WILLOW BEETLE. 
99 
“I am also of opinion that Paris-green, if used early, would 
prevent, if not completely destroy, them ; and if it was more used with 
a good spray it would destroy it in the early stage.” 
The following letter from Wigan gives some additional information 
regarding the life-history of the beetle, and the wide-spread and 
destructiveness of its attacks, and, like the others, dwells on the very 
important point of the beetles, which will form the spring attack, 
sheltering themselves during winter in the neighbourhood. 
Mr. W. Worthington, writing from Wigan on the 28th of May, 
mentioned “that the Willow Beetle was doing much damage to the 
Willow crop in some parts of the country. Specimens were sent from 
Willow beds about ten miles from Wigan, which had suffered heavily 
in the previous year. The beetles had again attacked the Willows in 
great numbers, and a large staff of hands had been engaged in hand¬ 
picking. Many ways of getting rid of them had been tried, and 
paraffin oil had been found the most destructive, but unfortunately it 
also injured the plants. 
‘ ‘ It was noticed that there were two visitations of the pest—the 
first in May, when the old beetles leave their winter-quarters; the second 
later in the season, just before the Willows begin to ripen. The 
insects then settle in vast numbers on the tender leaves and shoots of 
the plants, and in an incredibly short time do an immense amount of 
damage. 
“ When the beetles leave the Willow beds in autumn they conceal 
themselves in old fences, hay and corn stacks, crevices of old buildings, 
&c., where they pass the winter, and emerge to commence their 
depredations in the following spring, when the Willows have got 
into leaf.” 
The above letter was kindly forwarded to me by Mr. S. L. Mosley, 
from Beaumont Park, Huddersfield, with the mention that the Willow 
Beetle was very common in that neighbourhood, but on Poplars; and 
accompanying he forwarded specimens of the beetle and of injured 
Poplar leaf. 
Now, looking over the results of the above observations, firstly as 
to what remedies have been tried and failed, the knowledge of which 
will save time and expense in future attack, it is noted that soot, 
sulphur, lime, and spent gas-lime, arsenic, and likewise hellebore, 
failed to do good. 
Hellebore has not, as far as I see, been tried as a means of 
destroying the grubs, but Mr. Gr. H. Leigh’s careful experiments 
appear conclusive as to itg being useless for destroying the beetle. 
Paraffin is noted as of use, and hand-picking obviously cleared 
enormous quantities of the pests ; but, as a direct remedy in the way 
of application to the Willows, Paris-green appears to have acted best. 
