LAMELLICORN-BEETLES. 



99 



Among the Flower-beetles, so called because many of them 

 feed upon the pollen of flowers which they visit for this purpose, 

 are many enemies to our trees. Yet they are not always in- 

 jurious in eating- the pollen, as a number of them repay any 

 small damage they may cause by pollenizing the flowers visited. 

 Of course if they also eat ripe fruits, corn in milk, or other useful 

 substances, they become troublesome. Most of these fairly large 

 and frequently brightly colored beetles are flattened or nearly 

 level on the back ; the claws of the tarsi are of equal size. 



THE SOUTHERN JUNE-BEETLE, OR FIG-EATER. 



(Allorhina nitida Linn.). 

 This beetle, luckily not found in Minnesota, but occurring 

 not far from our southern borders, is a good-sized insect, an inch 



Fig. 106. — Allorhina nitida, Linn. — After Division oJ Entomology, U. S. De- 

 partment of Agriculture. 



or more in length, which during the day flies about with a buz- 

 zing sound like that of a bumble-bee, and like i|t usually close to 

 the ground, excepting when invited by ripe fruit in the trees. It 

 is somewhat pointed in front, of a velvety-green color, with the 

 sides of thorax and head brownish-yellow. The under side is 

 not velvety, but is polished metallic-green, like the entire head, 



