April 21, 1881. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
311 
and Son, and collection of flowering plants from Messrs. W. H. Dyer 
and F. Denning, for the two latter of which prizes were awarded. 
CHAPTERS ON INSECTS FOR GARDENERS.—No. 21. 
NEW SERIES. 
Even when we are pursuing that system of classifying insects 
which seems as natural as is possible, we are obliged to put into 
one and the same group, at times, species which in size, appear¬ 
ance, and habit do not present much resemblance. The Phyto- 
phaga—last in the division of beetles with four-jointed tarsi, and to 
which also belong the Rhynchophora and the Longicornes already 
noticed—look at first an anomalous group. Certainly the name 
given them is not specially appropriate. “ Plant-devourers ” they 
are, it is true, but so are many other tribes in this order. Com¬ 
paring them with the preceding group, we perceive that they lack 
their elegance of form ; no wonder, for the Phytophaga has usually 
bulky abdomens, oval, round, or perhaps squared. The antennae 
are observably short, and the head, through absence of neck, 
appears to sink deep into the thorax. Yet there are in this group 
several beetles that can boast of beauty, several also, it must be 
owned, that have long been known to be mischief-makers in our 
gardens. Though the bulk of the species live upon the land, a 
few are partially aquatic, belonging to the genus Doracia. About 
twenty species have been noted in Britain, the larvae of which 
live within the stems of water plants, such as the yellow Water 
Lily and the Reed Mace. The beetles are to be found running over 
the leaves ot these plants, and they can bear submergence without 
injury. Moderate in size, mostly under half an inch in length, 
they, like many of the smaller beetles, display a great variety of 
colour ; even in the same species specimens are found with blue, 
green, red, and yellow tints mixed with darker shades. These 
insects would be suitable enough as ornaments for the aquarium 
if they would thrive in confinement. 
The genus Crioceris contains three species. One is common—the 
well-known Asparagus beetle (C. Asparagi, fig. 71), a tiny creature 
often seen in hundreds or in thousands about the plants at the begin¬ 
ning of summer. The head and legs are black, but the thorax is 
red, and the black of the wing-cases is varied by a red line round 
the edge and six minute spots of white. Small in size as it is, 
this beetle if alarmed or angry produces a squeaking sound, which 
might serve as a test to try whether a person’s sense of hearing 
is acute or dull. I am inclined to think that some authors have 
rather exaggerated the amount of harm that is done by the 
species to Asparagus beds. For one thing, it must be remembered 
that the plant is not attacked during the period when the shoots 
are cut for the table, the beetles resorting to it in order to deposit 
eggs when the foliage is developed and the seeds are forming. 
These eggs are occasionally discovered, but from their minute size 
they can seldom be removed. The larvae, thick and wrinkled 
grubs of greyish hue, are seldom seen in motion, and they adhere 
very firmly to the plant by their legs; were it not so they would 
soon be dislodged as the Asparagus waves to and fro in the 
summer breezes. Having reached their full size (unless the gar¬ 
dener has cleared them off with the branches they may be infest¬ 
ing) they make tracks for the earth, and there conceal themselves 
until the warmth of another season summons them forth as 
lively beetles. The rare C. merdigera is of a bright scarlet colour, 
which rapidly fades when the beetle is dead ; this has occurred 
upon the leaves of Lilies. 
The beetles of the genus Cryptocephalus we mention briefly, 
since they seldom occur in or near gardens. Their favourite 
resorts are woods and patches of dense herbage, where they are 
difficult to capture, since they drop at the slightest touch, or even 
at the sound of an approach. Delighting in sunsnine, their 
colours are often bright; and they have this peculiarity, that the 
head can scarcely be seen from above. The larvae feed upon 
leaves, concealing themselves in a slight cell, perhaps to escape 
the researches of birds. 
