hy the Caterpillar ofNmatus caprece. 423 



than the others, but still they did not escape eventually : 

 they were also attacked by another caterpillar. 



I introduced both red and black ants, and also put some of 

 the caterpillars into their nests ; but the ants disregarded them 

 altogether. Having, although thus slowly, ascertained the 

 true state of things, the ground was once more cultivated, and 

 was planted with apple trees. As there happens to be no 

 insect there which much attacks these, they thrive very well. 

 The distance at which apple trees are planted is also less 

 favourable to the propagation of vermin. 



I have communicated all this detail, in order to show the 

 importance, to individuals, of attending to such seemingly 

 trifling matters. Many a plantation, &c., fails in an appa- 

 rently inexplicable manner. A scientific investigation would, 

 in numerous cases, disclose the truth, and prevent farther loss. 

 Had a person acquainted with entomology been proprietor of 

 this osier ground fifty years since, he would speedily have 

 discovered the truth, and might have saved 200/. or more to 

 himself and his successors. 



Wireworms, — I take this opportunity of mentioning the 

 wireworm. This neighbourhood has been repeatedly ravaged 

 by it. Crops of wheat and potatoes have suffered severely, 

 but the pastures have never been touched. We have no old 

 meadow, and our lands are always broken up when three or 

 four years old. The beetle and its habits are not sufficiently 

 known. If some popular knowledge on these destructive in- 

 sects could be conveyed to farmers and labourers, they might, 

 perhaps, be destroyed on a large scale. 



Penzance, June 18. 1834. 



The facts communicated by C. D. on the habits of the 

 Nematus caprese are a welcome furtherance of our knowledge 

 of the natural history of that insect; and they, in conjunction 

 with C. D.'s remarks, are, we conceive, of emphatic value, as 

 exemplifying to entomologists how much their aid in eluci- 

 dating popularly the forms, structure, transformations, habits, 

 and names of insects is wanted by persons engaged in the 

 businesses of rural life, and also as intimating to them some 

 idea of the extent to, and mode in, which the required aid 

 should be rendered. A remembrance of the nature of our 

 own wants in things entomological, as experienced while en- 

 gaged in rural practices, and, added to this, some knowledge 

 of the wants of others so engaged, tempt us, therefore, to 

 join C. D. in soliciting entomologists (which C. D. does, in 

 effect) to do, forthwith, what they can, towards leading us, as 



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