CHAP. XVI. | 



BEETLE PESTS OF CROPS. 



I5i 



weather alter January, the beetles flying in the early evenings 

 immediately after the first rains in April and May. As the flights of 

 the various species concerned are apparently extremely local, the 

 •i the beetles in April-June, by light-traps, by hand- 

 catching, and by the use of poisoned sprays, will usually lessen 

 . onsiderably the damage done by the grubs in the later months of 

 ear. 



I .69.- Oryctes rhinoceros boring into sugarcane. (Original phot 

 Murugesan from a specimen found at Coimbatorc, October 1913.) 



Closely allied to the cockchafers are the Rosechafers 

 (Cetoniadce), differing by their more flattened shape, their brighter 

 colours and their diurnal habits. They attack flowers rather than 

 leaves and are often a serious pest of cereals, such as cholam and 

 cumbu, devouring the flowers so that no grain is formed. Their 



