Reports to the Boai'd of AgricultMre, 1 1 



females. How the wiuter is passed is not known. In the early 

 and late summer they feed upon wild Chenopodiums and mangolds 

 and in the autumn on Afrijdcx lati folia. 



Not only does this aphis cause the leaves to roll up longitudinally, 

 but they also feed upon the seed heads of the mangold. 



Spraying M'ith paraffin emulsion or quassia wash would check 

 their increase and clear most of them oft'. This, of course, should not 

 be done when the sun is out. 



Flies (Bibiomdce) on Mangolds. 



Some flies were sent by a correspondent from Billericay of the 

 dipterous family — Bibionida?, species Bibio Jioriulanus — from a field 

 of mangolds cleared oft' in one night. 



These flies can have had nothing to do with the two acres of 

 mangold reported to have been destroyed. 



Although their larvte are more or less injurious to roots, the 

 adult flies do no harm, not having a biting or piercing mouth. 



The damage reported seems to point to the small beetle recently 

 sent to the Board from North Devon — the Pigmy Mangold Beetle 

 {Atomaria linearis), which is evidently abundant in some parts. 



The correspondent was advised to look for these small beetles, 

 which may be most easily caught by pulling up the young mangolds 

 and the earth round them, when the beetles fall out of the soil. On 

 fine days they occur above ground as well {vide page 8). 



In any case the flies sent cannot have damaged the mangolds in 

 the way reported. 



Muscid Larvae attacking Roots. 



A correspondent of the Board of Agriculture sent from Burley 

 Beacon, lUngwood, Hants, two different kinds of larvae attacking 

 roots of plants. 



(1) A dipterous maggot changed during transit into the so-called 

 chrysalis or puparium stage of one of the flies belonging to the 

 group Antlwinyida:. There are several of these diptera which are 

 root-feeders in their maggot stage. Probably the one sent was 

 Antlwmyia radicum, L. 



(2) Three small larvaj which were the caterpillars of one of the 

 Tinese. 



The damage was probably all caused by the Anthomyia larvse, 

 which are often serious root pests. 



