34 REPORT ON INJURIOUS INSECTS FOR 1907. 



the Brassy Willow Beetle, Phyllodecta vitellinae, Linn., and its ally 

 P. vulgatissima, Linn., and a species known as Galerucella lineola. 



In flood refuse, heaps of osier peel, or collections of dead leaves, 

 all three species are very common. It is amongst such material that 

 they hibernate during the winter. 



The first mentioned species is perhaps the commonest, a short 

 account of its life-history may therefore be useful. 



LIFE- HISTORY. 



The life-history here described was worked out upon some 

 material taken in February last from the stump of an old willow. 

 There were large numbers of the beetles present, and early in April 

 the females deposited, on the undersides of the willow leaves, isolated 

 groups of tiny spindle-shaped eggs, each group being covered with an 

 irregular, transparent cover. 



The larvae hatched out in seven days and were of greyish-yellow 

 colour ; w r hen full fed they became slightly darker in colour and had 

 four conspicuous brown spots on the dorsal side of each segment, 

 with smaller ones laterally, whilst the tw r o most posterior segments 

 were marked with a black square. The first three segments were the 

 most prominently marked, and also the largest segments, the posterior 

 ones narrowing. 



In the laboratory the larvae fed on the undersides of the leaves 

 for some \veeks, finally falling to the ground and pupating in the soil. 



The beetles hatched out at the end of August, and fed on the 

 leaves so long as we could obtain any, ultimately hibernating in the 

 debris of the willow stump. 



PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



All material, such as mentioned above, which is likely to afford 

 suitable quarters for hibernating in, should be burnt or removed. 



Spraying with Paris green, or Arsenate of lead, will kill the larvae 

 and beetles in the spring. 



Dusting the stocks with lime and soot has also been found 

 efficacious. 



THE CIGAR BEETLE. 



Lasioderma testacea, Duf. 



Quite a number of inquiries have been received as to damage to 

 Havana and Cuban cigars by this beetle. 



One gentleman assured me that it came into his stock with some 

 Havana cigars about two years ago, and since had made its way from 

 box to box. Borings in the boxes certainly supported this view. 



Hoping to eradicate what was proving a very serious pest, I 

 recommended fumigation with bisulphide of carbon, (see p. 56) and 

 I am pleased to learn that this has proved effective, for no further 

 damage has been noticed. 



