382 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



Part II. The Life History of the Heather Beetle 

 (Lochmaea suturalis). 



The heather beetle (Lochmcea suturalis), whose ravages form 

 the subject of Part I. of this chapter, is a small creature a little 

 less than a quarter of an inch (5j mm.) in length, of an oval 

 shape, and usually of an olive brown colour. It belongs to the 

 family Chrysomelidae, and was first described as a distinct 

 species in the year 1866, by the Swedish entomologist, C. G. 

 Thomson, in his great work on the beetles of Scandinavia. 1 

 It is very closely allied to Lochmcea caprece, Linnaeus, a species 

 which, as its name implies, feeds on sallow (Salix caprea). From 

 this it differs in having the forehead more shining, the little 

 black tubercles immediately behind the bases of the feelers 

 more distinct and polished, while the whole of the thorax is 

 more shining. Since both species have been thoroughly de- 

 scribed in the various works, British and Continental, which deal 

 with Coleoptera, it is quite unnecessary to do more than refer 

 the reader to the figure given on PI. xxn. It is interesting to 

 note that Thomson, in his original description, says the beetle is 

 " not rare on Salix repens and other species of willow," while 

 Julius Weise, in his account of the Chrysomelidae in the " Natur- 

 geschichte der Insecten Deutschlands," says it occurs " on 

 marsh plants, also on birches and willows in marshes." Canon 

 Fowler, on the other hand, in his " Coleoptera of the British 

 Islands," states correctly that it is found " on heather, by no 

 means uncommon, and very widely distributed " ; but also adds : 

 " it also occurs on birches and willows." 



Our knowledge of the life history of this beetle is yet in- 

 complete. No larvae have been seen earlier in the season than 

 the end of August, and by this date they are practically full- 

 grown. From this stage, however, several specimens of the 

 mature beetle have been reared. 



The full - grown larva is represented in Figs. 2 and 3 of 



1 " Skandinaviena Coleoptera," vol. viii, p. 151, 



