BEETLES. 241 



larvae, we noted that the grubs were fewer, but, 

 instead, we found numerous pupae within these tiny 

 caverns. 



Still continuing our gardening in November, about 

 the middle of the month we found the adults. We 

 noted the first beetle groping about in the earth 

 as if to find a way to daylight. It was about half 

 • an inch long, light brown in colour with darker head. 

 For the next week or two we noticed these beetles 

 continuously in the earth. By the side of the gar- 

 den plot was a young gum tree, and one evening, 

 just at dusk, we heard the sound as of a swarm of 

 bees, and on investigating, found that the gum tree 

 was surrounded by a miniature cloud of beetles, 

 which finally settled upon it. Night after night 

 these beetles came, about the same time, and they 

 stayed there nearly all night, taking their depar- 

 ture some time before 4.30 a.m. For exactly three 

 weeks this night visitation took place, and as a 

 result our tree was completely denuded of its pretty 

 young shoots. On the i8th December we noted 

 that they came in fewer numbers, and hovered 

 round the tree in an uncertain manner. Now 

 and again one would alight but fly up again. For 

 about 15 minutes this uncertainty prevailed; and 

 then they flew off in the opposite direction to that 

 in which they came. A few stray ones were found 

 on the tree the following evening, but after that not 

 one was ever seen. 



