104 



A MANUAL OF DANGEROUS INSECTS. 



Phalonia epllinana Zell. (Conchylls.) 



(Flax Capsule Worm. Family Tortricidje: Lepidoptera.) 



Hosts: Flax (Linum), Solidago, etc. 



Injury: Eats out the green capsules of flax. 



Description and biology: Moth with forewings clay yellow with darker band and 

 margin. Larva whitidi yellow, sparsely pubescent, head and thoracic shield black- 

 ish; 6.5 mm. long. Pupates in the larval burrow. 



Distjibuiion: South Russia. 

 SoRAUER, P. Handbuch der Pflanzenkrankheiten, 3d ed., 1913, vol. 3, p. 292. 



FORESTS. 



BETTER KNOWN GENERAL DEFOLIATORS. 



Under this heading are grouped a number of important insects known as forest 

 defoliators. Several of these have been imported into the United States. 





Fig. 54.— Cockchafer ( Mdolontha vulgaris); Adul j* pupa, larva and its attack on root crop. (Lorenz.) 



Melolontha vulgaris Linn. 

 (Cockchafer. Family Scarabseidae; Coleoptera.) 



Hosts: Adults feed on leaves of various trees; grubs on roots. 



Injury: Often serious. 



Description and biology: Adult, length often 25 mm.; head and thorax black; 

 elytra brown, each with four raised, longitudinal lines; hairy; sides of body with 

 alternate black and white patches; occurs in May and June. Pupa pale brown. 

 This stage is passed deep in ground. Larva, length 37 mm., white, fleshy; caudal 

 end swollen; head and legs brown. This stage lasts three years. Eggs, large, shape 

 of hemp seed, creamy white (see text fig. 54). 



Distribution: Europe. 

 Theobald, F. V. Insect Pests of Fruit, 1909, p. 431. 



