8o 
First Report on Economic Zoology . 
ANIMAL PESTS OF HOPS. 
Woodlice in Hops. 
Specimens of the so-called Monkey-peas were forwarded on the 
2nd of June from Macknade, Faversham, by Mr. F. Neame, with the 
following note : — 
I noticed the other day in one of the hop gardens large numbers of the 
insect commonly known as “ Monkey-pea.” Are they likely to damage 
the bine at all by biting it ? If you could inform me on this point, I 
should be much obliged. 
The following reply was sent : — 
The so-called “ Monkey-peas ” or woodlice are omnivorous feeders. 
They sometimes do considerable harm out of doors as well as in green- 
houses, especially to soft fruits. I have never heard of them damaging 
hops in any way, but it is quite probable that they would do so if present 
in sufficient numbers. They are more likely to eat away on the surface of 
the ground than upon the bine. Strawberries are often gnawed away 
around the crown by them. Woodlice can easily be trapped by putting 
old baskets full of damp moss upside down, beneath which the woodlice 
congregate and can easily be collected. 
CEPEAL PESTS. 
Beetles on Barley affected with Smut. 
Specimens of barley affected with “ Smut ” and small beetles 
found with the fungus were received on 26th June (1901) from 
Mr. Neame, of Faversham. Mr. Neame stated that he found them 
in a field of barley badly affected with smut ; they were of a glistening 
black colour, and seemed to be only on the ears affected by smut, and 
occurred on almost every foul ear that had recently speared. Where 
the smut had begun to blow away he could not find them. They 
seemed to be eating through the skin of the ears. The following 
answer was sent to his letter of enquiry : — 
The Beetles you send are known as Phalacrus corruscus, Paykull. They 
are common and generally distributed throughout the London and Southern 
districts, rather common in the Midlands, rarer further North. I do not 
know anything of the economy of the five British species, but they are 
certainly not injurious. Two N. American species, P. politus, L., and 
p. penicillatus , Say, have been noticed to feed upon the spores of the 
Smut-fungus on wheat. There is no doubt, I think, that those you notice 
in your barley are there, as you say, to feed off the fungus attacking the 
crop, and that they may therefore be looked upon as beneficial creatures ; 
but at the same time it is very probable they carry the spores about with 
them and so help spread this serious cereal malady. 
