POLYPHYLLA VARIOLOSA. 



33 



PhyllopTiaga pilosicollis (Fio;. 13) of Knoch, or tlie liaiiy- 



Fig. 13. 



Fig. 14. 



necked leat-eater, is a small chafer, of an 

 ochre-vellow color, with a very hairy tho- 

 rax. It is often thro^yn out of the ground 

 bv the spade, early in the spring ; but it 

 does not voluntarily come forth till the 

 middle of May. It measures half an inch 

 in length. 



Hentz's 3Ielolontha variolosa'^ (Fig. 14), 

 or scarred Melolontha, differs essentially 

 from the foregoing beetles in the structure 

 of its antennas, the knob of which consists 

 of seven narrow, strap-shaped ochre-yellow 

 leaves, Avhich are excessively long in the 

 males. This fine insect is of a light brown 

 color, with irregular whitish blotches, like 

 scars, on the thorax and Aving-covers. It 

 measures nine tenths of an inch, or more, 

 in length. It occurs abundantly, in the month of July, at 

 Martha's Vineyard, and in some other places near the coast ; 

 but is rare in other parts of Massachusetts. 



The foregoing IMelolonthians are found in gardens, nur- 

 series, and orchards, where they are more or less injurious 

 to the fruit-trees, in proportion to their numbers in ditierent 

 seasons. They also devour the leaves of various forest-trees, 

 such as the elm, maple, and oak. 



Omaloplia^ vespertina (Plate II. Fig. 14) of Gyllenhal, and 

 sericea of Illiger, attack the leaves of the sweetbrier, or sweet- 

 leaved rose, on which they may be found in proftision in the 

 evening, about the last of June. They somewhat resemble 

 the May-beetles in form, but are proportionally shorter and 



[4 Melolontha variolosa. This insect belongs to the genus Polyphjlla, proposed 

 by Dr. Harris, and now adopted by all entomologists. — Lec] 



[5 OmalopUa. The species here mentioned, with all the other allied American 

 species, belong rather to Serica of M'Leay, than to true Omalojilia, which is thus 

 far confined to the other continent. — Lec] 

 5 



