1 6 First Report on Economic Zoology. 



A New Potato Feeder : 

 The Cinnabar Moth {Euchelia jacohecs). 



During the past year quite a number of new potato pests have 

 appeared. Amongst them may be mentioned the caterpillars of the 

 Cinnabar Moth (Uuchelia jacohecv), sent hj a correspondent of the 

 Board from Alton, Hampshire. This moth is fairly common. The 

 front wings when expanded measure from an inch and a half to an 

 inch and three-quarters across ; they are dull black with a narrow red 

 stripe near the upper margin and two spots on the outer margin of 

 the same colour ; the hind wings are scarlet red with a nan^ow dull 

 black margin. The moth appears in May and June and flies slowly 

 during the day-time. The caterpillars feed usually on the Eagwort 

 (Senecio jacohcva), and sometimes, as stated by the Board's correspon- 

 dent, on the Groundsel. As far as can be found out the potato is 

 quite a new food-plant. As the larva? are found in companies, they 

 could easily he cleared out of the potato crop, which should certainly 

 be done, as they are very ravenous feeders. Eagwort may frequently 

 be seen quite stripped of its leaves by these black and orange ringed 

 larvie. 



MUSTAED PESTS. 

 The Mustard Beetle (Phcedon hetulce, Linn.), 



The Mustard Beetle {Phcedon hetulce, Linn.) was reported this 

 year (1902) to the Board as very destructive at Holbeach, Lincolnshire, 

 and information was asked for as to the best plans of coping with the 

 attack. It can be materially lessened by various methods. 



The beetles pass the winter in a torpid condition in any shelter 

 where they have been working in the summer and autumn. 



The larvic hatch from eggs laid in the spring upon various plants. 

 The beetles which deposit tliese spring eggs have previously passed 

 the winter in hollow stems of reeds along the dykes and ditches of 

 the district and also commonly in the hollow mustard stocks left 

 about in and around the fields and also in the mustard stubble. They 

 also winter in mustard stacks, cracks and crevices of gates, posts, 

 fences, rough grass and all manner of places. The larva? when 

 mature pass into the ground to pupate, in which stage they remain 

 from two to three weeks ; the beetles coming from these pupa? at 

 once attack the mustard crop. We find the beetle practically all the 

 summer : it is therefore probable that there is more than one brood 



