1908.] Insect, Fungus, and other Pests. 



601 



If the shade is very dense, and nearly white when growing in 

 more open places. 



The presence of a ring and a volva, together with the per- 

 sistently white gills and pale yellow or greenish pileus are the 

 more striking features of this fungus, and are sufficient to brand 

 any specimen possessing them with the strongest suspicion. 

 With regard to the volva care must be taken to obtain the 

 entire stem, as the bulbous base together with the volva is 

 often hidden by leaves or soil. 



A large number of insect, fungus and other specimens have 

 been received by the Board during the past few weeks, and the 

 following are notes on a few of the 

 Notes on Insect, specimens dealt with : — 

 Fungus and other Beetle on Willows. — Specimens of beetles 

 Pests.* taken on osiers in South Petherton 



(Somerset) were identified as Galerucella 

 lineola. This species is sometimes, as in the instance under 

 consideration, the cause of great loss in osier beds. The beetle 

 l a y s I e gg s in the spring, and from these come grubs, which, when 

 full grown, leave the osiers and pass into the soil, where they 

 pupate, giving rise to the adult beetles which then return to 

 the plants. In the summer, when the beetles are active on 

 the osiers, spraying with Paris Green or arsenate of lead should 

 be practised. The beetles hibernate during winter under 

 rubbish, in crevices in the neighbourhood of the beds, under 

 the rough bark of willow trees, &c. Over 50 have been taken 

 crowded together in a piece of hollow stem only 3 in. long. 



During winter an effort may be made to destroy the hiber- 

 nating beetles, a good plan being to flood the osier beds, if 

 practicable. Boards should be placed above the flooded 

 area, and the beetles which collect on the under sides of the 

 boards, should be regularly swept into a vessel containing 

 paraffin. 



Clover-seed Weevil. — Specimens of clover heads from Sharn- 

 brook, Beds., were attacked by the grubs of the Clover-seed 



* Notes on insect, fungus and other pests, dealing with the specimens submitted 

 to the Board for identification, and their apparent prevalence, will appear in this 

 Journal month by month. The notes commenced with the issue for June, 1907. 



