8o First Report on Economic Zoology. 



ANIMAL PESTS OF HOPS. 



Woodlice in Hops. 



Specimens of the so-called Monkey-peas were forwarded on tlie 

 2nd of June from Macknade, Paversbam, by Mr. P. Neanie, with the 

 following note : — 



I noticed the other day in one of the hop gardens large numbers of the 

 insect commonly known as " Monkey-pea." Are they likely to damage 

 the bine at all by biting it ? If you could inform me on this point, I 

 should be much obliged. 



The following reply was sent : — 



The so-called "Monkey-peas" or woodlice are omnivorous feeders. 

 They sometimes do considerable harm out of doors as well as in green- 

 houses, especially to soft fruits. I have never heard of them damaging 

 hops in any way, but it is quite probable that they would do so if present 

 in sufficient numbers. They are more likely to eat away on the surface of 

 the ground than upon the bine. Strawberries are often gnawed away 

 around the crown by them. Woodlice can easily be trapped by putting 

 old baskets full of damp moss upside down, beneath which the woodlice 

 congregate and can easily be collected. 



CEKEAL PESTS. 



Beetles on Barley affected with Smut. 



Specimens of barley affected with " Smut " and small beetles 

 found with the fungus were received on 26th June (1901) from 

 Mr. Neame, of Faversham. Mr. Neame stated that he found them 

 in a field of barley badly affected with smut ; they were of a glistening 

 black colour, and seemed to be only on the ears affected by smut, and 

 occurred on almost every foul ear that had recently speared. Where 

 the smut had begun to blow away he could not find them. They 

 seemed to be eating through the skin of the ears. The following 

 answer was sent to his letter of enquiry : — 



The Beetles you send are known as Plialacrus corn/scus, Paykull. They 

 are common and generally distributed throughout the London and Southern 

 districts, rather common in the Midlands, rarer further North. I do not 

 know anything of the economy of the five British species, but they are 

 certainly not injurious. Two N. American species, F. ])olitus, L., and 

 P. penicillatus, Say, have been noticed to feed upou the spores of the 

 Smut-fungus on wheat. There is no doubt, I think, that those you notice 

 in your barley are there, as you say, to feed off the fungus attacking the 

 crop, and that they may therefore be looked upon as beneficial creatures ; 

 but at the same time it is very probable they carry the spores about with 

 them and so help spread this serious cereal malady. 



