THE MUSSEL SCALE AND THE COLORADO BEETLE. 19 



Male scales are rare, and the larvae pass through a so-called 

 pupal stage, which ultimately gives place to a small insect 

 possessing wings. 



PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



Wherever the scale is noticed the trunks and main branches 

 should be well washed with soda and potash (caustic alkali), and 

 early in June sprayed with paraffin emulsion, this should be 

 done three or four times, at intervals of two or three days. 



All young stock should be fumigated with hydrocyanic acid 

 gas before being planted. 



THE COLORADO BEETLE. 



Doryphora decemlineata, Say. 



Early in July a report appeared in the public press stating that 

 living specimens of this beetle had been brought to the Hereford 

 Museum for identification. This statement naturally gave rise 

 to some alarm amongst Midland agriculturists, and specimens of 

 the American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) and the common 

 Cockchafer (Melolontha vulgaris) were forwarded to me from the 

 Birmingham Wholesale Fruit Market, under the impression that 

 they were examples of this dreaded pest. 



The Board of Agriculture were promptly advised of the 

 occurrence, and subsequently it was found that a lady from 

 Rhode Island, New York, U.S.A., had brought over five living 

 specimens as curiosities. Three died, and the remaining two which 

 were left at the Hereford Museum, were promptly killed. 



To the best of my knowledge, at the present time, there is no 

 infestation of this beetle in Europe. 



THE TURNIP FLEA-BEETLE. 



Phyllotreta nemorum, Linn. 



Probably owing to the wet season experienced in 1903, this 

 beetle, although reported from all the Midland counties, did little 

 damage. During 1904, however, it has proved a troublesome 

 pest to growers of turnips, cabbage, etc. 



PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



As regards mechanical contrivances, a board coated with 

 tar, which must be renewed at frequent intervals, drawn over the 

 ground, will catch large numbers. 



Keeping the soil in as fine a tilth as possible will expose the 

 beetles to the rain. 



Of the various insecticides recommended few have proved 

 of any great value. 



Spraying the young plants wittf paraffin has proved success- 

 ful, and I have seen good results from dusting with equal parts of 



