INJURIOUS AXD BENEFICIAL INSECTS. 241 



Dr. Harris has given a brief sketch of its habits and trans- 

 formations in his "Treatise," and referred to the injury tlie 

 grub, sometimes called "white-worm," does to the roots of 

 grass, remarking that "in many places the turf may be turned 

 up like a carpet in consequence of the destruction of the roots." 

 He however does not say that it attacks the strawberry-roots, 

 which it has for several years been known to do in gardens 

 about Salem. My attention was especially called to its rav- 

 ages by Mr. D. M. Balch, of Salem, who has lost a good 

 many strawberry-plants by the white grub. It seemed evi- 

 dent that they were introduced in the manure placed around 

 the roots, as during July and late in summer, a manure-heap 

 near by swarmed with the well-known white grubs, in various 

 stages of development, some apparently in the second year 

 and others in the third year's growth. They eat the main 

 roots of the plant, thus destroying one plant after another. 

 From this it will be obvious that if we observe the plant to 

 wilt and suddenly die, we may look for the Avhite grub and at 

 once kill it to prevent farther ravages. It is evident, so large 

 and voracious are these worms, that one plant would be a 

 mere trifle to one of them. 



It also eats down in much the same manner young squash- 

 plants, as I am told by Mr. C. A. Putnam, of Salem, who has 

 been obliged to plant the seed over once or twice. They 

 attack young plants at the time when they have thrown out 

 three or four leaves. It is olwious that in dealing with this 

 destructive insect we must become familiar with its hal)its. 

 Every one knows the larva or grub of this insect, so that a 

 detailed description is not necessary. It (fig. 1) is a large, 



Fig. 1.— Larva of May beetle. 



Fig. 2.— Pupa. 



Fig. 3.— May beetle. 



soft-bodied, thick, white worm, nearly as large as the thumb. 

 Its head is yellowish or pale horn colored. Its skin is so thin 

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