86 First Report on Economic Zoology. 



invariably sought the potato, and when that was gone the onion. I 

 have not had sufficient time to trace the life-history of this beetle, 

 which can only be looked upon as a serious potato pest in East Kent 

 and probably elsewhere, its small size and peculiar habits rendering 

 it very inconspicuous. From enquiries I have made, it seems to be 

 commonly distributed over that part of the county, and has been 

 connected with the diseased state of potatoes Ijy many local men. 



The beetles (Fig. IOd) are very small, never more than 2 mm, 

 long ; oval and convex, of a dull, reddish-brown colour, with iine dull 

 yellowish hairs and the surface with minute punctures ; the thorax 

 a little broader than the elytra, rounded at the sides and contracted 

 in front ; the elytra are narrow behind and rounded at the apex ; legs 

 long and slender, and the tibia?, especially the middle ones, spinose. 

 Canon Fowler records it from Finchley and Hammersmith ; all the 

 other records are from Kent. 



They are extremely active, lioth when on the potato and in the 

 ground, running with great rapidity and falling from the tuber at the 

 least shock. Evidently they hibernate as adults, for when going to 

 press (December) they are still alive. 



Millepedes attacking Potatoes. 



Mr. F. Powers forwarded some potatoes from Great Staughton, 

 badly attacked by small Snake Millepedes {Julus ^pulcliellus) ; but two 

 other species were present, one Ijelonging to the genus Jnlus and the 

 tliird to the genus Polydesmus. These animals breed in the soil and 

 often cause considerable loss ; they are probably primarily attracted 

 by the decaying seed. 



Another correspondent, Mr. Staines, writing from Eingwould, near 

 Dover, says : — 



I am sending you two potatoes which are attacked by some pest, a 

 small, thin, worm-like pest, enclosed with the tubers. As you will see, they 

 attack the old set, also the young tuber. AVhen it attacks the old set, it 

 entirely destroys the crop, the haulm ceases to grow, and eventually 

 disappears. In my opinion, it is quite as bad a pest as PhijtlioiJliora 

 infestaiis. If you can give me any information regarding the pest I 

 should be extremely obliged. Last year when planting I dusted round 

 each tuber soot and lime, with good results. This year I did not use 

 soot and lime, and am very much troubled with it. 



Liming the soil is the only treatment of practical use on a large 

 scale. There is no doubt Mr. Staines's plan of dusting soot and lime 

 around each tuber when set is a good plan — lime being the great 

 specific against Millepedes. A plan that has met with success where 



