88 



LAMELLICORN-BEETLES 



May or June-beetles, others occur much later in the season, being 

 found as late as the end of September, or even early October. 

 However, none of these later flying beetles are very numerous. 



The smallest of our species is the L. tristis Fab. (Fig. 

 95). It is of a light yellowish-brown or ochre-yellow color, 

 densely covered with long and fine hairs ; this hair is most 

 prominent upon the thorax, and for this reason the beetle is fre- 

 quently called the "hairy-necked May-beetle." It is not only 

 the smallest species, but also the earliest to appear, and our oaks 

 suffer very greatly at the time in which the leaves unfold, and it 

 is not an uncommon occurrence to find the tree entirely bare of 

 leaves after repeated nocturnal visits of these beetles. If they 

 are at all numerous the observer can detect their presence by the 

 peculiar sounds produced by them ; it seems as though a large 

 swarm of bees was employed in the tree. Such beetles, like 

 many of 'their larger relatives, are frequently thrown out of the 

 ground early in spring by the spade. 



Our most common larger species are the members of the 

 fusca group, and the L. rugosa Melsh. (Fig. 96), which is dis- 

 tinguished by shining, but at the same time very rugose wing- 

 covers. It is common everywhere, not alone in the wooded 

 regions of the state, but in the open prairies as well. 



Fig. 96. — Lachnosterna rugosa, Melsh. After Forbes. 



