tests of this kind have as yet been made. If successful, this method would reduce the cost of treating a tree at least one-half* The Gas. — Among the numerous gases which I have tried none have given such good results as the hydrocyanic acid gas ; even arseniuretted hvdrogen and sulphuretted hydrogen, which are so fatal to the higher animals when respired, fail to produce the same deadly effects upon the scale-insects that is produced by the hydrocyanic acid gas. The latter, which generated in the usual manner, by acting with sulphuric acid upon potassium cyanide dissolved in water, is very destructive to the foliage of the trees confined to it. To remedy this, three methods are at present known, viz. : — The dry cyanide process, which consists of acting upon the dry potassium cyanide with sul- phuric acid ; the dry gas process, consisting of acting with sulphuric acid upon potassium cyanide dissolved in water and passing ihe gas through sulphuric acid ; and the cyanide and soda process, which consists of mixing bicarbonate of soda with potassium cyanide dis- solved in water and adding the mixture to sulphuric acid. The Dry Cyanide Process. — In my early experiments with this gas it was plainly to be seen that the less water the cyanide has been dissolved in tlie less injurious was the effect of the gas upon the tree confined in it. The heat generated in the production of the gas is suflBcient to vaporize a considerable quantity of the water in which the cyanide has been dissolved, and this aqueous vapour collecting upon "the leaves would condense the gas, which is very soluble in water, forming hydrocyanic acid, which is very destructive to plaiit life. It is also probable that the ascending vapour carried with it some of the unchanged cyanide solution, since it was clearly apparent that the gas was more injurious to the folinge when generated rapidly than when it was produced more slowly. Profiting bv this di.scovery, I next tried acting with the acid upon the dry, finely pulverized cvanide, and the result proved that the gas thus produced was less • ifr. Coiiuillett writes later :—"TIie tent of the r'ulver fimiitfa'or is now ni.-wle without a framework. exoei)t the two arches : this makes it hnth flieaper ami liirhter than hcfore pennittinif the tent to more nearly conform to the shai)e of the different trees confined in it."— C.V.H. 146 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : injurious to the foliage than when generated in the usual way. It still injured the leaves to a certain extent, due, as it appears, to the fact that the ascending gas carried with it some of the fine particles of the cyanide and lodged them upon the leaves. My next step was to use the cyanide in large pieces instead of pulverizing it, and the gas thus produced did not injure the tenderest leaves of orange trees, even when confined in it for an hour. The proportion of ingredients used was about two fluid ounces of sulphuric acid to each ounce of the potassium cyanide. Muriatic acid may be used instead of the. sulphuric, but it is not as strong, besides costing more. Only the best grade of the cyanide, such as that commonly used by photographers, can be used for this purpose, since the cold acid will not act upon the poorest grade,. which is commonly used for mining purposes ; and this remark is equallv true in regard to both of the proresses described below. ■ The Dry Gas Process. — I have already alluded above to the fact that the drier the gas the less injurious was the effect upon the tree confined in it ; and it occurred to me that the ga's might be generated in the usual way, by acting with sulphuric acid upon potassium cvanide dissolved in water, and afterwards be dried by passing it through some medium that would deprive it of its moisture. Knowing the great aviditv of sulphuric acid for moisture. I determined to use- it as a drier for the gas, and several tests which I have made with this gas dried in this way proved that it does not injure the foliage of orange trees confined in it, while it is just as fatal to the scale insects- as is the moist gas. The density of the acid through which the gas- had passed