100 



LAMELLICORN-BEETLES. 



or is dark brown with a metallic-green tinge. The thighs of the 

 legs are yellowish-brown. The beetle varies greatly in size and 

 coloration ; some measure not much more than half an inch, 

 and some are also almost entirely dull brown with simply one or 

 two broad longitudinal stripes of green upon 'their elytra. The 

 insect is illustrated in (Fig. 106), which also shows the peculiar 

 shape and sculpture of the head. 



Fig. 107. — Cetonia, and larva traveling on back. 



These beetles are very common in the South, and cause con- 

 siderable damage. Their larvae are found in richly manured soil, 

 where they feed upon decaying vegetable matter, and not upon 

 the roots of living plants. They are large white grubs, tougher 

 than most of those of the common May-beetles, very hairy, with 

 short legs, which forces them to travel on their backs instead of 

 their legs when removed from their burrows. To enable them 

 to travel in such a ridiculous manner they possess stiff bristles 

 upon their backs, which propel them with ease and rapidity even 

 over smooth ground. If put upon a table in the normal position, 



