92 
F. W. SILVESTER-EEPORT OK INSECTS. 
The wireworm has been especially destructive to the young 
wheat in many places throughout the country ; one of my own 
fields was so damaged as to render it necessary to plough up the 
crop. The new wheat-pest ( Zabrus gibbus ) has been reported to 
be present in the neighbourhood, and to have worked great ravages. 
First appearances of insects have been noticed by Messrs. John 
Hopkinson, J. J. Willis, R. T. Andrews, H. G. Fordham, R. B. 
Croft, and the members of the Hitchin Natural History Club. 
The following is a detailed list of the observations :— 
Melolontha vulgaris (cock-chafer).—Hitchin, May 28th ; Nat. 
Hist. Club. Hertford, June 4; Andrews. Harpenden, June 6; 
Willis. 
Timarcha Icevigata (bloody-nosed beetle).—Harpenden, April 13 ; 
Willis. 
Lampyris noctiluca (glow-worm).—Harpenden, June 22 ; Willis. 
Hitchin, June 30 ; Nat. Hist. Club. 
Apis mellijica (honey-bee).—Hertford, Jan. 19 ; Andrews. Ware, 
Jan. 20 Croft. Odsey, Jan. 26 ; Fordham. Harpenden, Feb. 5 ; 
Willis. Watford, Feb. 6 ; Hopkinson. 
Vespa vulgaris (common wasp).—Harpenden, April 18 ; Willis. 
Fieris brassicce (large white butterfly).—Harpenden, April 11; 
Willis. Ware, April 28 ; Croft. Watford, May 7 ; Hopkinson. 
Fieris rapce (small white butterfly).—Hertford, April 4; Andrews. 
Watford, April 17 ; Hopkinson. Harpenden, April 17 ; Willis. 
Anthocharis cardamines (orange-tip butterfly). — Harpenden, 
March 21 ; Willis. 
Epinephile janira (meadow-brown butterfly).—Harpenden, May 
8 ; Willis. Hertford, June 4 ; Andrews. 
Bibio Marci (St. Mark’s fly).—Harpenden, June 11 ; Willis. 
Although this paper covers only a few observations, it will be 
seen what an immense amount of damage has been wrought in our 
own county alone by injurious insects, and one cannot help being 
reminded that the superabundance of the sparrow is answerable for 
the disappearance of many of our insectivorous birds, and the con¬ 
sequent increase of insect-life. This point was forcibly brought 
before the London Farmers’ Club last week by Miss E. A. Ormerod, 
and may I suggest that the members of the Herts Natural History 
Society join in the crusade led by our eminent Honorary Member 
against these destructive birds, which annually cause such loss to our 
farmers and gardeners? The sparrow question demands serious 
attention, and it is to be hoped no false sentimentalism will induce 
any one present to take up the cudgels on behalf of Fasser domesticus. 
In conclusion I beg to thank all who have kindly contributed to 
this report; and my especial obligations are due to Miss E. A. 
Ormerod for kindly permitting me to take extracts from her 
eleventh Annual Report on Injurious Insects, and to Miss Georgiana 
Ormerod for the loan of the excellent diagrams I exhibit in illustra¬ 
tion of the most important crop pests of the year. 