was lowered about one degree, as indicated by the hydro meter ; but this AVould not prevent its use for generating the gas. The cvanide is dissolved by boiling in water for a few minutes,, using I gallon of water for each 5 lbs. of cyanide. It is desirable to use as little water as possible for this purpose, but the quantity could not be very much reduced from that given above. I have tried to dissolve 5 lbs. of the cyanide in half-a-gallon of water, but all of the cyanide had not dissolved after half-an-hour's boiling. For every ounce of the cyanide solution use half-an-ounce of sulphuric acid ; but it is always desirable to add some of the acid to the pre- scribed dose, in order that there may be an excess of the acid. No evil results will follow if double the proper quantity of the acid were to be used, whereas if less than the proper quantity were used, the whole of the gas would not be evolved from the cvanide solution, hence the advisability of always using an excess of the acid. In generating the gas the acid should flow upon the cyanide solution in a very fine stream. When they came in contact, violent action at once takes place, and the gas is rapidlv given off in the form of a dense whitish fog, resembling smoke and possessing a peculiar odour. When the gas, diluted with air, is inhaled, it produces a dryness vet the mouth and throat. APPENDIX. 147 It is impossible to give any definite rule for using the different in- :gredients that will apply to the differently sized trees, owing to the fact that trees of the same height may have a varying diameter of top; thus orange trees 12 feet tall may have a diameter of top rang- ing all the way from 6 to 10 feet. The manner in which the tree is pruned will also make a difference in the- quantity of the ingredients to be used, some trees being allowed to branch almost from the ground, while others are trimmed u{) from 3 to 5 feet from the ground. The following table, based upon numirous experiments which I have made on orange trees under a tent 10 feet tall and having a transverse diameter of 10 feet, will give a good idea of the proper quantities of «ach ingredient to be used in treating citrus trees: — Cvaniole Snlplii'.ric Heisrht Diameter solution ■m\(\ (in feet) (in feet) (fluid (fluid ounces). ounces 1. 6 5 2 ,1 ' 4 10 10 12 - 12 8 q 16 12 28 16 20 • + 47 26 This table is based upon the cubical contents of the space enclosed by the tent, supposing that the lower part of the tent rests upon the ground. No harm will result to the tree if twice the quantity that I have recommended be used, but, of course, for the sake of economy, it will be desirable to use only such quantity of each ingredient as will be necessary for destroying the scale insects infesting the tree to be treated with this gas. The sulphuric acid should have a density of -65 deg. when tested with an acid hydrometer ; should its density be lower than this, use an extra ounce of the acid for every five degrees •of density below 65 deg. The Cyaniole and Soda Process. — The third method of rendering 1;he hydrocvanic acid gas harmless to the foliage of the trees confined in it consists of mixing this gas with carbonic acid gas, the latter having the property of extracting the moisture from the former, form- ing gaseous carbonic acid. This appears to occur only under a certain degree of pressure ; thus, if the two gases are generated in the same open generator within the tent and allowed to rise and fill the tent, ihe hydrocyanic acid gas will prove nearly as injurious to the foliage of the tree confined in it as it would if no carbonic acid gas had been present. The carbonic acid gas is produced bv acting with sulphuric acid upon bicarbonate of soda or saleratus. The latter is first made into a thin paste with water, using alx)ut i fluid ounce of water to each 148 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA 2 ounces by weight of the bicarbonate. Several seconds elapse after the sulphuric acid comes in contact with the soda paste before the evolution of the gas begins ; a foamy mass soon appears, consisting of variously sized bubbles, which rise up in the generator and finally