THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 67 



The Striped Beetle of the Potato. — The Colorado potato- 

 beetle (Doryphora decem-lineata) is an enemy whose rapid 

 advances towards the shores of the Atlantic threaten an 

 invasion into Europe at no distant day. Mr. Riley points 

 out how these destructive insects, when once established on 

 the sea-board, may wing their way to vessels in port, being 

 accustomed to fly in swarms, and may thus be borne over to 

 found a colony in this country, irrespective of conveyance 

 with the tubers themselves, which they are stated to devour 

 greedily when dug up, several having been found ensconced 

 in a single potato, Mr. Riley suggests that Agricultural and 

 Horticultural Societies should make provision for the dis- 

 semination of correct information respecting these insects; 

 and that specimens of the beetles themselves should be 

 obtained for distribution, with the view of familiarizing 

 persons with their aspect, and of preventing their diffusion. 

 The importance of some efficient measures being adopted for 

 this purpose can hardly be overrated, in default of which this 

 scourge must assuredly be expected to follow in the wake of 

 the Phylloxera, the Oidium, and other noxious importations 

 from the same quarter. Mr. Riley's reiterated remarks on 

 this head have a somewhat prophetic significance, when 

 calling to mind that " in giving, through Sir Walter Raleigh, 

 the precious tuber to Europe, America conferred upon the 

 Old World an everlasting boon. She may yet unwittingly be 

 the means of bequeathing as great a bane, by sending across 

 the ocean the deadliest enemy of that tuber. At all events it 

 behoves our European neighbours to be on the look-out, 

 and to prevent, if possible, any such catastrophe." The 

 attention of the Academic des Sciences has just been drawn 

 to this subject by the French Minister for Commerce and 

 Agriculture. 



[On Monday, 8th February, Mr. Herbert introduced this 

 pet panic into the House of Commons, by asking the Chief 

 Secretary for Ireland whether Her Majesty's Government had 

 taken any steps to prevent the introduction of the Colorado 

 beetle into Ireland by the importation of American seed- 

 potatoes or otherwise ; and, should no precautions have 

 already been instituted, what were the intentions of Her 

 Majesty's Government on this subject. Sir M. H. Beach 

 replied : — " The subject of the honourable member's question 



