1908.] 



Insect, Fungus and other Pests. 



275 



Number of 

 Bulbs. 



Weight. 



lb. 



Seed steeped in turpentine ... 

 Seed untreated 

 Seed steeped in paraffin 

 Seed untreated 



5i 



43 

 49 

 45 



100 



101 



Two harmless beetles. — A beetle forwarded for examination 

 from East Ham was identified as Silpha quadripundata, a 

 member of the family Silphidce. This family consists chiefly 

 of species which, both in the adult and larval form, are car- 

 nivorous insects. A number live on carrion. Silpha opaca, 

 though carnivorous and a feeder on carrion, is in the larval stage 

 also partly a vegetarian, and has proved harmful to beet and 

 mangolds ; probably in most cases it has reached the fields 

 in manure. 5. quadripundata is in some parts of the country 

 not uncommon at this time ; it is credited with the destruction 

 of caterpillars. 



Another harmless beetle, Nebria brevicollis. was received 

 from near Kidderminster. This is not an uncommon British 

 insect, and is harmless to plants, for both in the adult beetle 

 stage and as a grub it is carnivorous in diet and predaceous 

 in habit. The grub is active, six-legged, dark brown in colour 

 on the upper surface, and recognisable by a projection from 

 the anal region and also by two hairy styles. It is found in 

 damp, shady places. 



Beetle on Strawberries. — From Grays specimens of beetles 

 were forwarded, which were severely damaging strawberry 

 plants. They were identified as Rhynchites minutus, a widely 

 distributed species of a genus that is sometimes destructive. 

 The beetles, according to their species, lay their eggs in leaves, 

 on leaves, in fruits, or in twigs. Some of the leaf-infesting 

 forms roll up the attacked leaf. R. minutus is found also on 

 trees, and, according to Fowler, especially on young oaks. 

 Its pupal stage is passed in the soil. Unfortunately nothing 

 can be done to combat this insect when adult, except (where 

 the beetles are in number) shaking them off the plants into a 

 vessel containing some paraffin. The beetles may also be 

 taken by sweeping the herbage with a fine net, made of muslin 

 or similar material. 



Beetles on Willows. — Specimens of willows from Ormskirk 

 were found to be attacked by two very destructive beetles, 



