184 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



I do not find that any serious complaint has been made against 

 either of these species of Serica in the West, and, so far as my observa- 

 tions extend, they do not appear to be very common. Dr. Harris states 

 that, in the perfect or beetle state — that is, the Imago — they attack the 

 leaves of the sweet briar, on which they are often found in profusion, of 

 an evening in the latter part of June. I have generally found them, in 

 the southern part of Illinois, on low shrubbery and about blackberry 

 patches. I think it quite probable their attacks are confined to one 

 group of the Rosaceic. I am not acquainted with the larvae, but they are, 

 doubtless, similar to those of Phyllophaga fusca in form and general 

 characters, and also, as we may safely presume, in habits. 



Macrodactylus subspinosus, Fabr. The Rose-bug. 



This well-known species belongs to the sub-family of beetles now 

 under consideration, and possesses the same general or family characters, 

 that is, having short antennae with a three-leaved club at the tip, and split 

 claws. It is only about one-third of an inch long, and much more slen- 

 der in form than the May-beetles and leaf-chafers heretofore mentioned, 

 having nothing of that fleshy, heavy appearance they present. The joints 

 of the feet are very long, which give rise to the generic name, Macrodac- 

 tylus, which signifies long-toed. 



Spec. Char. Imago. — Although differing very materially from the preceding species 

 in form, yet the antenna;, number of spurs on the anterior tibia?, and the claws are simi- 

 lar in character. The form is much more slender than the preceding ; the body is 

 broadest across the middle of the elytra and tapers forward ; the thorax is angularly 

 expanded at the middle of each side, and its length exceeds its width. It is covered 

 with buff-colored scales or down, which give it a browish yellow appeai-ance ; but if 

 these are rubbed off, the head, thorax and underside will appear black and the elytra 

 brown. The antennne are Inownish yellow, black at the tips; nine-jointed, including 

 the three-jointed club at the end. The legs are slender and of a pale reddish color; 

 the joints of the tarsi are tipped with black and are very long. 



Length about one-third of an inch. 



As this insect has not been troublesome in the portion of the State 

 in which I reside, I have had no opportunity of studying its habits. I 

 therefore give the following statements in reference to it, chiefly from Dr. 

 Harris : 



The beetles come forth (in Massachusetts) in June, or about the time the 

 damask rose blossoms, and remain about thirty or forty days. The female 

 lays about thirty white and nearly globular eggs from one to four inches below 

 the surface of the soil. These are hatched in about twenty days, and the 

 young larvae begin at once to feed upon the tender roots within their 

 reach. Like the grubs of the chafers already described, when not eating, 

 they lid upon the side, with the body curved, so that the head and tail 

 are nearly in contact. They attain their full size in autumn, being then 

 nearly three-quarters of an inch long, and about an eighth of an inch in 

 diameter. They are of a yellowish white or cream color, with a tinge of 

 blue toward the hinder extremity, which is thick and obtuse; a few short 

 hairs are scattered over the surface of the body; six short legs are situated 



