64 



MANGOLDS. 



"Ground Beetles." 

 PterosticJnts { = Steropus) madUus ; P. {=Omaseiis) vulgaris, Linn. 





Ptkrosticucs madidus, magnitied, and line showing natural length. 

 Mangold roots injured by the beetles. 



The attacks of Ground Beetles were first definitely reported as 

 being noticed as a cause of serious injury to Mangold roots amongst 

 the observations sent in 1885, but since then the infestation has been 

 a^ain noticed, until it is obvious that the attack must, be looked on as 

 a trouble to wliich Mangold roots are certainly liable, although not 

 necessarily to the severe extent which the subsequent appearance of 

 the same kind of beetle in Strawberry beds (first reported in 189i) 

 has proved to Strawberry fruit in various localities.* 



The kind of attack is of great interest both practically as well as 

 scientifically from the circumstance of the Ground Beetles [Geodephagn) 

 being of a class which, till of late years, was supposed to be almost 

 wholly carnivorous in its diet, — that is, to limit its attacks mainly to 

 worms, maggots, or other small animal material, — and, cousequently 

 on the first observations of the beetles as seriously destructive to 

 Mangolds and Strawberry fruit, much attention was given to identifi- 

 cation to be absolutely certain of the species present. 



The first notes of attack with which I was favoured were sent me 

 on June 29th, 1885, by Mr. T. James Mann, from The Grange, 

 Bishops Stortford, Herts, together with specimens of the beetles taken 

 in the act of feeding on the roots of Mangolds at 3 a.m. that morning. 

 A little later on more beetles were sent which also had been captured 

 early in the morning in the act of preying on the Mangolds, and 

 specimens of the attacked roots were also sent as good examples of the 



• Observations of successful methods of prevention and remedy of attacks of 

 Ground Beetles to Strawben-y fruit will be found further on, under the heading of 

 " Strawberry." 