burst, giving forth the colourless and odourless gas. A fluid ounce of the acid will evolve all of the gas from about 3 ounces of the bi- carbonate, weighed before it is mixed with the water. The bicarbonate has a tendency to settle at the bottom of the solu- tion, forming a compact mass upon which the acid acts very slowly. On this account it is desirable to add the soda paste to the acid instead of following the usual method of adding the acid to the soda. I have used marble dust in place of the bicarbonate of soda, and the result obtained by its use was as satisfactory as when the bicarbonate had been used ; it possesses none of the adhesiveness of the bicarbo- nate, and consequently does not form a compact mass in the bottom of the solution. The best results have been obtained when both the hydrocyanic acid gas and the carbonic acid gas were produced in the same apartment of the generator. The cyaniole is first dissolved in water, as described above, using 5 pounds of the cvaniole to each gallon of Avater, and for every 10 fluid ounces of this solution use 9 ounces by weight of the bicarbonate. The bicarbonate is first made into a thin paste with water, as above described, after which it is added to the proper quantity of the cya- niole solution and thoroughly stirred ; the whole is then added very slowlv to the proper quantitv of sulphuric acid, previously poured into the lower apartments of the generator. The following table will give ^ good idea of the proper quantity of each ingredient to be used for the differentlv sized trees : — Cyaniole Bicarb n- Sulphuric He'ght Diameter so'ution ate of soda rc'd (in feet). (in feet). (fluid (ounce -i (fluid ounces). by weis;ht). 01 uces). 6 , 2 li if 10 10 12 1 1 11 12 8 9 8 8 16 12 28 27 25 20 1 + 47 43 40 The hydrocyanic acid gas will be just as effective if twice the amount of the bicarbonate of soda that I have recommended be used, together with a sufficient quantity of sulphuric acid to evolve all of the carbonic acid gas from it. This latter gas does not act as a diluent, as some persons have supposed, but simply as a drier, its sole office being to extract the moisture from the hydrocyanic acid gas, thus rendering the latter gas harmless to the foliage of the trees con- fined in it. APPENDIX. 149 The carbonic acid gas does not injure the foliage of orange trees confined in it; when sufficiently pure, it stupefies the scale insects confined in it for half-an-hour, but they wholly recover from the effects of the gas after the lapse of a few hours. , I noticed that when the trees were treated with the cyaniole and soda process in the hottest part of a very hot day the foliage was almost as severely injured as when the hydrocyanic acid gas had been used alone. We may conjecture that this results from the fact that at a high temperature the carbonic acid gas is freed from the aqueous vapour, leaving the latter in a proper condition for again uniting Avith the hydrocyanic acid gas. When these two gases are reduced to the liquid state by pressure or by great cold, it is found that the liquid carbonic acid gas boils at a much lower tem- perature than the liquid hydrocyanic acid does. A given quantity of w-ater will dissolve about its own volume of carbonic acid gas, but all of this gas may afterwards be expelled by boiling. Remarks. — Of the three processes described above, it is evident that the dry gas process is preferable to either of the others. Not only is there less labour in its manipulation, but it is also much cheaper than either of the other processes. After the tree has been confined in the gas the proper length of time the tent should be entirely removed from it. On two different occa- sions I simply opened the tent to allow the gas to escape, after which the tent Avas again placed on the tree and the doorway of the tent left partiallv open ; it remained on one of the trees for seven consecu- tive davs, while on the other tree it w^as allowed to remain only for a dav and night, but in both instances the trees were nearly killed. The generator used in the production of the hydrocyanic gas is as shown in the foreground in Fig. 17 ; it w^as originally