34 SECOND REPORT ON ECONOMIC BIOLOGY 



All the specimens I have hitherto seen from the Midland Counties 

 have been due to the mite, but during the past year a case from Here- 

 ford proved to be due to the fungus E. turgid-iis. 



If the clumps of aborted branches, the so-called " witches 

 brooms," are cut away in the early spring or late autumn and burnt, 

 but very few of the mites will be left behind, certainly not in sufficient 

 numbers to do any serious damage for many years. 



THE RED POPLAR=LEAF BEETLE. 



Melasoma populi, Linn. 



A southern correspondent forw r arded in June last the leaves of 

 young poplars badly attacked by the larvae of this beetle. 



LIFE-HISTORY. 



The female deposits her eggs in groups of from 10 to 12 late in 

 May or early in June on the underside of the leaves. In all 100 to 

 150 eggs are laid. The larvae appear during June and July, and at 

 once commence to feed upon the leaves. If disturbed they exude a 

 milky-white fluid. In colour they are a dirty-white or cream tint, 

 spotted with black, and on the 2nd and 3rd segments have a pair of 

 white lateral projections. 



Pupation takes place in July, when the pupae may be found hang- 

 ing head downwards from the leaves. 



The beetles appear in August, and frequently continue the 

 damage to the foliage by biting large irregular-shaped holes in the 

 leaves. Early in October they seek out their hibernating quarters 

 under fallen leaves, moss, debris, etc. 



Not infrequently there are tw r o broods in a season. 



PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



Wherever possible all fallen leaves, debris, etc., should be col- 

 lected and burnt. 



Beating the trees in May and June and again in August and 

 September and collecting the beetles in cloths is efficacious where only 

 a small number of trees are attacked. 



Traps consisting of bundles of dry moss placed beneath the trees 



