affecting the Clover-crops and Pasture-lands. 75 



in a former Report, of calling attention to the economy of these 

 beetles and the means which have been suggested for the destruc- 

 tion of the larvae (for descriptions and figures vide Roy. Agr. 

 Journ., vol. v. p. 476, pi. K. fig. 13, 14). They are so abundant 

 every year, and so well known in every part of the kingdom, that 

 these beetles have been called by various names, as field-chafers, 

 May-bugs, bracken-clocks, fern-shaw beetles, chovies, &c. The 

 female, having deposited about a hundred eggs in the earth, dies, 

 and the larvae hatch and commence their attacks upon the roots 

 of the grass. Although they are mischievous in gardens, it is in 

 pasture-lands and lawns that they commit the greatest ravages ; 

 by their consuming the roots, the grass dies ; the dead turf 

 becomes rotten, and will sink in patches under the feet, owing 

 to the burrows which the maggots have made in the eartli ; and 

 the rooks and starlings add to the disorder by pulling up the 

 turf to feed upon them. The May-bug maggots were exceed- 

 ingly abundant in the autumns of 1839 and J 840 in Hampshire 

 and Gloucestershire, and again in 1844 in various localities. It 

 is stated that they continue feeding for three years, and they 

 generally reside about an inch beneath the turf; but as winter 

 approaches they retii'e deeper into the earth ; and even in No- 

 vember, when frost has set in, they have been found buried a 

 spade deep. From the large size of most of them at this period, 

 I expect they are generally full-grown and prepared to enter the 

 pupa state, for which purpose they form cells in the earth, and 

 in all probability remain in that quiescent state until the fol- 

 lowing spring, when the beetles emerge about the time the roses 

 flower. They then feed on the anthers and pollen, consuming 

 also the petals and riddling the leaves. The May-flowers are 

 likewise an acceptable repast. When these no longer afford 

 them a supply of food, they resort to corn-fields to feed on Avheat 

 and oats ; still later they have been known to congregate on 

 acacias, and occasionally in such numbers that when the trees 

 have been shaken the beetles have fallen down like a shower of 

 hail. 



To kill these larvae, water the grass in the autumn with one- 

 tenth of gas-liquor to nine-tenths of water : it will do no mischief 

 to the grass, but will extirpate these miners. When the gas- 

 liquor cannot be obtained, employ strong salt-water. Mild 

 weather should be taken advantage of in the spring for breaking 

 up land thus affected, as at that time the larva? are near the sur- 

 face, and become an acceptable treat to the rooks, starlings, 

 thrushes, blackbirds, robins, &c., and even sparrows have been 

 known to gorge themselves with these larva; so that they were 

 unable to fly. In the absence of such useful birds, pigs will be 

 of service in reducing the brood of maggots. Where the grass 



