WOODLICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 412, 21 July 1928, Page 26

WOODLICE

THE GARDENER’S ENEMY Much of the damage commonly attributed to slugs is really caused b> that worst of all garden pests, the woodlouse (Oniscus). These little creatures, which, as distant relatives of the crabs and lobsters, are not insects at all, are familiar to most people by their greyish colour and curious habit of rolling themselves into a ball when at all alarmed. Strictly speaking the woodlice belong to the great army of nature’s scavengers, in that they feed on all kinds of decaying vegetable matter. Unhappily oniscus does not content itself with, a diet of this kind, and is only too ready to turn its attention to almost anything that grows, especially if this happens to be something tender and juicy. Woodlice are terrible pests in greenhouse and frame, but they are often equally troublesome in the open border. Where any plants have been mysteriously attacked, always suspect woodlice. These creatures are largely night feeders and, during the day they remain in hiding. Turn over any leaves or stones that happen to be about, or search between the stems of herbaceous plants, and here you will find the little creatures. Fortunately, this habit of hiding on the part of woodlice makes them easy to capture. A few pieces of slate placed on the soil and examined during the daytime will yield numbers of the pests, which may be collected and destroyed. A better way is to set one or more traps, arranged in this manner. In a small flower pot put a cold boiled potato. Cover the potato lightly with moss. Sink the pot to the rim in the soil and examine each morning. It will be found that the woodlice gather in hundreds in the pot, not only to secure the shelter provided by the moss, but also to feast on the potato, of which they are particularly fond. A few traps of this nature will go a long way toward exterminating the oniscus or at least reduce its numbers to reasonable proportions.

A USEFUL TOOL The dibble is a most useful tool, particularly at this season of the year. They may be purchased at any of the garden stores, but the handyman can speedily improvise one from a broken spade or fork handle. The holes made by this implement should be slightly conical, which shape is accomplished by inserting the dibble to the required depth, pulling it over to the angle desired, and giving it two or three circular turns. When “packing” the plant into the hole, it is advantageous to use made-up soil which will not cake. When transplanting nursery stock into the garden, bury the ball of earth intact into a hole just large

enough to receive it, and plant slightly deeper, as shown in illustration above. No difficulty whatever will be experienced in removing the plant intact, if the pot is inverted and given a gentle tap or two. For the more delicate subjects, it is as well to shade for a few days, and obviously, frequent watering is essential at all times during dry weather.