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New Jersey Stations, Bulletin No. 82, July 3, 1891 (pp. 40). 



TllK KOSK CIIAFKU, .J. l>. SMITH (li{j;'.s. 1(»). — This is a i)«»i)iilar account 

 of ol)s(n-vation8 and experiments by the author and his correspondents on 

 llic lose chafer {M<in-(><h(cfiiJiis siihsji'niosus) durinj;' 1S«K> and 1S(M. Ref- 

 erence is made to earlier ac«'ounts of this insect by Harris and i''it<-ii. 

 and especially to an article by Kih-y ])ublished in Insect Life, \ ol. ii. ]>. 

 L'Of), from which two of the ten ii^iures illustratinji- the l)nlletin are taivcn. 

 The subjects tn'ated are, history of the insect in New Jersey, food 

 habits, nioutli parts, habits of the beetle, date of appearance, egg-laying 

 habits, the larva, breeding habits, life history, and remedies. 



This iiisiK't has done more injury ilnrin^ the past few ycar.s than any one otlicr 

 species in the State of New Jersey, excepting perhaps the codling moth and jduni 

 ciirculio. « * * From all that I can learn, the present invasion dates hack .some 

 ■I to 6 years, and has been gradually extending and increasing since tliat time, until 

 the larger part of the grape-growing region of southern New Jersey is invaded. 

 K'ather more than 20 years ago there was a similar irruption, which lasted 4 or . "5 

 years and then suddenly ceased. In the interval the species was common, as it is 

 nearly all over the State, but did no injury that attracted general attention. * * » 

 It is a peculiar fact, for wliich I have no explanation, that some localities, often 

 vciy small, are almost exempt, while all around sufi'er; and again, one spot may be 

 totally destroyed and the other as completely exempt. One year a narrow road will 

 limit their wanderings, another year sees as pread of many miles, unchecked by for- 

 ests or streams. * * * 



[Numerous kinds of plants are mentioned as serving for food for this insect.] Pop- 

 ]»ie8 were attractive and so was the foxglove — but those which ate of the latter ate 

 no more. The plant is evidently poisonous to the beetle, as a circle of dead speci- 

 juens around each indicated. There were few beetles on this plant, however, com- 

 ])ared with those on more attractive food. This observation led to an experiment 

 with digitalis, which was not as satisfactory as I had hoped. 

 [The mouth parts of the beetle are described and illustrated.] 

 The true mandibles arc small, mostly soft, and only partly chitinized, but with a 

 hard, rough space at the iuncr side Of the base, which might be called a molar or 

 grinder; above this is a piece furnished with a dense fringes of hair which looks as 

 ir it might serve as a brush, and outside of that we find a third ])iece bearing a little 

 jminted blade at the tip, which we can term the piercer. 



This might l»e considered sulHcient for all practical ]>iiri)oscs, but wc lind in addi- 

 tion a second ]>air of jaws, set at the side of the lower lijt, and these are fuinished 

 \\\\\\ a broad, hardened, chitinous tip, set with six pointed teeth. The lattei- are, 

 I believe, the instruments with which the food is cut, to be afterward ground 

 betwet'U the molars of the mandibles. 



The beetles are active only during the day and most active in bright sunshine, 

 feeding most generally in the afternoon, when the day's flight is over. They are 

 tor]>id at night and quiet in cold or wet weather, doing little or no feeding, and 

 not moving about. In bright, warm weather they take long flights, and the air is 

 lull of moving insects. They then fly from their breeding grounds and seek favor- 

 able feeding places, lighting in swarms on attractive plants and remaining there if 

 undisturbed. 1 am of the opinion that when a specimen once settles down on a food 

 ]ilaut it does not leave it again until the food is exhausted, and this exjdains why 

 vineyards arc usually injured ahuig the edges lirst. I have watched a marked pair 

 feeding m\ the same rose 3 days in succession. In cold or wet weather the nearest 

 liuxl plant will be selected, and thus the spread from the breeding places is prevented 

 in favorable seasons, such as that of 1891. * » • 



