44 



GENERAL ZOOLOGY 



an organ of touch, these antennae end in a series of flattened 

 leaf-like structures, serving not only as tactile organs but 

 as organs of smell. 



The white grubs (Fig. 27) so common in fields and gardens 

 are the young, or larvse, of the June beetles. They feed on 

 roots, sometimes in lawns frequently killing the grass over 



s 



Fig. 27. Adult June beetle, larva, and pupa. (Natural size) 



large patches. In truck gardens they do great damage. The 

 adults center their attack above ground, devouring the 

 leaves, particularly of trees. The grub, or larva, when fully 

 grown stops eating and forms a small chamber in the soil 

 (Fig. 27), where it lies inactive. During this resting period 

 the entire body of the grub becomes reorganized. From 

 this resting stage, or pupa, the adult beetle finally emerges. 

 The June beetles belong to that family of beetles known 

 as the scarabs. Certain beetles of this same family have 

 long attracted the attention of observers by their curious 



