Herbert W. Miles 177 



Cameron (2) records the larvae of a species of Sciarid occurring "in 

 small masses at the roots of grasses on which they were in all likelihood 

 feeding." 



Of the Hemiptera one species alone was observed, viz. Macrosiphum 

 granarium. In 1917 "This aphis was reported as very abundant and 

 causing considerable damage in the Eastern Counties, Oxforshire, Shrop- 

 shire and Staffordshire on wheat and oats in July and August (i)." 

 This insect was found on tall oat grass, singly in early autumn, and 

 again in the summer period. Attacks on oats were simultaneous with 

 attacks on hedgerow grasses. ^ 



Limothrips cerealuni (Hal.) was the only Thysanopteron taken. It 

 feeds through the winter, in the larval stage in hollow-stemmed grasses. 

 In 1917 "A distinct case of considerable damage to "Giant Eliza" oats 

 at Newmarket (Cambs.)" was recorded (i) — though Thrip attack is fairly 

 general but often overlooked. 



Two species only of the Apterygota w^ere noted — Sminthurus luteus 

 and Orchesella cincta. These developed in great numbers on a plant of 

 perennial rye grass obtained from a damp waste place and kept indoors. 

 No definite attack was noticed. Cameron states, with reference to the 

 Apterygota as a whole, "As a rule they do not penetrate very deeply 

 into the soil generally being found in the first three inches. In many 

 cases where members of this order have been reported as doing damage 

 to root crops, I doubt very much whether they are the direct agents of 

 injury. The chances are that they are merely what we term ' followers of 

 decay' accentuating the evil that has been caused by other pests." In 

 1914 Roebuck, referring to damage to wheat and the presence of 

 Isotoma palustris, writes (16) : " These sheltered in tiny holes in the ground 

 and were never caught on the wheat, and, therefore, may have caused 

 none of the damage." Subsequently, however, he tells me thay were 

 abundant on wheat but were never seen actually feeding. 



V. SPRING SOWING TO HARVEST— SUMMER PERIOD. 



In addition to practically all those mentioned under " Winter Period" 

 the following insects were observed feeding or sheltering in grasses. 



Coleoptera : 



Rhizotrogus solstitialis Grass roots in meadows 



Dactylis glomerata 



Loliuni italicum 

 Lema melanopa, L. . Agropyrum repens 



Arrhenatherum avenaceum 

 Sitones lineatua Amongst grasses in hedges 