devised by Mr. Alexander Craw and myself, and has given perfect satisfaction. This generator consists of two leaden vessels placed one above the other and connected by a brass stop-cock ; to the end of the valve of this stop-cock is firmly soldered an L-shaped piece of an iron rod, to be used in opening and closing the stop-cock. The low-er vessel is entirely closed above ; near one side of the top is a screw- cap, covering the opening through which the proper chemicals are tobe introduced into the vessel, while on the opposite side is an opening over Avhich is firmly soldered the end of a leaden pipe, through which the gas passes on its way from the generator to the tent. When it is intended to pass the gas through sulphuric acid this leaden pipe is made to enter one side of an upright leaden vessel, and as near the bottom of the vessel as possible ; to the top of the leaden vessel is attached a tin or leaden pipe which conducts the dried gas into the tent. Of course, if it is not desired to pass the gas through sul- phuric acid, the leaden acid-vessel can be dispensed with, the leaden pipe from the generator passing directly into the tent.* » Mr. Coquillett writes later as follows :-" In speakintr of the (ras generator. I [ecommeod passinK the pas throuirh sulphuric acid : a better way is to pass it into the acid, the le!^'^"J^ Pf which conducts the -a.s from the -enerator enterin- the upri^rht leaden vessel ^^''o^'^ '*» ™'rt' 'e- and eur\inff downward in the vessel until the mouth of the pipe nearly reaches the bottom oi me vessel and is covered bv the acid." — C.V.R. 150 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : In charging the generator for the dry gas process, the proper quan- tity of the potassium-cyanide solution is poured into the lower vessel through the opening closed by the screw-cap, this cap having first been removed, to be again replaced after the solution has been poured in. The stop-cock connecting the two vessels of the generator is next closed by turning the handle attached to the valve, after which the proper quantity of sulphuric acid is poured into the upper vessel. The tin pipe attached to the upper end of the leaden acid-vessel is then re- moved, and a slightly larger quantity of sulphuric acid is poured into this vessel than was poured into the upper vessel of the generator ; there should be a sufficient quantity of the acid in this leaden vessel to slightly more than cover the end of the leaden pipe leading from the generator. The tin pipe is next attached to the upper end of the acid-vessel, as shown in Fig. 17, while the other end of this pipe passes into the tent previously placed over a tree and made ready for the reception of the gas. When everything is ready, the handle of the stop-cock of the generator is turned until the acid in the upper vessel commences to f.ow into the lower one, where it comes in contact with the cyanide solution, and the production of the gas begins. The acid should be allowed to fiow very slowly upon the cyanide solution ; if the gas is produced too rapidly the acid will be thrown out of the acid-vessel ; the latter should be taller than indicated in Fig. 17, and it would doubtless be an advantage to have it wdder at the top than at the bottom. After all the gas has passed into the tent, the acid in the acid- vessel should be emptied into a glass or leaden vessel to be used the next time for generating the gas; for this purpose it would be well to insert a brass stop-cock in the lower part of the acid-vessel. There should also be quite a large stop-cock in the lower part of the lower vessel of the generator, for drawing off the residue before again charg- ing the generator with fresh materials. When not in use, the two vessels of the generator, and also the acid-vessel, should contain a small quantity of water, which will prevent the valves of the stop cocks from becoming so corroded that they can not be operated without first being taken apart and cleaned. Agitating the Mr in the Tent.