Reports to the Board of Agricidtttre. 13 

 Leather-Jackets or Larvae of Tipulidce. 



The insects sent to the Board of Agriculture by a coiTespondent 

 from Eaton, Norwich, that had been damaging the roots of grass 

 proved to be the pupre of one of the Daddy Long Legs {Tipulidse). 

 The larvie of these Tipulidse are known as " leather-jackets," and are 

 very destructive to all kinds of roots, especially grass. Pasture land 

 is often ruined by them. 



They were those of the Yellow Spotted Crane Fly (PachyrJiina, 

 maculosa), whose larvoj work in a very similar way to those of the 

 Common Crane Fly (Tipula oleracea). The pupa3' of the latter are 

 larger than those of the former. 



(A full report on these pests is given on pages 94 to 104). 



PULSE PESTS. 



The Green Rose Chafer {Cetonia aurata, Lmn.) on 

 Beans and Currant Bushes. 



The Green Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata) was sent to the Board 

 from Gloucester, with a note that they were appearing in great 

 quantities and were stripping the beans and currant bushes of tlieii' 

 leaves. 



This beetle is generally distriljuted in the South of England and 

 occurs in plenty in the Midlands, but becomes rarer in the North. 

 It is usually very common at Gloucester, so that it is not surprising 

 that it now and then occurs in such numliers as to become a serious 

 pest. Tlie beetle attacks all kinds of flowers and also the leaves ; it 

 is especially injurious to tlie rose, apple and strawberry. It is also 

 recorded as damaging turnips for seed. When attacking blossoms 

 the beetles seem to mainly devour the anthers and thus destroy the 

 crop. They are very frequently found in Peonies and on the Elder ; 

 they also destroy Iris blossom at times. These l3rillant Ijeetles fly 

 readily in bright sunshine, but become very .sluggish during dull, 

 damp, and cold weather. 



LiFE-HISTOEY. 



The beetles appear from the middle of May on through June. 

 They lay their eggs in the ground, seeking out some crack or crevice 

 into which they crawl. Heaps of rich earth such as cucumber beds 

 and vine borders are favourite places for them to lay their eggs. 

 These soon give rise to white grubs very like those of the Cockchafer, 



