314 Report of the Consulting Entomologist for 1886. 
the Angoumois moth, and the "joint-worm," or maggot of the 
Isosoma hordei (Fig. 2), a most destructive pest in North America 
to many kinds of corn. I have also found presence of ergot. 
The mustard-beetle circulars have not been largely responded 
to, but the replies which have been forwarded by about twenty- 
five or thirty mustard-growers, resident at various localities in 
the mustard-growing districts, from Foulness to the Humber, 
give useful information, both as to treatment suitable for 
lessening effect of attack, and regarding the various distinct 
kinds of beetles which cause it. I have condensed the main 
points of the communications into a paper, now presented for 
acceptance, if approved, for the 'Journal' of the Society,* and 
therefore do not enter at present into the details. 
A vast incursion of earwigs made serious havoc on common 
field-crops — as turnips, kale, &c., and even in one instance on 
tobacco — at various localities in several of the southern or 
midland counties, and then disappeared. From previous records 
of similar mischief, there does not appear to be any reason to 
fear its continuance next year. 
Enquiries have, as usual, been sent in regarding the 
customary crop-attacks ; but it is satisfactory to find that much 
less information is now sought regarding turnip-fly. Daddy 
Longleg-grubs, and wireworms, concerning which detailed 
reports have been given. 
The occurrence of destructive insects of various kinds, espe- 
cially of Psoci and different kinds of weevils in stored seed, 
more particularly in mangold-seed and beans, has been reported, 
and I have drawn attention to the use made in Canada and 
the United States of the vapour of bisulphide of carbon for 
destroying the insects without injuring the seed. The bisul- 
phide may either be poured on anything preferred, laid at the 
top of a large vat full of seed (beans for example), and the vat 
then temporarily closed ; or it may be applied somewhat in the 
way as when used for prevention of Phylloxera, by pouring 
some of the bisulphide into a hollow tube with perforations In 
the side, and thrusting the tube into the heap of seed, thus 
poisoning the insects which it contains. 
Rather more attention is being given to bot-fly attacks of 
various kinds. The observations sent in have strongly con- 
firmed those previously given — that where ox-warble maggots 
are destroyed in the spring by the very simple means already 
described, the summer attack is satisfactorily prevented, so far 
as the area of the spring destruction has extended. It is in 
contemplation in one district to form an association, offering a 
* The article in question forms one of the papers in the present number 
(pp. 273 to 284). 
