SPRINGTAILS. Ill 



The following notes refer to observation of a minute insect-like 

 infestation, rarely noticed with us, as hurtful to the leafage of field 

 crops, although one or more kinds do much harm at times in Cucumber- 

 frames to the young plants by gnawing the surface of the leaf, and 

 they are mischievous also out of doors to " succulent roots and plants, 

 especially where anything has happened to diminish the vitality of the 

 plant." — (Andrew Murray.) 



Samples of the infestation were sent me in July of the past season 

 from Lumphanan, in Aberdeenshire, as being then doing much harm 

 to Turnip crops in the neighbourhood, and on examination the speci- 

 mens proved to be (scientifically speaking) of the genus Smi/nthums, 

 of the order Collemhola, more popularly known, by reason of their 

 remarkable jumping powers, as " Springtails." 



Until the past season this kind has never been brought (as a field- 

 crop attack) under my own notice ; still they may need looking after, 

 as very similar species were drawn attention to many years ago by 

 John Curtis in his ' Farm Insects ' as injurious by eating the cellular 

 tissue of green leaves. His description (just taking the main points) 

 of the species he noticed — as being not bigger than a small grain of 

 sand, with a large head attached by a slender neck, and furnished with 

 slender four-jointed antennae ; the trunk and body united so as to 

 form a globose mass, with a forked tail (or process) doubled under it 

 for leaping, and six rather short legs for walking — gives a fairly 

 intelligible idea to begin with of the general appearance of these 

 leaping Springtails under a powerful magnifier. 



The figure at p. 110 shows one of the Smynthuri enormously larger 

 than life, and at rest, so that the leaping-fork, being doubled away 

 beneath it, is out of sight. 



The first note regarding this infestation was sent me on the 5th of 

 July by Mr. Eobert Ironside, from Auchlossan, Lumphanan, Aberdeen- 

 shire, N.B., as follows : — "My Turnips and others in this neighbour- 

 hood are being a good deal damaged, not only by the Turnip Flea, but 

 by something else, which I never observed before ; I enclose specimens 

 of plants as attacked. There is also enclosed an insect which I fear 

 has something to do with it. It is very active in its movements." 



On these plant specimens I failed to find any infestation excepting 

 caterpillar of Diamond-back Moth still in very young state, and on 

 writing about it to Mr. Ironside he replied that this caterpillar was 

 present, but remarked further : — " That was not the pest I wished to 

 bring under your notice. This season, and on certain fields in this 

 neighbourhood, the young plants were eaten ; not only the first two 

 leaves were eaten, but the rough leaf was also attacked, by small 

 {perhaps) beetles, at least ten times less than the ordinary Turnip 

 Beetle ; tliese mostly being a dirty yellow colour, but there were also 