—Aii&x the gas has passed into the tent, and also while it is passing in, the air in the tent should be thoroughly agitated. The most effectual method of accomplishing this is by the use of some device whereby the air may be drawn out at the top^f the tent and forced in at the bottom. When the McMullen or the Culver tent is used, the pipe taking the air out of the upper part of it can enter the top of the tent, but in the Wolfskill and the Titus tents both pipes must enter the tent at the bottom, the one intended for drawing the air out of the upper part of the tent passing some distance up the trunk of the tree, while the other pipe merely passes a short distance into the tent. APPENDIX. 151 For circulating the air in the tent, various devices have been used, but the one that has given the best satisfaction is known as the Cummins blower, which was originallv intended for forcing air into mines. It consists of an iron fan-wheel, driven with great velo- city bv means of a series of cog wheels and pinions, the whole encased in an air-tight iron covering, having an opening on one side of the fan- wheel, through which the air is drawn out of the tent by means of a tin pipe, the base of which covers this opening. In the lower part of the fan-wheel chamber is a large opening, placed opposite to a similar opening in one side of an iron pipe closed at one end while to the other end is attached the tin pipe through which the air is to be forced into the tent. When the crank operating the fan-wheel is turned, the air is drawn out of the tent through the tin pipe, and passes into the fan- wheel chamber through the hole in the side of the latter, and by the rapidly revolving fan-wheel is thrown by centrifugal force into the ten;. I had a blower constructed upon, nearlv the same principle as the above, except that the fans were made of tin, as was al.so the covering of the fan-wheel chamber, but it did not give very good satisfaction. There is a machine manufactured at San Jose, Cal., and known as the Acme fumigator, which is provided with an iron fan-wheel driven by a belt. The blower of this fumigator is much too small to be used for agitating the air in the tent, but the manufacturer, Mr. A. R. Tomkiri, informs me that they could be made of almost any size, and that the price would be less than a third of that of the Cummins blo.ver. This is a verv simple arrangement, and if made large enough would doubtless answer the purpose quite as well as the Cummins blower, and at a much lower price. It has also been suggested to use a common blacksmith's bellows for the purpose of stirring the air in the tent, but it would appear to be a difficult task to manipulate it in such a way that the air would be drawn out of the tent as well as forced into it. In the Culver tent a wooden fan is at present used, being placed ins'de of the tent ; a fan of this kind, however, will always cause more or less trouble on account of its striking the branches of the tree inclosed by the tent. On this account it is advisable to always have the apparatus for agitating the air in the tent placed on the out- side of the latter. Whatever form of apparatus is used, it shouM be placed as near as possible to the point where the gas is to enter the tent ; and if it can be so arranged that the gas can pass into the tent by the same pipe th-ough which the air is forced into the tent, this will be a great advantage, since the gas will then become more thoroughly mixed with the air in the tent before reaching the foliage. There are doubtless many valuable insecticides other than those in general use, and these will, if thought necessary, be included in Part II. of the Handbook. 152 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : The following table has been taken from the " Report on the Fusicladiums " (Crawford): — Useful Figures to be remembered in making Solutions. Gallon yL zz r, ])hit. i = I pint. „ ^ =: 2 pints, or 2 quarts. „ 15 rr 4 Joints, or 2 quarts. „ ^ =: 6 pints, or 3 quarts. ,, 1 rz 8 pints, or 4 quarts. I fluid ounce of water weighs i ounce a\"oirdupois. I pint of water weighs 1% lbs. 20 fluid ounces make i pint. 12 fluid ounces of kerosene weigh 8 oz. 20 fluid ounces of kerosene, or i pint, weigh 13^4 oz. 1 pound weight of kerosene measures i 1/5 pint. Fig. 17.