NO. 13.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1260, 23 April 1896, Page 6

NO. 13.

New Zealand Department of Agriculture. John 1). Ritchie, Secretary. THE APPLE BEETLE (Doticas pest dens (’?), Olifi). By T. W. Kirk, F.L.S., &c., London, Government Biologist. Last season I found in nn orchard in the Wellington Provincial District several trees bearing a largo number of apples dried and shrivelled up in the manner shown in figure 1. So dry and hard bad they become that it proved a difficult

matter to halve them with an ordinary pocket-knife. A considerable number wore gathered for examination; but although all were pierced, as shown in the drawing, yet in one instance only could I find the insect that had done the damage. This proved to be a small grub, the larva of a beetle. In no instance was more than one hole visible in any particular apple, but jnsido largo cavities were eaten out; and, in some cases, the burrows travelled right through the fruit, turning and twisting in various directions. After a careful examination of both the grub and its work, I found it to be identical with the larva of wlnit Mr C. French, in his excellent work, “Handbook of the Injurious Insects of Victoria," lias described and figured under the name of Apple Beetle (Doticus pest liens, Olitlj ; and, although it is somewhat risky identifying an insect from the larva alone, I have little doubt that tho Victorian insect has been introduced, probably in fruit-packing material. At any rate, tho mode of attack and effect are, as stated, identical; and therefore tho precautions which prove effective in Australia will answer here also. Tho New Zealand fruit shrivelled early

in the season, blit remained firmly attached to the trees, and at the end of March showed no sign of dropping. The following is Mr French’s description : “This new destroyer of apples is a small brownish beetle about two lines in length, covered with reddish-grey down. The antennae (horns) being slightly clubbed, elytra (wing-cases) having upon them a row of small tubercles. Legs very long for so small a beetle, l’erfect insect, very active, propelling itself when not on tho wing with a short jerky motion. The grubs are small, and of a yellowish-white colour, and it is supposed that tho egg or eggs are deposited by the female insect in tiie fruit shortly after its being formed on the tree. Mr Btiggants informs me that tlie perforated fruit will remain upon the tree the whole year, and in the centre of those shrivelled fruits the grub lives and undergoes its various changes (metamorphoses), and finally, at the commencement of the fruit season, is ready to deposit its i eggs in the early crop of apples." Mr | French states that this is a very destructive pest indeed. The fact that in March I examined so many opplc-s without finding larvae would seem to indicate that our insect does nut

always remain in the fruit till the perfect or beetle stage is reached, or perhaps that it is double-brooded. However, wc shall learn more next season. Meantime, attention is drawn to the matter in order that orchardists may be on the lookout for this little stranger, and accord him a reception befitting his deeds. REMEDIES AND PREVENTIVES. (1) Spray well as soon as tho fruit has set, with Paris Green or London Purple ; (2) Burn all infected fruit; (3) Keep the orchard free from weeds, Ac., and the trees clear of moss and other cover for insects.