June 1896.J INJURIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 



S3 



INJURIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 

 The Bean-Beetle (Bruchus mfimanus.) 



1. Infested bean. 2 and 3. Beetle, natural size, and magnified. 



The bean-beetle, Bruchus rujimanus, is quite distinct from 

 the pea-beetle, Bruchus pisi, described in Vol. II., No. 2 of the 

 " Journal of the Board of Agriculture," though it resembles it 

 closely in appearance, and has similar habits. The bean- 

 beetle is found in many kinds of beans, especially in garden 

 beans imported from abroad ; the large varieties known as 

 11 Aquadulce " and " Seville Long Pods " being often seriously in- 

 fested. Imported beans are much more infested than those grown 

 at home, probably because the British climate does not suit the 

 beetle so well. Samples of English grown Mazagan beans 

 have, however, been seen this season badly infested, at least 

 one-fourth having holes in them. The " tick " field-bean is not 

 so often infested, while the Mazagan field-bean is more . fre- 

 quently attacked. The seed of this variety when imported from 

 Mazagan (a port of Morocco) is often full of beetles, and the 

 larger varieties, for sowing in gardens, are also frequently much 

 injured. 



Some of the best varieties of garden beans, commonly known 

 as " broad beans," cannot be successfully grown for seed in this 

 country ; seedsmen are. therefore, obliged to depend upon seed 

 produced in other countries — Spain, Italy, Morocco, Algeria — 

 where the bean-beetle flourishes. There are often as many as 

 four distinct holes in these imported seed-beans, and the beetles 

 may be seen in the holes as late as the beginning of May. 



It is said that the infestation by the beetles does not affect 

 the germination of the beans, and that a bean with holes in it 

 germinates as well, and produces a plant as strong and healthy, 

 as that from, a sound seed ; but although the germ, or gemmule, 

 which is situated in the broader part of the upper end of the 



O 91921. C 



