BEETLES. 81 



destructive to trees, especially those standing in clearings^ 

 The larvae live on the roots of plants, and do not pupate for 

 three or four years ; those pupce which have developed in the- 

 winter wait for a warm day to emerge. 



M. pectaraliSy Fabr. (Plate VIIL, Tig. 14). Abdominal 

 point narrow in the male, tapering gradually ; very short, 

 in the female. The antennae, legs, and elytra, are reddish- 

 ochreous. The pubescence is similar to that of M,. 

 vuljaris. The variety albicla, Erichs., with its wing- 

 cases dusted with white, is distinguished from the variety 

 of M. vulgaris, which is also dusted with white, by the- 

 different tip of the abdomen. It is a native of Austria 

 and Hungary. 



* M. hippocastaniy Linn. (Plate VIII., Fig. 15). End of the 

 abdomen short, pointed, and abruptly truncated. Pronotum 

 generally red. It agrees very nearly with M. vulgaris in 

 habits, &c., but is a little earlier in time of appearance. It is- 

 very local, and is said not to occur south of the lake district. 



Genus Polyphylla, Harris. 

 Elytra smooth, brown, sprinkled with white. The fan of 

 the antennce is very large in the males, and consists of seven 

 lobes, but is small in the females and five-lobed. 



P. fullo, Linn. (Plate VIIL, Fig. 16). Darker or lighter 

 brown, sometimes nearly black. The elytra are thickly 

 covered with white scale-like hair. The sternum is covered 

 with thick, shaggy, grey hair, and the abdomen with 

 a short, thick, sessile felt. It is local on the Continent,, 

 but is common in many sandy localities. It is found 

 in abundance in woods in July, especially on firs. The- 

 larva feeds on the roots of grass. It is not found in thfr 

 British Isles. 