— THE WOLFSKILL FUMIGATOR. GENERAL LXDEX TU PART J. j\bdomen, definition of term, 17. Alcohol, used against insects, 129. American Blight. See Woolly Afhis. Ammonia, used against insects, 129. Antennae, definition of term, 17. Apate dorsalis, 63. Apparatus required for collecting in- sects, 20. j\pple-bark Scale, 79 et seq. Imported from either Europe or America, 79. Male insect, unknown in New Zea- land and Europe, and doubtful in America and Australia, 79. On Eucalyptus, 80. Parasites, of, 82. Application of kerosene emulsion, resin compound, corrosive subli- mate, and starch against, 81. J\pple Beetle, 85, 86. Application of London Purple, kero- sene emulsion, resin compound, Quibell's disinfectant, and benzole against, 87. -Apple-root Borer, 73, 74, 75. Indigenous to Australia, 73. Damage done at Geelong by, 74. Application of carbon bi-sulphate, Quibell's tar compoimd, and cor- rosive sublimate against, 75, 76. Re-planting of affected trees, 76. Apple-tree Borer Beetle, 63 et seq. Mode of attack by, 64. Application of kerosene emulsion against, 64. Application of tar, steam, Bordeaux mixture, &c., against, 65. Ashes used against insects, 129. Aspidiotus aurantii, experiments (gas treatment) on, 138. Aspidiotus perniciosus, experiments (gas treatment) on, 138. B. Randages around trees for Codlin Moth, 56- Henzole, 129. Apple Beetle, used against, 87. Benzole — continued. Pear Slug, used agaiast, 106. Rutherglen Fly Pest, used against, III. Birds, Insect-destroying, 24 et seq. List of, 26. Black Scale killed by treatment of whale-oil soap, 137. Killed by high temperature treatment, 137- Blight-proof Stocks, 37. Analysis of, 40. List of varieties of, 44. Bordeaux Mixture, Apple-tree Borer Beetle, used against, 65. Fungi, used against, 88. Burford's Kerosene Soap, 133. Cacaecia postvittana, 6g. Cacaecia responsana. See Light brozvn Affle Moth. Carbolic acid, 129. And tar used against Cherry Borer, 119. Carbon, bi-sulphide, 129. Apple-root Borer, used against, 75. Cottony Cushion Scale, successful ex- periments against, 138. Disinfectant, as a, 6i. Pear Slug, used against, 105. Price of, 76. Carpocapsca ]iomonella. See Codlin Moth. Castor oil used against insects, 130. Caustic soda, i;6. Cherry Borer, 117, ii8. Known to attack other fruits, 118. Application of kerosene emulsion, tar- water, Quibell's mixture, Phenyle, against, 119. Application of carbolic acid and tar against, 119. Forcing steam into holes, r;o. Chinch I3ug, 92. Chrysalic. See Pupa. Clack's Insect Soaji, 133. Classification of insects, 18. Coal-oil used against Rutherglen Fly Pest, 114. 160 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA Coal-tar, 130. Cocoon, definition of term, 15. Codlin Moth, 47 et seq. Introduction into Victoria, 47. How imported, 47. When found in S.A., 47. Attacks apricots, also, 48. Number of broods in a season, 48. Three broods a year in California (Cooke), 49. Two broods in N.S.W. (Oliff), 49- Tenacity of life exhibited by, 50. Mode of exit from apple by grub, 52. Parasites of, 57. Time to deal with, ^^, 56. Application of London Purple, Paris Green, against, 54. Application of kerosene (emulsified) against, 54. Use of steam-power machnies ana steam against, 55. Use of bandages around trees, 56. Collecting insects, 19, et seq. Comstock, on materials injurious to in- sects, 129. Cooke, Mathew, extract from work of, 20. Extract from Horticultural Quaran- tine Rules (California), 30. On Apple-bark Scale, 82. On Pear Slug, 103. Coquillett, D. W., on gas treatment of scale insects, 135 et seq. Corrosive sublimate against Apple-root Borer, application of, 76. Craiu, Alexander, on gas treatment of scale insects, 137. Crawford, Frazer S. (the late), on the Codlin Moth in S.A., 47. On kerosene emulsion, 54. On C. responsana injurious to apples, 70. On Curculio attackmg apple roots, 74. On the Pear Slug, 107. On the Pear Phytoptus, 123, 125. Cryptophasa unipunctata, 118. Culver Fumigator, 144. Curve-winged Apple Moth, 59 et seq. Number of broods a year of, 60. Original habitat of, 60. Application of kerosene emulsion against, 61. D. Ditnmock, Dr. George, on scale insects, experiments (gas treatment) by, 138. Dindymus versicolor. See