I is:r,.] -11 



have the botanists returnod disappointptl at not fimliii!^ a single speeies of the rare 

 plants that always used to occur at given localities. In a word, man and his civili- 

 zation always impoverish the natural flora and fauna wherever he establishes himself. 



Wlien the white man and his cultivation arrived in contact with Ihe Dorypliora 

 in the west of the American Continent, the evil commenced. If the American had 

 there cultivated wheat, maize, or oats, the Dorypliora, starved by the diminution of 

 Solanum rostratum, would have proceeded quietly towards total extinction. Unfor- 

 tunately, man brought with him the cultivated Solanum — the potato — in great 

 quantities, a plant that suited the beetle perfectly, and which it hastened to attack, 

 multiplying in proportion to the food offered to it, so that, increasing plentifully, 

 the species, from one potato field to another, has invaded almost the whole of the 

 North American Continent, to the great detriment of the cultivators, who did not 

 reckon upon having laboured for the benefit of these little pests. 



Everybody is acquainted with the feai's entertained of the possibility of the 

 invasion of Europe by these insects ; everybody knows that measures are proposed 

 to prevent it ; but everybody does not know that these measures appear to be based 

 ujion grave errors concerning the habits of the Doryphora. The argument is : — this 

 is an insect that attacks the potato ; therefore stop the importation of potatoes from 

 America! Afterward*, when it is shewn that the Doryphora has absolutely no 

 connection with the tubers, and eats only the green parts of the plant, instead of 

 abandoning the order of ideas that inspired the projected measure, it is sought to be 

 •justified by the fear of the presence of larvse or pupiE in the earth that accompanies 

 the sacks of potatoes. 



I need not tell you that if a larva or pupa of Ihe Doryphora quitted America 

 in a sack of potatoes it would be crushed long before reaching us, fur it is soft and 

 very delicate. More than that ; one individual would not suffice, it would be 

 necessary to have the two sexes in a condition favourable for propagation upon their 

 arrival here. 



According to Dr. Chapuis, an authority u]ion this family of insects, neither 

 larva nor pupa occurs at the time when potatoes are collected. At that epoch, the 

 Doryphora is in the perfect state, and seeking quarters in which to hibernate, which 

 has induced Dr. Candeze to state, at our (Belgian) Entomological Society, that bales 

 of cotton would be more likely to bring it here than sacks of potatoes. In fine, in 

 this state, it might arrive here by a thousand different modes more probable than by 

 those by which it is proposed to hinder it. Who knows, if it may not bo that the 

 Universal Exhibition at Thiladelphia in 1876, and the materials used for packing all 

 that is returned, are fatally destined to bestow this plague upon Europe? Will one 

 for this send nothing to this Exhibition ; will one break all relations with (lie United 

 Slates? — Evidently not. 



Another question is to know wliether the Doryphora would be able to acclimatise 

 itself in Europe if once it should pejietrate to it. Jlany say yes, many say no. My 

 learned colleague. Dr. Candeze, does not hesitate to deny absolutely the possibility 

 of such an acclimation ; but his reasons do not appear to me the most convincing. 



In the doubt that exists, I am asked what is to be done ? Wait quietly is my 

 advice. Keep a sharp look-out, and if the detested beetle should appear, act ener- 

 getically in the same way as if it wore Ihe cattlc-plagne. Lot us have no commissions. 



