TURNIP MUD-BEETLE, 107 



the centre by a light line, the division hardly showing on the foremost 

 of these two segments. 



Along the rest of the abdominal segments is a double row of 

 squarish grey spots, or rather a short transverse band across the back 

 of each, divided along the middle by a pale line, and below, on each 

 side, a row of smaller grey spots. 



On submitting some of the larvae for the benefit of trustworthy 

 identification to the Kev. Canon W. W. Fowler, of Lincoln, he was 

 good enough to write me in reply : — " The larva is without doubt that 

 of the HelopJiorus " ; and he also sent me the description of the H. 

 aquaticus''' (a species allied to H. ru(/osus, but of more aquatic habits), 

 and Schiodte's figure, that I might see from them that the larva was 

 evidently that of a Helophorus, and from the accompanying circum- 

 stances clearly that of H. rngosus. 



What we want now to complete the life-history, is where the grub 

 changes to the pupal state. Presumably this takes place either in its 

 food-plant, or in the earth by it. Also it would be of serviceable 

 interest to know how the beetles contrive to make themselves so 

 exceedingly muddy. In the description given by Prof. Westwood of 

 the habits of the family of the Helophorid(E,\ he says: — "They inhabit 

 ponds and ditches, creeping slowly about the roots of aquatic plants, 

 or occasionally coming out of the water, and walking upon the muddy 

 banks, covered with dirt, whence the name of the typical genus ; they 

 also often fly about in the hot sunshine," Conjecturally, the Turnip 

 Mud-beetles, though partly infesting Turnips, also spend a part of 

 their time in mud, or muddy water ; but this kind is obviously not of 

 so aquatic a nature as some others of the family, and for the sake of 

 the Turnip crops more information is very desirable. 



The following notes, taken from carefully detailed observation, for 

 which I am obliged to Mr. Peter S. Cowie, of Netherton of Delgaty, 

 by Turriff, Aberdeenshire, show how much mischief is done by the 

 grubs ; also the method and position of the attack, and the appearance 

 of the infested crop. With the observations, Mr. Cowie forwarded 

 specimens of the beetles and of the maggots, and some examples of 

 attacked Turnips, with the remark : — " I have also sent a few cuttings 

 from Turnips, one showing the perforated skin healed up again, and 

 another with a cavity right under the shaw ; I find a great many with 

 this, having the skin all green like the outer skin. The other shows 

 the leaves all gone, being eaten away by the maggot." — (P. S. C.) 



Mr. Cowie's observations, which are given in careful detail, begin 

 with mention of circumstances of maggot-attack in 1893. In that 



• ' British Coleoptera ' (Fowler), vol. i. p. 334. 



t See ' Introduction to Modern Olassitication of Insects,' by J. 0. Westwood, 

 ol. i. p. 121. 



