126 STRAWBERRY, 



way as would get rid of the infestation, and so forestall the develop- 

 ment of a second brood of beetles. Where date of gathering the fruit 

 crop allows, and it is the custom to clear the leafage of tlie plants after 

 the fruit is picked, this would afford great facilities for dealing with the 

 infestation, whether on the leaves or in the ground. 



Judging from the notes sent, though the fact is not clearly stated 

 in form with date of appearance, &c., there is a second brood, and if so 

 this should be looked for, and got rid of in hyberuating state from 

 beneath the Strawberry plants during winter. Tlie beetles would in 

 all probability be found, as is the case with a nearly allied species, 

 harbouring in the leaves and rubbish on the surface, and if this was 

 scraped together and burnt, before disturbing the surface soil for the 

 customary winter treatment, a deal of infestation would most likely be 

 got rid of. Clearing the surface is needed as a preliminary operation 

 in a case of this sort, as otherwise many of the beetles, whether of this 

 or of other kinds which are only lightly buried in the rubbish in which 

 they were sheltering, are in no way injured, and in due time come up 

 again strong, and ready again to do mischief. 



Observations of whether the common food-plants of this Galeruca, 

 namely, Willows and Alders, were in the neighbourhood, and also the 

 Meadow Sweet, which is a very common plant by ditches in many 

 localities, and taking any measures available to get rid of them if 

 infested, would also be desirable in the case of large Strawberry 

 grounds.* 



* In this case I have not given a figure, for, though the greatly injured state of 

 the Strawberry leafage would have been of very useful interest for illustration of the 

 attack, the notes and specimens came to hand when 1 was suffering so severely from 

 illness that it was with ditiiculty I could attend even to the daily requirements of 

 correspondents. 



Those who have the opportunity of referring to the figure of leafage injured by 

 the allied insect, the Galeruca (or Agelastica) alni, given at p. 304 of the work of 

 Dr. Eitzema Bos, before referred to, and at p. 291 of Part II. of the ' Practische 

 Insekten Kunde ' of Dr. E. L. Taschenberg, would find this showed the kind of 

 injury to the Strawberry leafage very fairly, though not to the full and severe 

 extent of that sent me. 



