230 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
different species of bramble as the food-plant of Hrastria 
jasciana = fuscula. This seems an error, the larve having been 
found feeding on Molinia cerulea. Mr. Bignell informs me that 
he has always taken it on this grass. The larve of many of the 
Hupithecia have been exceedingly abundant. 
Sugar and light have both been more than usually attractive ; 
day work and dusking have also produced good results. ‘There- 
fore, taking into account the abundance of both imagos and 
larvee, the season, now alas! almost over, has been one the like of 
which we may not soon see again. 
Horrabridge, 8. Devon, Sept. 12, 1892. 
THE MUSTARD BEETLE (PHHDON COCHLEARIZ). 
By Frep. Enocr, F.L.S., F.E.S. 
No doubt most of the readers of the ‘Entomologist’ are 
acquaited with this common insect, but there may be many who 
do not know that Phedon cochlearie (or Phedon betule, as some 
term it) is “ Z’he Mustard Beetle,” one of the greatest crop pests 
we have in England; and though it has been known for quite 
fifty years, it still goes on increasing and appearing in the 
mustard-growing districts with the greatest regularity ; and almost 
as regularly as the growers put in their seed, so does this beautiful 
blue beetle put in its appearance, and in many cases utterly ruins 
the whole crop, an additional loss being added by the expense of 
having it all ploughed in. 
Now, one naturally asks, Cannot something be done to pre- 
vent or lessen the ravages of this insect pest? Like the greater 
number of “crop pests,’ the life-history of this beetle is but 
imperfectly known, though the reports of their appearance have 
been most regular from various correspondents; but as such 
cannot convey to your readers the slightest idea of the swarms of 
the Mustard Beetle, I purpose giving a short account of my 
“experience” in the fields around Littleport and Hly, the same 
neighbourhood where, in 1854, these beetles were noticed attacking 
the mustard. This has generally been looked upon as the jirst 
authentic account, but that most practical of field entomologists, 
John Curtis, has a note in his ‘Farm Insects,’ p. 96, of its 
appearance in 1841, for there is no doubt that the ‘‘ small black 
larva,” which Mr. Parsons mentions as having attacked both 
white and brown mustard was the larva of this identical Mustard 
Beetle. 
During the first week in June I received intimation that the 
Mustard Beetle was plentiful, and spreading over the fields. 
I lost no time in going down to examine them myself, matters 
being made much easier and time saved by the kindness of Mr, 
