218 



THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



The feeding appears to be somewhat like that of the rose 

 chafer and other scarabaeids, but the destruction of the foh'age is 

 much more complete. Smartweed {Polygonum virginianum), tear- 

 thumb {Tiniaria arifolium) both belonging to the PolygonacecB, 

 evening primrose {Oenothera biennis), Virginia creeper {Ampelopsis 

 quinqiiefolia) , a member of the Vitacese, were the principal food 

 plants among the weeds, and in some cases the leaves of these 

 plants were completely riddled. Other weeds infested to a less 

 extent were ragweed {Ambrosia sp.), velvet leaf or Indian mallow. 



Fig. 9. — Popilia japonica Newm. 



{Abulilon avicennce), jewel weed {Impatiens sp.) and the blossoms 

 of milkweed {Asclepias syriaca). In the nursery the beetles were 

 found feeding on the foliage of Ampelopsis quinquefolia, flowering 

 cherry, grape, elder, Crataegus, button bush, and in or on the 

 flowers of double Althea, Spirea and Vitex agnus-casius. They 

 were especially abundant on the foliage of the first three plants, 

 and sometimes four or five were found buried in the double Althea 

 flowers. On the smartweed as many as a dozen were found on 

 single leaves. It was interesting to note that in the nursery, the 

 beetles had apparently passed over the flowers and foliage of 

 hydrangia and the foliage of Deutzia, peony and some other 



