JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. Ixxvii 



observed that he had noticed flies passing and repassing without 

 fear through a wire grating in front of an open window near Berlin, 

 the meshes of the grating being about two inches apart ; there were, 

 however, other windows in the building which were opened. 



Mr. Stephens stated that the black caterpillar alluded to by Mr. 

 Saunders was that of an Athalia (a genus of Tenthredinida;) , {AtJi. 

 centifolla. ?), which had abounded to a great extent in the south-east 

 part of England this summer, destroying the turnips in the manner 

 described by Mr. Saunders. 



Mr. Yarrell mentioned that his attention had been directed to this 

 subject by several members of the Zoological Society, and that he 

 had at their request drawn up a memoir upon this insect, intended 

 for pubhcation in the Transactions of that Society. The insect had 

 been equally abundant and destructive eighteen and twenty-two 

 years ago. The effect of their attacks is almost miraculous, the 

 plants upon four, six, or eight acres being reduced in a couple of 

 days from the full leaf to perfect skeletons. When full grown the 

 larvae descend to the earth, where they make a hard earthen cocoon, 

 and soon afterwards appear in the winged state. The second crops 

 have, however, escaped their attacks. So great has been the devas- 

 tation in Kent that ship-loads of turnips have been Imported. The 

 insect appears to j^refer dry chalky districts. In the dry summer of 

 1818 they were equally obnoxious, so that it maybe considered that 

 long droughts are most favourable for their production. He con* 

 sidered that the Swedish turnip was not Infested by these insects in 

 consequence of containing a greater quantity of oily matter, as well 

 as from the more pungent taste of the leaf, and the stronger taste of 

 the root. The name given to the larva by the farmers is the "blacks," 

 and it was noticed, that unlike the attacks of the Hulticte, which the 

 quick growth of the plant rendered of short duration, the blacks con- 

 tinued their attacks so long as any leaf was left. 



The President stated, that besides the blacks and the Haltlcce, his 

 attention had been directed to two other species of insects, which had 

 proved very injurious to the turnips In Shropshire, Herefordshire, 

 and Worcestershire. These were the larvae of one of the Noctuida; 

 (Agrotis }), which in the daytime hides itself in the ground, com- 

 ing forth at night to feed upon the leaves ; and the wireworm or larva 

 of some of the Elateridce, which eat into the heart of the turnip. He 

 suggested that the application of quicklime over the turnips after 

 rain at dusk would have the effect of destroying the larvae when they 

 came forth to feed ; and likewise that it would be serviceable to turn 

 poultry and ducks into the fields when ploughed. 



Respecting the habits of the Calandra, and the situation in which 



VOL. I. PART III. X 



