Studies on the biology and control of the heather-beetle, lochmaea suturalis thos.

Abstract

In July 1937 I was appointed assistant to Dr. A.E. Cameron, head of the Department of Entomology, Edinburgh University, in order to investigate the life history of the heather -beetle, Lochmaea suturalis, about the activities of which considerable anxiety had been expressed in recent years by the owners of grouse moors. The cost of the investigation, which proceeded until September 1939, was borne in its entirety by the British Field Sports Society, and due appreciation is felt for the continued interest of the Secretary of the Society, Mr. J.W. Fitzwilliam, in the progress of the work.The investigation has been primarily a study of the biology of the beetle. Since studies in the morphology of L. suturalis have been adequately carried out by previous authors, only brief general descriptions of the various life history stages are included in this account.