RASPBEKEY BEETLE. 203 



appearance) in the Toddington Fruit-grounds in Gloucester- 

 shire. It was also present at various places in our more 

 easterly counties, and in Scotland was very injurious as far 

 north as Newton, near Glasgow, and, judging by descriptions 

 published about June 30th in the above year, also did much 

 harm in the neighbourhoods of Scone, near Perth, and Alyth, 

 on the borders of Perthshire and Forfar. 



On May 28th, 1883, I received a communication from Mr. 

 H. Wood, of Crockenhill, St. Mary Cray, Kent, regarding a 

 small brown beetle, which proved to be the Easpberry Beetle 

 {Bi/turus tomentosus), which was causing fearful havoc, and 

 entirely devouring the Piaspberries. Of this he mentioned 

 that he had " noticed this insect in the Easpberries for some 

 years, but never so numerous as they are this season ; . . . 

 they have aj)peared rather earlier than usual, piercing the 

 bloom before it has expanded (this shown by specimen sent). 

 They generally enter the bloom after it has expanded, and 

 then eat completely through it. This insect is a fearful pest; 

 the fruit-growers in this neighbourhood complain most fear- 

 fully of it." 



The above was the only communication tbat I received of 

 the attack being of serious importance until 1891 (the date of 

 the following observations), nor have I had any since. 



Bi/turus tomejitosiis is a small beetle about one-sixth of an 

 inch in length, of some shade of brown, which may vary from 

 pitchy to reddish or yellowish, but covered so thickly as to 

 conceal the ground colour with a j^ellowish or grey down, 

 from which it receives its specific name of tomentosiis. The 

 wings (see figure, p. 202) are ample. The antenna, or horns 

 (which are thickened towards the extremity so as to be some- 

 what club-shaped) and the legs, are reddish yellow, or reddish 

 yellow with a brown tinge. 



The injuries are commenced by the beetles attacking the 

 bloom of the Easpberrj^, or even eating their way into the 

 unopened flower-buds. The earliest notes I have received of 

 attack were on the 26th of May, when the beetles were 

 attacking the buds ; somewhat later, another of my corre- 

 spondents mentioned : — " I first noticed them when the 

 flower-buds were forming ; apparently piercing a hole in each 

 bud. Now, as the buds are opening, they seem to be eating 

 the stamens and petals. I have killed quite two hundred in 

 a short time, generally two on every bud." 



Mr. John Speir, writing from Newton Farm, near Glasgow, 

 on the 13th of June, observed : — " The enclosed small brown 

 beetles are making considerable havoc on the remaining canes 

 of my Easpberries. They eat away the flower- bud." 



With advance of the bloom the whole of it is liable to be 



