76 
MUSTARD. 
The beetles shelter during the winter, and are stated by Dr. 
Taschenberg to come out from winter-quarters in April and to fly 
briskly about in bright sunshine. 
The damage caused by these beetles does not seem open to any 
cure when they are on the blossoms, excepting the German method of 
shaking them ofl into any convenient vessel on dull shady days or 
early in the morning; but, though this is effective where it is possible 
to get at the plants, it is not applicable to a large Mustard field, and 
all that we know at present regarding means of lessening the amount 
of their presence appears to turn on rotation of crops and removal of 
winter shelter. 
Ceutorhynchus assimilis, Payk . 
Beetle, maggot, and chrysalis, nat. size and magnified. Infested Turnip-pod. 
A fourth kind of beetle to be found on Mustard is the “ Turnip-seed 
Weevil,” figured above. This may be very easily known from the other 
three kinds by its dark greyish colour, and by its long slender curved 
proboscis. The maggot of this beetle feeds on the seeds of various 
plants of the Cabbage tribe, whilst these are still in the husk. 
Specimens of the weevil were sent me, taken from Mustard near 
Peterborough; and Mr. Ernest Smith, writing from Southminster, 
Essex, mentioned ;—“ I have frequently seen the weevil you mention 
in the seed, but have hitherto regarded it as a harmless insect.” We 
have not enough observations yet to know how much harm it does, 
r 
but I have found seeds eaten out in samples of Mustard sent me, and 
should say that it would be well to know more about the extent of 
attack. 
The list of contributors to the above Beport is inserted on the page preceding 
the Index, 
