OUTLINES OF ENTOMOLOGY. 65 



as L.fusca, but many of these have not only the under side of the tho- 

 rax hairy, but the pro-thorax and wing covers also covered with a soft 

 pubescence, sometimes evenly distributed and again arranged on the 

 wing-covers in longitudinal ridges. Some of the species are much 

 smaller and lighter colored. The Rose chafer or Rose-bug fMacrodac- 

 tylus suhspinosus, Fabr.) belongs also in this family (Melolonthidje). 

 This is an ochreousyellow beetle, rather slender in form, about one- 

 third inch in length, with very long, spiny legs. Its color is really 

 almost black, but when fresh it is densely and evenly clothed in pale 

 ochreous scales, which give to it its light color. It is altogether too 

 common in the Eastern and Northwestern States, where it is exceed- 

 ingly destructive to the blossoms of the grape, rose, and some other 

 plants. Its larviB feed on the roots of shrubbery, and in their turn 

 do much damage. 



Among the Brilliant chafers (Rutelid^), which are separated 

 from the Melolouthians by the unequal claws, which are not bifid at 

 the tip, is a large species, the Spotted Pelidnota fPelidnota punctata, 

 Linn.), which is illustrated as a type of the Family. (Fig. 25.) This is 

 one of the grape-vine pests, gnawing' the foliage. It is a stout spe- 

 cies, about three-fourths of an inch long, of a clay-yellow color, with 

 three large, black dots on each wing-cover. Dr. Riley bred the larva 

 in decaying stumps and roots. The Goldsmith beetle fCmtalpa lanigera, 

 Linn.), a beautiful species, is very like the above in form and size, but 

 is entirely of a cream yellow color, with golden and prismatic reflec- 

 tions. 



Among the Flower beetles (Cetoniid^) are a few of great size, 

 but, while none are very small, most of the North American species are 

 of medium or under medium size. The form is slightly flattened, the 

 scutellum unusually large, and the wing covers are peculiarly notched 

 or hollowed out on the sides near the base, so that it is not necessary 

 to raise them to allow the wings to be unfolded for flight. The mouth 

 is provided with a brush for collecting pollen, of which these insects 

 are very greedy, as they also are of nectar, and to procure it they cut 

 into tubular flowers. They may be found in spring drinking the sap 

 that sometimes oozes from the trunks of maples and other trees, and 

 are also quite injurious to ripe fruit. They differ from other members 

 of their family in being diurnal in habit. Allorhina nitida, Linn., is a 

 beautiful, large, velvety green species, with light-brown margins to the 

 wing covers. Euryomia inda and E. melancholica^ smaller, red-brown 

 mottled species, are the most destructive to flowers and fruit. 



