77 



MANGOLD. 



The Pigmy Mangold Beetle.* Atomaria linearis, Stephens. 



Atomaeia linearis. 



Beetle, much magnified, after Taschenberg. Nat. length one twenty-fourth of 



an inch. 



For some years back enquiries have been sent me from time to 

 time, regarding the nature of an attack which was very injurious to 

 young Mangolds. The serious nature of the mischief was obvious, 

 from the condition of the plants received, and so far as appeared 

 from examination or description, sent accompanying, the damage was 

 caused by the roots being gnawed, or in some cases, the top of the 

 plant being eaten into at the ground level, the plants being thus 

 destroyed. But still, although I examined the specimens sent me 

 most carefully, I was not able to discover the cause of the mischief. 



Now, however, we have gained a clue from receipt of identification 

 of a bad attack to young Mangolds at the Royal Agricultural College, 

 Cirencester, being caused by infestation of a kind of exceedingly 

 minute beetles, known scientifically as Atomaria, and this attack was 

 noted as agreeing exactly with that of the Atomaria linearis, well 

 known on the Continent for its ravages to Beet or Mangolds. From 

 this, and from the specimens of injured plants sent me (though 

 without the cause of evil accompanying), agreeing so nearly with 

 different forms of this infestation, it seems to me to be scarcely open 

 to doubt that the attacks to the young plants in all the instances 

 reported were of this Atomaria linearis. 



This is an exceedingly small beetle, only about half a line, that is 

 (one twenty-fourth of an inch), in length, narrow and long in shape, 

 and somewhat flattened or depressed ; slightly downy ; in colour 

 varying from rusty red to black. Horns slender, terminated by a 



* As this beetle does not appear to have as yet any English name, the above 

 appellation referring to its exceedingly minute size, and its crop food-plant, seems 

 to distinguish it fairly. In German it is described as the " Kunkel-ruben Kaferchen," 

 or "The Beet (or Mangold) little beetle." But as this form is cumbrous, and also at 

 one time Pygmaa was one of its scientific names, the prefix of " Pigmy " appears to 

 be allowable and appropriate. 



