Colorado Beetle . 87 
gardens are troubled with these animals is given in the Report on 
p. 115. 
The small beetles also sent were Batliyscia wollastoni , an abundant 
potato pest in East Kent (vide p. 84). 
Notes on the Colorado Beetle in England. 
The appearance of the Colorado Beetle in England in 1901 was 
not surprising. Ships from American ports may very easily bring 
over specimens that have flown on board whilst in harbour on the 
other side. A single pregnant female would be enough to start a 
colony. It is probably in this way that the colony established in 
1901 in Tilbury Docks originated. It has been surmised that the pest 
may have come over in American potatoes ; that is scarcely likely, for 
the only American potatoes that are sent to this country are seed 
potatoes, which are particularly clean. At present there is no infesta- 
tion of the Colorado Beetle in Europe, so that it can only have been 
derived from an American source. Two previous outbreaks have 
been known in Europe, both in Germany. 
The outbreak of this beetle in 1901 was reported to the Board of 
Agriculture during August. The beetles were then very vigorous, 
eggs and larvrn of all sizes being found. 
The colony was evidently well established, and looked as if it had 
been in existence some little time. It was situated inside Tilbury 
Dock on some potatoes on the workmen’s allotments ; they extended 
for about fifty yards, and had materially defoliated the potatoes in 
some places. 
The adults did not readily seem to take wing, but crawled about 
with great energy. Later on in the year, those taken away for 
breeding purposes, however, showed a strong disposition to fly ; they 
were constantly flying with great force in the breeding-cage in which 
I kept them, and beautiful objects they are, too, when their brilliant 
rose-coloured under wings are expanded. By keeping some .specimens 
in warmth, I succeeded in getting through a complete life-cycle by 
October, but those kept out-of-doors did not deposit any eggs after I 
brought them away from Tilbury. 
The land where this beetle had taken up its abode was cleared of 
all potato haulm, and the haulm burnt with paraffin at night on the 
ground under the superintendence of the Board of Agriculture 
officials ; the ground was also soaked with paraffin, ploughed ten 
inches deep, and then dressed with gas lime at the rate of 60 tons 
per acre. Potatoes were planted on and around parts of the area to 
