GRAPE INSECTS 



399 



The beetles remain mated for long periods, during which tlie 

 female continues feeding. To deposit her eggs she burrows 

 into the ground to a de})th of three to six inches, sometimes alone 

 and sometimes accompanied by the male. The smooth, white, 

 oval eggs, about ^ inch in length, are laid singly in Httle pockets 

 in the soil (Fig. 344a), which are about two or three times as large 

 as the egg. These egg-cells are about J inch apart in the soil. 

 The female is said to lay twelve eggs at each oviposition and 



Fig. 343. — Rose chafers feeding on rose buds. 



oviposits normally three times. In New York most of the eggs 

 are deposited during the last week of June and the first half of 

 July. The eggs hatch in two or three weeks. 



The female selects hght sandy land in which to oviposit ; 

 the heavier soils are never infested to any great extent. The re- 

 cently hatched grubs are about J inch in length, whitish ^\dth yel- 

 lowish head and dark brown jaws. They can crawl quite readily 

 on the venter and can wriggle along slowly on the back. When 

 small the grubs can feed on decaying vegetable matter in the 

 soil, but as they grow larger attack the roots of various grasses. 



