456 



Insed Pests. 



Sinfc then similar damage has Ijeen reported to me from Xorfolk 

 (3) and AN'orcestersliire (4). (jrmerod also records the damage from 

 Herefordshire, Bedfordshire, Glouceslersliire and Berlvshire (1). 



The majority of " ground beetles" or Carabida- are beneficial, for 

 tliey feed upon slugs, cater]5illars, etc., in tlie soil, and at first some 

 doubt was expressed as to these insects beinu" tlie cause of the damage. 

 That they are so is now beyond douljt. 



A popular name given to them in some localities is that of Lat 

 Beetles. At least lour species seem to have acquired the liad habits 

 recorded here, Imt the one mentioned in the heading is usually the 

 most harmfid. 



The damage is done to the green and ripening fruit. The Ijeetles 

 eat the skin of the green fruit, leaving many of the seeds ; Imt when 

 the fruit is ripening I have noticed that they especially feed on tlie 

 .seeds, wdnch may be seen lying thick under the plants. The attacked 

 oTcen fruit of course is ruined, withering up, and the ripe fruit is also 

 spoiled, even it oidy a small surface is damaged. It is not so much 

 the amount eaten as the (quantity of fruit that the beetles spoil that 

 makes this attack so serious. (Jn one occasion an attack was watched 

 personally, and the beetles were found eating quite large irregular 

 masses out of the fruit, damage which the gardener had put down to 



the birds. 



Si'ELiES 01' ]]kktlI';s Foi'Nd. 



The four kinds of lieetles which cause this annoyance are known 

 as Hui'jiiil ii:< riijii'iiiii I--., Fab., riirosfir]! us rnliidris^ Linn.. S/croiius 



1, flnij.slii'l, 



mdilliliis, FaV)., and Cuhilli us cislrlnljis. Panzer. They may be dis- 

 tinguished liv the I'oUowinu characters: — 



