POTATOES. — COLORADO BEETLE. 



169 



waiting on account of their shyness under observation) they 

 were then "observed to feed by taking the edge of the leaf 

 and holding it steadily between their legs," whilst they 

 devoured it as described. 



In last year, however (1889), the Eev. Theodore Wood, 

 F.E.S.j mentioned to me that he did not think that he had 

 " ever gone out with a lantern by night, and examined a row 

 of growing Peas or Beans, without finding the beetles upon 

 the leaves in hundreds, all busily nibbling away at the edges. 

 At such times they are not nearly so susceptible to alarm, and 

 do not fall at the vibration of a passing footstep." ... "I 

 also find that a thick layer of soot is as eflicacious as any- 

 thing for keeping them away. Only this must always be 

 renewed after a shower of rain." 



It was also noted, by Mr. Malcolm Dunn, of Dalkeith, an 

 excellent authority in matters of injurious insect prevention, 

 that " a dressing of lime or soot given to the Peas (wetting 

 them first to make it adhere) was an easily applied and 

 generally effective remedy." Any dressing that was dis- 

 tasteful to the beetles, which could be thrown on the ground 

 along the rows of Peas, and fill in the crannies down which 

 they hide when disturbed from their work above, would help 

 to lessen the mischief. 



POTATOES. 

 Colorado Beetle. JhifmJnuii (lirciiilnuata, bay. 



1 and 2, Colorado Beetle, maguilied, and nat. size ; 3, caterpillar ; 4, eggs. 