Jlarlequirt Fruit Bug. Disinfecting fruit boxes, mode of, 53. Doticus pestilens. See Apple Beetle. Edwards, Henry, on the Cherry Borer, Eggs of Insects, definition of term, 11. Erechthias mystacinella. See Curve- winged Apple Moth. ]'"ucalyptus oil, 130. Used against Pear Slug, 105. F. False Chinch Bug, 92, 109, 114. G. Gas lime, 131. Used against Rutherglen Fly Pest, 112. As remedy against Woolly Aphis, 42. Gas treatment of Scale Insects, 127, 135 et seq. Description of Tent, 140. A])paratus for operating tent, 141. Wolfskin Fumigator, 141. Titus Fumigator, 142. Culver Fumigator, 144. Various gases used, 145. Dry cyanide process, 145. Dry gas process, 146. Table showing proper quantities in treating citrus trees, 147. Cyaniole and soda process, 147. Description of Generator, 149, 150. Agitating air in tent, 150. Gishurst compound, 131. Used against Red Spider, 99. Guano (Peruvian) used against Woolly- Aphis, 43. H. Harlequin Fruit Bug, 91, 92. Native of Victoria, 91. Application of Lime (freely). Tar- water, &c., 92. Haustellata, definition of term, 18. Hellebore Powder, 131. Hubbard, on materials injurious to in- sects, 129. Hydrocyanic acid gas' against scale in- sects, experiments with, 139. Most successful of all gases experi- mented with in California, I39> 145- INDEX 161 I. Icerya purchasi, 137, 138. Not affected by high temperature treatment, 137. flow to attack, 127. Imago, definition of term, 13, 17. J- Johnson, W., Government Analyst. Analysis of apples, 39. K. Kerosene, 131. Kerosene Emulsion, American formula of, and how to make, 54. Apple-bark scale, used agauist, 8r. Apple Beetle, used against, 87. Apple-tree Borer Beetle, used against, 64. Cherry Borer, used against, 119. Codlin Moth, used against, 55. Curve-winged Apple Moth, used against, 61. Pear Phytoptus, used against, 126. Pear Slug, used against, 105. Red Spider, used against, 99. Koebele, Albert, on destruction of Woolly Aphis, 43. L. Larva, definitions of term, 13, 14. Lecanium Oleje. See Black Scale. Legislation, necessity for, 30. Leplopos Hopei. See Affle-root Borer. Leptopos robusta, 74. Light-brown Apple Moth, 69, 70. Habits similar to codlin moth, 69. Application of London Purple, Paris Green against, 70. Lime, 131. Harlequin Fruit Bug, used against, Pear Slug, used agamst. 100. London Purple, 132. Price of, 55. Apple Beetle, used against, 87. Codlin Moth, used against, 53. Light-brown Apple Moth, used against, 70. Lye, 132. As a disinfectant, concentrated, 32. M. MacOwan, Prof., on beetles damaging gum trees in South Africa, 63. On treatment of icerya, 127. 6395. MacOwan, Prof. — continued. " Magic Soap," 133. Used against Pear Phytoptus, 127. " Majetin " Apple as blight-proof stock, 37- Inferior to " Northern Spy " Apple, .39- Mandibulata, definition of term, 18. Maroga Gigantella. See Cherry Borer. Maskcll, W. M., on scale insects, 79, 81. On materials for destroying insects, 129. Measurement of Insects, 51. Metamorphoses of Insects, 11 ei seq. Murray, Andrew, extract from work of, 95 et seq. Mytilpasis Pomorum. See Ap-ple-bark Scale. N. Norris' Insect Soap, 133. " Northern Spy " Apple as blight- proof stock, ^j, 39. Nysius angustatus, 109. Nysius destructor, 109. O. Oliff, A., Sydney (Govt. Entomologist, N.S.W.), on the Codlin Molh in N.S.W., 49, 56. On parasites of Codlin Moth, 57. On C. postvittana, injurious to apples, 69. On doticus pestilens, attacking apples, 85, 86. Ormerod, Miss E. A., extract from work of, \x et seq. On the Pear Slug, 106. Parasites of Codlin Moth, 57. Of scale insects, 82. Paris Green, 132. Codlin Moth, used against, 54. Light-brown Apple Moth, used against, 70. Pear and Cherry Slug, 103, 104. Application of Quibell's mixture, car- bon bi-sulphide, kerosene emul- sion against, 105. Application of sulphate of iron against, 106, 107. Application of oil of eucalypti (crude), slaked lime, benzole, quicklime against, 106. 