GROUND BEETLES. 66 



method in which they were eaten off. Two of these roots (figured at 

 heading, p. 64) show the method in which the substance of the root 

 has been gnawed away into pits and grooves by the mandibles of the 

 beetles. The greatest size of root mentioned as being attacked was 

 about five to six inches in length, and an inch and a quarter to an 

 inch and a half diameter at top. 



In this case the beetle proved to be Pterostichus ( = Steropus) madidus; 

 for figure, see p. 64. This species is from about half to three-quarters 

 of an inch in length, of a shining black in colour, though the legs or 

 thighs are sometimes of a red tint. The jaws are large and curved ; 

 the legs long and strong ; and it is without wings, a very important 

 point in consideration of prevention. This species may be to some 

 degree distinguished from two other nearly allied species, very similar 

 in appearance, by the hinder corners of the thorax not being acute or 

 bluntly pointed, but rounded off, so as to be narrower than the base 

 of the wing-cases (see figure, p. 64). 



The injury caused by the attack was at or about ground- level, or a 

 little above it, to the top of the roots, and was sometimes all round 

 what may be called the shoulders of the root, or sometimes on one 

 side, or in patches. In the case of the specimens figured, it will be 

 observed that the roots have been entirely gnawed through. The 

 beetles did not eat the leaves. 



The loss was estimated by Mr. Maun, after examination of the 

 attacked crop, to be one plant in every ten ; in one part of the field, 

 one in every five. 



From the fact of the beetle being a night feeder, its presence as 

 the cause of mischief is very apt to be overlooked, as very few observers 

 are disposed, even on summer mornings, to be so early on the alert as 

 3 a.m. so as to secure an observation before the beetles have hidden 

 themselves from the dawning light, in the ground, or under any rough 

 shelter, as dried manure. The field in this case had been manured at 

 the rate of ten loads of farmyard manure, 4 cwts. superphosphate, and 

 2 cwts. of salt. 



The above notes are given once again (in abridged form) as being 

 the first contribution of information sent as to presence of Ground 

 Beetles as a serious infestation to Mangolds, and also as being accom- 

 panied with carefully detailed notes of observation of time and method 

 of attack, and with specimens, which enabled trustworthy identification 

 to be made, of the beetles taken in the act of doing the mischief. 



Since then, little inquiry has been forwarded as to presence of 

 Ground Beetles, excepting at Strawberry crops, to which, in some 

 localities, they have proved disastrously injurious. Still, enough has 

 been sent to show that the infestation is one which may only too 

 certainly rank amongst our farm attacks ; and in the past season I 



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