426 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



Part II. The Life History of the Heather Beetle (Lochmeea suturalis). 



The heather beetle (Lochmeea suturalis), whose ravages form the subject 

 of Part I., is a small creature a little less than a quarter of an inch 

 (5% mm.) in length, of an oval shape, and usually of an olive - brown 

 colour. It belongs to the family Chrysomelidse, 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 

 Lochmeea caprece, Linnaeus, a species which, as its name implies, feeds on 

 sallow (Salix capred). 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 described 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. LVIII. 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 

 Chrysomelidse in the " Naturgeschichte 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." 



My knowledge of the life history of this beetle is yet, I regret to say, 

 incomplete. I have never seen or received larvae earlier in the season than the 

 end of August, and by this date they are practically full-grown. From this 

 stage, however, I have succeeded in rearing several specimens of the mature 

 beetle, and have carefully noted the changes which take place, and the length 

 of time taken to effect them. 



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

 measures, when straightened out, about a quarter of an inch (6 mm.) in 

 length, but it is usually more or less curved, and if disturbed rolls itself up 

 close. It is of a dirty white colour, studded all over with dark markings and 

 tubercles, which have a definite arrangement on each segment. The segments- 

 themselves are transversely wrinkled, while each tubercle is tipped with a fine 



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



