518 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



holes into the earth either beneath the dung or near it; into these 

 holes they convey a quantity of the dung; this is to serve as food for 

 the larvcc, an egg being laid in each hole. This is an approach to the 

 peculiar habits of the tumble-bugs. 



Fig. 622. 



THE LAMELLICORN LEAF-CHAFERS 



The leaf-chafers are herbivorous insects which in the adult state 

 usually feed upon the leaves of trees, but many of the species devour 

 the pollen and petals of flowers. In 

 the larval state some of these insects 

 are found in rotten wood; others live 

 in the ground, where they feed upon 

 the roots of grass and other plants. 

 These larvse are thick, fleshy grubs, 

 with well-developed legs (Fig. 622). 

 The caudal segments of the abdomen 

 are very large, and appear black on ac- 

 count of the large amount of dirt in the 

 intestine. The body is strongly curved, 

 so that the larvae can crawl only with 

 great difficulty; when in the ground 

 they usually lie on their backs. 

 The following groups include the more important representatives 

 of this division. 



I. The May-beetles or June-bugs. — During the warm evenings of 

 May and June we throw open our windows so that we may feel the 

 refreshing coolness of the night air and the inspiration of the new 

 summer. Suddenly, as we sit working or reading, our peace is dis- 

 turbed by a buzzing object which whirls above us. Then comes a 

 sharp thud and silence. A little later the scratching of six pairs of 

 tiny claws tells us the w^hereabouts of the intn.:der. But so familiar 

 are we with his kind that we need not look to know how he appears, 

 the mahogan^'-brown blunderer, with yellowish wings sticking out 

 untidily from under his pohshed wing-covers. 



Although these insects are beetles, and attract 

 our attention each year in May, they have received 

 the infelicitous title of June-bugs. They are more 

 properly termed May-beetles. 



The May-beetles belong to the genus Phylloph- 

 aga, of which we have nearly one hundred species. 

 The adults frequently do much injtiry by eating the 

 foliage of trees. In the case of large trees this injury 

 usually passes unnoticed; but small trees are often 

 completely defoliated by them. When troublesome, 

 they can be easily gathered by shaking them from 

 trees upon sheets. Figure 623 represents a common 

 species. 



The larvae of the different species of May-beetles are commonly 

 classed together under the name "white-grubs." They are often great 



623. 



