144 Second Report on Economic Zoology. 



abundant in parts of Scotla.ud, and 1 have observed it in raspberries 

 in North Wales. 



Life-history. 



The life-history of this beetle is as follows : — The beetle (Fig. 23, «) 

 is dark brown in colour, with dense golden-brown pubescence, which 

 may assume a, dull greyish hue ; the legs are reddish-yellow to reddish- 

 brown ; there are two ample wings with wliich the beetles fly readily 

 in bright weather ; in length the mature beetle is about one-sixth of 

 an inch. The Easpberry Beetles belong to the famil}^ Nitidulidae. 

 They are iirst noticed in ]\Iay, the date depending upon the locality 

 and the weather. I liave found them as early as May 2nd, but the 

 majority are not noticed until the middle of the month on into June. 

 As soon as the blossoms open the beetles not only feed upon them, 





Fig 



THK HASPBEKKY BEETLE 



(Byturus tomentosiis, Fab.). 



a, nie mature l)eetle ; b, the larva : < , damaged receptacle 

 (6, larva : x, damaged receptacle) ; d, damaged fruitlet ; 

 e, receptacle ; /', damaged blossom.^. 



but they also deposit their eggs deep in a blossom. I have frequently 

 found them ovi[»ositing in the buds just as they are opening. The 

 larva3 live inside the receptacle of the fruit and also tlevour the fruit 

 itself, causing the whole berry to shrivel up. At other times the 

 fruit is only stunted or deformed on one side. The larva (b) is dull 

 yellowish, with brown markings in the middle of the segments ; it has 

 six jointed-legs in front, and two pointed curved spines beJiind. 

 Maturity is reached about the time the fruit is ripe, the maggot then 

 is about one-third of an inch long, and beneath its anal segment is 



