THE HEATHER BEETLE 417 



was so widely known as " frosted " was identical with that of his specimens, 

 and due to the attack of the same species of insect. Acting upon this 

 suggestion, I examined the soil about the roots of this sample, and also of 

 two others sent by the same gentleman a few days afterwards, and found 

 therein numerous examples of the insect in all stages between that of fully- 

 grown larva and mature insect. I succeeded in identifying the creature 

 as a phytophagous beetle known as Lochmcea suturalis, Thomson, and 

 immediately published a short account of it, with figures, in the "Annals of 

 Scottish Natural History" for January 1898 (pp. 27-29). 



I thought little more of the matter until it was again brought to my 

 notice in connection with the investigations of the present Committee. In 

 order to obtain more evidence, either for or against the theory that the 

 beetle was alone responsible for the damage, a circular was issued in January 

 1909 asking for reports from correspondents regarding the extent to which 

 their moors had suffered from diseased heather, and requesting samples to be 

 sent to me for examination. Before and after the issue of this circular I 

 received typical examples of "frosted" heather from many sources, and it is 

 important to note that ir( every case where the shoots had changed colour 

 the leaves were undoubtedly nibbled by some insect, this being easily shown 

 by examination with a hand lens. Not only were the bases and edges of 

 the leaves eaten, but in many cases all the leaf had disappeared except the 

 mid-rib, which remained as a kind of bristle on the shoot. The specimens now 

 in the possession of the Committee furnish absolute proof that in all cases 

 of diseased heather submitted to them the rusty red withered appearance is 

 associated with, if not entirely due to, the attack of some insect, presumably 

 the beetle referred to above, and which we now call the heather beetle. 



In order to ascertain if the beetle was actually present in the samples of 

 heather sent not by any means an easy matter 1 devised a plan by which 

 the little creature could be made to show itself. As all the samples were sent 

 to me between the months of October and February it appeared to me probable 

 that the insects, if present at all, would be in the mature stage, judging from 

 what I had seen in the specimens examined in 1897. In all likelihood, too, 

 they would be in a hibernating condition somewhere about the roots or surface 

 of the soil. As it was impossible to find them without tearing to fine pieces 

 every cubic inch of soil a most laborious task I hit upon the plan of soaking 



each block of soil, with heather attached, for several hours in water, gradually 

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