ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. XlX 



observed that Aphides could with difficulty be found upon the 

 potatoes in Essex. Four different species of insects had been 

 brought to him as the cause of the disease ; namely, the turnip-flea 

 beetle, the larva of Cocc'inella, a species of Meligethes, and another 

 insect which was too much injured for identification. He had 

 also observed that two plum-trees, which had last year been de- 

 foliated by Apltides, had this year produced an abundant crop. 

 He also stated that in the " Illustrated London News" of the pre- 

 ceding week an apple leaf, evidently partly eaten by the larvge of 

 Yponomeuta padella, had been figured as an illustration of the 

 attacks o? Aphides. 



Professor Milne Edwards, who was present, stated that the 

 assertion of Mr. Smee wanted novelty. It had been at first 

 entertained in France, but the error of such a notion was now ac- 

 knowledged. 



Mr. Hobbs exhibited some potatoe plants on which he had ex- 

 perimented, and stated that by enclosing one within a gauze cover, 

 together with a number of the Phijlocoris, they had destroyed it, 

 whilst another plant, treated in the same manner, but powdered 

 with lime, had escaped their attacks and had grown considerably. 

 Mr. Waterhouse stated that this insect was very common upon 

 different plants, and that they could not therefore be considered 

 as the cause of a disease confined to the potatoe. Mr. Doubleday 

 also remarked, that before the assertion that this Phylocoris is the 

 cause of the disease could be admitted, it must be shown that the 

 insect has occurred in great profusion throughout all the parts of 

 the world where the disease has appeared. Mr. Spence stated 

 that the supporters of the insectal theory of the disease had failed 

 to show that these insects ever produced gangrene on the plants, 

 and Mr. J. F. Stephens mentioned that Mr. Smee's knowledge of 

 the Aphis vastator was not earlier than last year, when he brought 

 two specimens to Mr. Stephens in order to obtain their names. 



Mr. Spence read a note from Mr. Gulliver, communicating some 

 observations made by Dr. Davy on the attacks of a species of 

 Coccus upon the sugar canes in the West Indies. Specimens of 

 the insect, together with one of Delphax saccharivora, Westw., 

 were exhibited. Professor Milne Edwards observed, that hot 

 water had been found to be a valuable remedy against the insects 

 which attack the vine, by destroying the eggs and larvae ; he was 

 doubtful, however, whether it might not be injurious if applied to 

 the sugar cane. 



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