I905-] 



The Turnip Mud-Beetle. 



103 



Solway, and Dee districts." It is interesting that, as far as is 

 known, all the complaints made as to the destructive work 

 of this beetle on turnips have come from Aberdeenshire. 



Method of Attack. — (1) The leaves may be eaten. (2) The 

 leafstalks may be holed and tunnelled. (3) The swollen root- 

 tubers may be irregularly gnawed and tunnelled on the outer 

 surface, and this especially in the upper part. The harm is 



Helophorus rugosus. — A. Beetle, magnified (after Rye). B. Larva, magni- 

 fied (after Ormerod) C. Turnip, showing gnawings of grub. 



done by both beetle and grub. A favourite place for the 

 pests is at the crown of the tuber sheltered amongst the leaf 

 bases, the young leaves being destroyed as they come forward. 

 Attacked leaves curl up, and attention may be drawn to the 

 presence of the pest by the curled leaves standing straight 

 up from the tuber and close together. The holes made in 

 the tuber afford entry to rain and fungous enemies, and the 

 plants may die off. 



Description of Beetle and Grub. — The adult insect measures 

 about one quarter of an inch ; it is oval, oblong, and somewhat 

 broad. The colour is dark reddish, but the redness may be 

 obscured by a covering of mud. The thorax is irregularly 

 ridged and knotted, with its front angles prominent. The 

 wing-covers show here and there dark markings ; between 



