142 Second Report on Economic Zoology. 
satisfactorily determined.* As I have no specimens on hand, the 
scientific name had best he omitted in the Board leaflet. 
Fruit trees and bushes are frequently seriously damaged by Bed 
Spiders, the leaves being attacked just as in hops. Bed Spiders are 
also very harmful under glass. Tetranychus telarius is one of the 
most serious pests in vineries ; melons and cucumbers are similarly 
attacked by T. cucumeris. The different species can only be identified 
by specialists. They have very similar habits, however, and may 
be killed by the same wash. 
The Bed Spiders of fruit trees belong to two genera, Bryobia and 
Tenuipalpus. The former are most destructive, especially to the 
gooseberry and currant. 
The commonest species ( B . speciosa) is found on the ivy, and 
invades the fruit bushes from these centres. 
These Bryobia Mites have very long front legs, and spin but a 
scanty webbing. The Bryobias hibernate as adults, not in the egg 
state, as previously supposed. The eggs of the Tenuipalpus may be 
found on the bushes all the winter. When present in numbers, the 
Mites soon cause the leaves to become unhealthy and fall off. 
The colour of the Bryobia is invariably like that of the Bed 
Spider on hops, chiefly various shades of grey, green and red, darkened 
at the sides. They are active from March onwards, and lay eggs in 
May and June. The eggs are placed in the axils of twigs, and 
between the remains of old bud scales. 
The genus Tenuipalpus live on plants in a similar way, but 
their work is not so evident. The common species ( spinosus ) is 
very bright red, and the legs are shorter than in Bryobia. The 
bright red eggs are very noticeable and occur on the trees all the 
winter. 
The larvce or young of all the Mites are six-legged. 
Strawberry Beetles. 
An enquiry from Norfolk was sent to the Board regarding beetles 
attackin g straw berries . 
Several species of Ground Beetles attack strawberries, including 
the following : — Harpalus ruficornis , Fabr. ; Omaseus vulyaris , Linn. ; 
Steropus madidus and Galathus cisteloides, Panzer. 
These beetles attack the berries at night, usually just when the 
* The Hop Red Spider is now known to be Tetranychus althxee. It is also 
found on Hollyhock and French Beans. It is larger than T. telarius , greenish- 
brown, the females becoming red from August to the following spring. 
