56 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. [May 



Xhe Entomologist. 



WILLOW BEETLE. 



{Frovi 'Tiqwrt Oii Injurious Insects for 1884.") 



By Eleanoh A. Okmerod, Consulting Entomologist of the Eoyal 

 Agricultural Society. 



rpiIE Willow Beetle, Phratora Vitellincc, Linn., is a small oblong- 

 I oval, shiny beetle about the sixth of an inch long, of a bronze 

 or green or bluish tint above, more brassy below. These beetles 

 come out in the spring from their sheltering places, and feed on the 

 leaves of various kinds of willows, also of poplars. Later on the 

 caterpillars or grubs hatched from the eggs of these beetles continue 

 the mischief. 



These whitish spindle-shaped eggs are laid in small patches on 

 the surface of the leaves, — perhaps invariably on the under surface. 

 The eggs are protected by a loose transparent membranous film. 

 The caterpillars which were forwarded were about half an inch long 

 when full-grown, pale yellowish or whitish, with black head ; the 

 segment next the head nearly all black above, and a squarish black 

 mark above the two last segments of the grub ; the intermediate 

 segments variably marked with black, amongst which a more or less 

 interrupted series of black marks down the back and black spots on 

 the sides, largest on the three segments next the liead, were the most 

 noticeable. 



These grubs feed on the under side of the skin of the leaf, work- 

 ing right through until the upper surface is only a film, which dries 

 and cracks aM'ay. When full-fed the caterpillars turn to clmjsalids 

 ill the rjround, and from these a second attack of beetles comes up 

 in the autumn. 



The beetles sent were of various tints, and I incline to think the 

 Phratora vulgatisslma, Linn., was present amongst them, but this 

 does not affect the matter practically. 



It will be seen by the following notes that one of the main points 

 to Ijc worked on for jJrcventinr/ attack is that of the beetles %viiitcring 

 under old or loose willuio harlc, or under rubbish on or near loillow 

 (jrounds, and, in short, like the nearly-allied " Mustard-seed " Beetle, 

 in any snug shelter, but especially such as is formed of rubbish of 

 the plant which is its summer food. 



On the 21st of May, Mr. Cosmo Melvill wrote from Kersal 

 Cottage, Prestwich, relative to the Willow -Beetle, Phratora 



