STATE HORTICULTLRAL SOCIETY. 185 



on the first three rings behind the head ; the head is of a pale rust color. 

 When winter approaches they descend below the reach of frost ; here 

 they remain until spring, and having passed the pupa state come forth in 

 the perfect or beetle state in June. 



It is in the latter state that they prove most injurious by eating the 

 blossoms and leaves of shrubs and trees, in this way often inflicting much 

 injury on the horticulturist. In its normal condition the rose blossoms 

 appear to form its favorite food, but when it appears in vast numbers it 

 seems to be an indiscriminate feeder; the grape-vine, in particular, is liable 

 to suffer, but cherry, plum and apple trees are also often very materially 

 damaged by it. Nor do they stop with these, for in some instances forest 

 trees, corn, grain, grass and garden vegetables have been laid under con- 

 tribution to their voracious appetites ; even elder, which is generally sup- 

 posed to be obnoxious to insects, is freely eaten by them. The worth- 

 less ox-eye daisy {Chrysatiihenmm /eucanthetnu?>i), according to Dr. Fitch, 

 is a favorite with them. 



They do not appear to be uniformly distributed, but confined to 

 somewhat limited areas, only one or two of which, so far as I am aware, 

 are found within our State ; another one, including three or four counties, 

 is found \p. Kansas. But it is quite likely that, in favorable seasons, they 

 will appear in different localities. According to Prof. Riley, it has been 

 ascertained that it has a strong predilection for the Clinton grape and its 

 close allies, and that it will often gather upon that variety and leave 

 others unmolested ; it is also stated that it does not molest the cinnamon 

 rose. Its attacks upon the apple trees are directed chiefly against the 

 fruit, at least such appears to have been the case where it has appeared in 

 orchards in this State ; but the leaves are also laid under contribution 

 when the supply of fruit begins to fail. 



Remedies. — I am not aware that this insect has any specific parasite 

 of its own class which preys upon it ; the large dragon-flies and other 

 predaceous insects seize and devour more or less of them, and assist in 

 keeping them in check when not excessively numerous. Insect-eating 

 birds and domestic fowls devour them freely, but, when they become 

 unusually multiplied, these natural checks are wholly insufficient to 

 prevent their injuries. 



Jarring or shaking upon sheets and hand-picking are the only 

 remedies of any value which have been recommended, as no application 

 which can be made appears to have any effect. If the ground in which 

 the grubs reside can be ascertained, it would be well to dig or plow 

 it up in the winter to such an extent as to expose them, and thus 

 destroy them ; it is possible that, in those localities where they appear 

 to be annual visitants, this might aid in destroying them, if it can be 

 thoroughly done. 



Fortunately, this pest does not appear to have visited our State very 

 extensively ; but, as the amount of shrubbery and number of orchards 

 in our State is rapidly increasing, we may expect them before many 

 years. 