162 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : Pear Phytoptus, 123 ".t seq. Imported into Victoria recently, 124. Application of kerosene emulsion, caustic soda, sulphuretted lime, whale-oil soap, softsoap, sulphate of potassium against, 126, 127. Application of "Magic Soap" against, 127. Killing by means of gas treatment, 127. Soapy solution has been effectual when applied hot, 128. " Perfection Paradise " Apple, new blight-proof stock, 39. Phlseotribus o'ae, destructive to olives, 66. Phenyle against cherry borer, applica- tion of, 119. Phytoptus Pyri, 123. Potash as a disinfectant, t,^. In solution for woolly aphis, 42. Preservation of insect collections, 21. Pupa, definition of term, 12, 15. Pyrethrum, 132. Q- Quarantine rules in California, horti- cultural, 30 et seq. Cuttings, &c., infested by insects, 31. Cuttings, &c., imported, 31. Fruit infested by scale insects, 32. Fruit infested by codlin moth, or in boxes, &c., 32. Baxes, packages, &c., used in ship- ping, 32 Tree or Plant cuttings may be disin- fected in solution of concentrated lye, 32. Empty boxes may be disinfected in solution of potash, 33. Deciduous and citrus trees may be disinfected in solution of whale- oil soap, &c., 33. Certificate of disinfection necessary, 33- Quibell's Insecticide, 132. Apple Beetle, used against, 87. Apple-root Borer, used against, 75. Cherry Borer, used against, 119. Pear Slug, used against, 105. Rutherglen Fly Pest, used against, "3- - As a disinfectant, 61. Price of, 77. R. Red Spider, 95, et seq., 125. Attacking beans, 98. Application of kerosene emulsion, sulphur, against, 99. Red Spider^cojiiinued. Application of tobacco-water, slaked lime against, 99. Resin compound, 132. Ingredients of, 43. Apple Beetle, used against, 87. Apple-bark scale, used against, 81. Woolly Aphis, used against, 43. RhizoperTha collaris. See A-p-ple-tree Borer Beetle. Rhyparochromus sp. See Rutherglen, Fly Pest. Riley, Prof. Charles V., extract from report of, 135 et seq. On materials injurious to insects, i2q et seq. Rutherglen Fly Pest, 109 ct seq. Large numbers in North-Eastern dis- trict, no. Application of benzole, sulphate of iron, gas lime, Quibell's mixture against, 112, 113. Method adopted in California against False Chinch Bug, 114. S. Salt, used against insects, 132. Schizoneura lanigera. See Woolly Afhis. Scolytus destructor, 65. Selandria cerasi. See Pear and Cherry Slug. Soap (soft), used against Pear Phytop- tus, 126. Soaps, used against insects, 133. Burford's Kerosene Soap, 133. Clack's Insect Soap, 133. " Magic Soap," r33 Norris' Insect Soap, 133. Soda Caustic, 133. Soda (Silicate), 133. Spirits of Wine. See Alcohol. Starch against Apple-bark Scale, ap- plication of, 81. Steam, Bordeaux mixture, &c., by machine, application of, 55. Forced into holes for Cherry Borer, 120. Used agaiast Cottony Cushion Scale, unsuccessful, 137. Steam-power machines, 55, 137. Sulphate of iron, 133. Pear Slug, used against, 106, 107. Rutherglen Fly' Pest, used against, 1X2. Sulphate of potassium used against Pear Phytoptus, 127. Siilphur, 133. Sulphur used against Red Spider, 99. INDEX. 163 Sulphuretted lime used against Pear Phytoptus, 126. Sulphur furoes used against Cottony Cushion Scale, 137. Tar used against Apple-tree Borer Beetle, 65. Tar-water used against Cherry Borer, 119. Tar-water used against Harlequin Fruit Bug, 92. Tetranychus telarius. See Red Sfider. Thorax, definition of term, 17. Titus Fumigator, 142. Tobacco used agaiast insects, 134. Tobacco smoke used against Cottony Cushion Scale, unsuccessful, 137. Tobacco as a preventive against Woolly Aphis, 42. Tobacco-water against Red Spider, 100. Tracheae, definition of term, 17. Tyron, Mr., Extract from work of, 24. On application of gas lime to soil for Woolly Aphis, 42. W. Weevils, 73. Whale-oil soap used against Pear Phy- toptus, 126. Compound as a disinfectant, 33. Against Black Scale, experiments (unsuccessful) with, 137. Against Cottony Cushion Scale, ex- periments (unsuccessful) with, 137. Wolfskin Fumigator, 141. Woolly Aphis, 37 et seq. Early history of, in Victoria, 38. liitroductun into England, 38. Shape and size of, 41. Fecundity of, 41. Application of gas lime against, 42. Mixture of sulphur, potash, and colza, 42. Dip young trees in tobacco-water, 42. Application of kerosene emulsion, resin-compound, &c., against. 43. Application of Peruvian guano against, 43. By Authority : Robt. S. Brain, Government Printer, Melbourne.