1, Beetle; 2, larva; 3, pupa—magnified, and with lines showing natural length; 4, head with antennæ, much magnified.
FIG. 70.—RUST-RED FLOUR BEETLE, TRIBOLIUM FERRUGINEUM, FAB.
November 1, 1899.
I received the Grouse fly slide in perfect safety, beautifully put up; many thanks to you for procuring the same. If at your very best convenience you would settle my debt to Mr. Norman for his help, I should be greatly obliged. I am getting into your debt assuredly also, but whilst I am troubling you, thanks to these infested cargo people, I think I had better let this stand over. It is very weary work getting up information in this minute way, and as matter of choice I had rather be without a visit[ation] from six professional gentlemen and a shorthand writer all at once!
I have had a beautiful specimen of workings in willow of Cryptorhynchus lapathi beetle.
Beetle, natural size and magnified; willow stem, tunnelled by larvæ.
FIG. 71.—MOTTLED WILLOW WEEVIL, “ALDER-KILLER” (GERMAN), CRYPTORHYNCHUS LAPATHI, L.
December 29, 1899.
Many thanks for a sight of Mr. Fuller’s letter (returned enclosed). I have enjoyed reading it very much; it is so interesting to have a real letter about the war, not made up “for press.” I worked myself nearly stupid in running up the habits of the Calandra mentioned in “Insect Life,” and there was some such roguery somewhere or other about the mate’s report, which he stated afterwards was written under intimidation, that I felt a little uneasy about having anything to do with the matter.
January 12, 1900.
I have lately had an application about “White Ants” being destructive to young Cocoa trees in Ceylon. I do not know much about the great hill-building Termites as plant eaters, but I thought that probably exposing just the couple of inches or so subject to be gnawed, to the light might be useful.