TURNIP OR DART MOTH. 55 



regarding its nature was forwarded from many localities, chiefly in 

 the south of England. 



The first communication was sent me on the 19th of June, by Mr. 

 W. H. Hunt, from Outmarsh, Trowbridge, Wilts, with specimens of 

 grubs which were destroying his Mangolds by " eating them off just 

 under the ground," and an enquiry as to what was the best remedy. 

 All of the specimens, that arrived in fair condition, were apparently 

 caterpillars of the Turnip or Dart Moth, Agrotis segeltim, but they 

 differed much in age, and also in colour, from a pale tint to such a 

 deep colour that the spots on the back were hardly distinguishable. 

 Amongst the difficulties of certain identification of the very similar 

 common kinds of " Surface Caterpillars " from each other, it should 

 'not be overlooked that whilst some of a consignment may be shrunken, 

 and altogether out of typical condition of colour and skin, from starva- 

 tion and knocking about in transit ; that others may be glossy, and as 

 full as they can hold, apparently simply from consumption of their 

 fellow-travellers. 



On the 3rd of July, Mr. Edw. R. Berry Torr, wrote me regarding 

 prevalence of grub in Mangolds as follows, from Westleigh House, 

 Bideford, N. Devon : — '' The grub is in the Mangold nearly throughout 

 the county ; . . . many farmers have no Mangolds left ; . . . my 

 neighbour has all his men and their children picking them from round 

 the plants." In this case specimens were not sent, but a little more 

 than a month later, on the 10th of August, Mr. Berry Torr, continuing 

 the subject, added: — " Re Surface Caterpillars, — they have been most 

 troublesome here this season, though I have got on far better than 

 many of my neighbours. They have devoured Cabbages, Mangolds, or 

 anything else they could get at, and nothing seems to stop them." 



On the 6th of July, the Rev. W. F. Newman, of Hockworthy 

 Vicarage, Wellington, Somerset, who was then having the Aphides * 



* In a communication sent me by the Eev. W. F. Newman, on the 1st of July, 

 he mentioned that his Mangolds had been attacked by what I found on examination 

 were Aphides, commonly known as Plant Lice. These being on the under side of 

 the leaf, the measure tried of dragging a bag over the leafage did little good. 

 Therefore Mr. Newman put on a body of workers to remove the Aphides by rubbing 

 them off with their hands ; but for the sake of himself and his neighbours, he was 

 desirous to know whether there was any more expeditious remedy. Later in the 

 year, on September 13th, he further mentioned, " My crop of Mangolds that was 

 hand-rubbed for Black Aphis promises to be a very fair one." — (W. F. N.) 



On the same day, that is, on the 1st of July, Mr. G. A. Winder wrote to me, 

 from Fairmile, Ottery St. Mary, regarding "a terrible pest on the Mangolds" in the 

 shape of fly. This also infested a weed growing among them, locally known as 

 Calf -tongue, on which there were likewise some beetle grubs observable. On exami- 

 nation the insects proved to be Mangold Aphis, with the grubs of Lady-birds, which 

 are amongst our best natural helpers against Aphis attack, already in attendance. 



This attack, like that near Wellington, Somerset, was during the continuance 