In the family of the Halticidse are numerous species, small in 
size, but with powers of destruction that place them amongst the 
conspicuous enemies of vegetation. The antennae are inserted 
between the eyes, and the wing-cases are waved at their edges ; the 
thickened thighs are, however, the most notable characteristic 
of these beetles, suggestive of an ability in leaping, by the exer¬ 
cise of which some species have obtained their popular name of 
Turnip-fleas or “ Hoppers.” It is ascertained beyond all doubt 
that the Turnip is resorted to by more than one species, but pro¬ 
minence must be given to that which is called Haltica (Phyllo- 
trita) nemorum (fig. 72), which does damage to the crops every 
season, and sometimes entirely ruins the first sowing in a locality. 
This yellow-striped beetle cleverly attacks the Turnip while it is 
young and tender, for the matured plants seldom exhibit signs of 
its presence, though several broods have been observed in the course 
of the season, and the insect also visits the Mangold Wurtzel, the 
Beet, and the Radish. 
The work of destruction is begun by the beetles, which, when 
engaged in the business of depositing eggs, nibble the seedlings 
that have just appeared above ground. According to the ob¬ 
servations of M. Le Keux, these eggs are only laid at the rate of 
one daily by each female beetle, upon the under side of the leaves, 
and so distributed as not to be easily discovered. They are 
hatched in about a fortnight, and burrow directly into the young 
leaves, where, indeed, they remain until they have completed 
their growth. It has been supposed that the larvae feed ex¬ 
ternally, but, probably, those that have been detected in the act 
of crawling upon Turnip leaves were only migrating from an old 
burrow to a new one, for those who have reared specimens in 
boxes have found that they will occasionally pass from leaf to 
leaf. This larva is long and slender, with six short but strong 
legs. The track it makes within the leaf is little apparent until the 
creature is out of it and the damage is done. The pupal state is 
passed in the earth, hence some persons have argued in favour of 
turning over the ground about that period andjourying the surface 
Eig. 71.—Crioceris Asparagi. Fig. 72.—Haltica nemorum. 
soil in which the insect lies, when it is unlikely to be able to 
extricate itself from the mass of earth. 
One of the very small species is P. Brassicae, which occurs among 
the plants from which it has been named, mining the leaves in 
the mannei of P. nemorum. This is also deep black, but upon 
the wing-cases there two streaks of yellow. Mr. Reeks _was the 
first to call attention to the habits of Haltica fuscicornis, which 
in some neighbourhoods and during seasons that favour its in¬ 
crease destroys the Saintfoin while young and various leguminous 
plants. This species has brownish antennae ; the head, thorax, and 
legs are red, and the eyes black ; the wing-cases are metallic green, 
highly polished. Spring is the season for the beetles, and the 
larvae feed during May and June ; but it is one of those, species 
that is unfavourably influenced by heavy rains. During the 
summer of 1871 it was reported in some journals that this Haltica 
appeared about Hampshire as a destroyer of the mixed growth 
that is to be seen in the ordinary cottage garden, but there is here, 
we presume, an error or exaggeration. Insects of this family do 
not restrict their attacks to the humbler species of the vegetable 
kingdom. A species of Galeruca has occurred upon the Elm, the 
larvae feeding in companies and laying bare the lower branches. 
H. oleracea has been long known as an enemy of the Vine in 
warm countries, both beetles and larva; being injurious to the 
leaves. Britain as yet has had, fortunately, small cause of com¬ 
plaint, perhaps owing to our changeful climate. J. R. S. C. 
Harbingers op Spring. —In these scientific days we have 
daily forecasts of the weather which may be expected within 
the next twenty-four hours, but how small is the per-centage of 
correct forewarnings ! From my observation I am led to believe 
that some birds must know more of this subject than we do, for I 
have noticed that Starlings or “ Shepsters,” as they are locally 
called in some parts, will not commence building their nests nor 
taking possession of their old habitations until mild spring weather 
has fairly set in. They come at intervals in February and March 
just to have a peep at their old haunts, whistle to each other from 
the chimney tops, perhaps stop a day or so, but go away again 
evidently convinced that it is too soon. This year they paid a 
