312 



Insect Pests. 



over the leaf or standing away from it. This leaf box is held in 

 place by the mid rib, which is not touched by the beetle. In length 

 this case is about ^ inch and rather more than ;j inch in diameter. 

 As many as fifty have been counted on one small branch of a chest- 

 nut. It is formed by the female cutting a transverse incision about 

 half-way down the leaf to the mid rib, the cut terminal part is then 

 rolled into the box. In each case before it is rolled up, the female 

 deposits an orange ovum, which hatches into the larva in a week or 

 ten days. 



The bright orange egg is easily seen ; one only is placed in each 



Fid. 211.— LEAF I3IJX JiEETI.E (Atte/abit 



[Horace Knight. 



LEAP NEST. 



the head being black and 

 abdomen are very finely 



box. The maggot feeds inside this chamber and pupates there, either 

 when on the tree or on the ground. 



The beetles may occur early in jMay, but the majority do so in 

 the first two weeks in June. 



The colour is bright brick-dust red 

 also the scutellum, both thorax and 

 punctate, the legs are dark brown and the tibi;e dentate on their 

 inner side. Tlie male differs from the female by having a single 

 curved hook at the apex of the front tibiie and reddish hairs on the 

 abdomen ; the female has two curved hooks on the apex of the front 

 tibiffi and a smooth body. The length varies from 1- to \ inch. 



The hazel and hawthorn also serve as food plants. 



It is very common in Kent and many of the midland counties, 

 and is especially abundant at certain times in the Forest of Dean. 



