170 POTATOES. 



This beetle is not mentioned here as a "British Injurious 

 Insect," nor as one which (from the experience and Iniowledgu 

 of its Hfe-history gained since 1877) can be deemed hkely to 

 be injurious to a serious extent in this country. It is however 

 of interest just to notice it, as at the above date the steady 

 eastward advance of the pest raised grave fears of this scourge 

 to the American Potato crops gaining a footing in this 

 country. 



The eggs, figured p. 1G9, are laid on the young shoots or 

 beneath the leaves of the Potato ; the grubs are orange or 

 reddish, and change to pupse in the ground ; and the beetles 

 are also distinguishable by their orange colour and by having 

 (besides a large black spear-shaped mark on the back) ten 

 black stripes on the wing-cases— five stripes upon each. 



The natural home of this destructive beetle is in the Western 

 States of America ; and from Nebraska and Iowa it travelled 

 eastward, until, in 1876, it reached the eastern shores of 

 America ; and in the autumn of 1877 specimens were found 

 at Liverpool in a cattle-boat from Texas, which were identified 

 by Mr. And. Murray (who was despatched to investigate the 

 matter officially) as the " Colorado 13eetle." 



From what we now know of its life-history (as well as from 

 the fact that, though nearly fourteen years have passed since 

 it was first certainly known to have reached one of our seaports 

 in this country, it has as yet made no settlement) we may 

 reasonably believe that we are not likely to suffer from its 

 ravages. 



Should it, however, make its appearance, something (it might 

 be hoped) would be done in the way of Prevention by the 

 Order in Council published in the supplement to the ' London 

 Gazette,' August 17th, 1877. By this it is provided that — If 

 the owner of, or any person having the charge of, any crop of 

 Potatoes, or other vegetable, or substance, finds or knows to 

 be found thereon the Colorado Beetle, in any stage of existence, 

 he shall with all practicable speed give notice of the same to a 

 constable of the Police establishment of the locality (the duties 

 of the Police are unnecessary to be entered on) ; but it is 

 further provided that it shall not be lawful for any person to 

 sell, keep, or distribute living specimens of the Colorado Beetle 

 in any stage, and any person failing to do anything he is re- 

 quired by this Order to do is for cac]i offence liable to a penalty 

 not exceeding ten powids. 



With regard to Piemedy probably there is no other injurious 

 insect attack of which the remedy is so certainly known. The 

 widespread practice of the United States and Canada has 

 long shown tlie cure for attack of the Colorado Beetle to be 

 Paris Green, and if ever we should have the misfortune to be 



