THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 67 
The Striped Beetle of the Potato.—The Colorado potato- 
beetle (Doryphora decem-lineata) is an enemy whose rapid 
advances towards the shores of the Atlantic threaten an 
invasion into Europe at no distant day. Mr. Riley points 
out how these destructive insects, when once established on 
the sea-board, may wing their way to vessels in port, being 
accustomed to fly in swarms, and may thus be borne over to 
found a colony in this country, irrespective of conveyance 
with the tubers themselves, which they are stated to devour 
greedily when dug up, several having been found ensconced 
in a single potato. Mr. Riley suggests that Agricultural and 
Horticultural Societies should make provision for the dis- 
semination of correct information respecting these insects ; 
and that specimens of the beetles themselves should be 
obtained for distribution, with the view of familiarizing 
persons with their aspect, and of preventing their diffusion. 
The importance of some efficient measures being adopted for 
this purpose can hardly be overrated, in default of which this 
scourge must assuredly be expected to follow in the wake of 
the Phylloxera, the Oidium, and other noxious importations 
from the same quarter. Mr. Riley’s reiterated remarks on 
this head have a somewhat prophetic significance, when 
calling to mind that “in giving, through Sir Walter Raleigh, 
the precious tuber to Europe, America conferred upon the 
Old World an everlasting boon. She may yet unwittingly be 
the means of bequeathing as great a bane, by sending across 
the ocean the deadliest enemy of that tuber. At all events it 
behoves our European neighbours to be on the look-out, 
and to prevent, if possible, any such catastrophe.” The 
attention of the Académie des Sciences has just been drawn 
to this subject by the French Minister for Commerce and 
Agriculture. 
[On Monday, 8th February, Mr. Herbert introduced this 
pet panic into the House of Commons, by asking the Chief 
Secretary for Ireland whether Her Majesty’s Government had 
taken any steps to prevent the introduction of the Colorado 
beetle into Ireland by the importation of American seed- 
potatoes or otherwise; and, should no precautions have 
already been instituted, what were the intentions of Her 
Majesty’s Government on this subject. Sir M. H. Beach 
replied :—“ The subject of the honourable member’s question 
