86 First Report on Economic Zoology . 
invariably sought the potato, and when that was gone the onion. I 
have not had sufficient time to trace the life-history of this beetle, 
which can only be looked upon as a serious potato pest in East Kent 
and probably elsewhere, its small size and peculiar habits rendering 
it very inconspicuous. From enquiries I have made, it seems to be 
commonly distributed over that part of the county, and has been 
connected with the diseased state of potatoes by many local men. 
The beetles (Fig. 10r>) are very small, never more than 2 mm. 
long ; oval and convex, of a dull, reddish-brown colour, with fine dull 
yellowish hairs and the surface with minute punctures ; the thorax 
a little broader than the elytra, rounded at the sides and contracted 
in front ; the elytra are narrow behind and rounded at the apex ; legs 
long and slender, and the tibiae, especially the middle ones, spinose. 
Canon Fowler records it from Finchley and Hammersmith ; all the 
other records are from Kent. 
They are extremely active, both when on the potato and in the 
ground, running with great rapidity and falling from the tuber at the 
least shock. Evidently they hibernate as adults, for when going to 
press (December) they are still alive. 
Millepedes attacking Potatoes. 
Mr. F. Towers forwarded some potatoes from Great Staugliton, 
badly attacked by small Snake Millepedes (Julies pulchdlus) ; but two 
other species were present, one belonging to the genus Julus and the 
third to the genus Polydesmus. These animals breed in the soil and 
often cause considerable loss ; they are probably primarily attracted 
by the decaying seed. 
Another correspondent, Mr. Staines, writing from Eingwould, near 
Dover, says : — 
I am sending you two potatoes which are attacked by some pest, a 
small, thin, worm-like pest, enclosed with the tubers. As you will see, they 
attack the old set, also the young tuber. When it attacks the old set, it 
entirely destroys the crop, the haulm ceases to grow, and eventually 
disappears. In my opinion, it is quite as bad a pest as Phytliophora 
infestaus. If you can give me any information regarding the pest I 
should be extremely obliged. Last year when planting I dusted round 
each tuber soot and lime, with good results. This year I did not, use 
soot and lime, and am very much troubled with it. 
Liming the soil is the only treatment of practical use on a large 
scale. There is no doubt Mr. Staines’s plan of dusting soot and lime 
around each tuber when set is a good plan— lime being the great 
specific against Millepedes. A plan that has met with success where 
