COCKCHAFER. 



231 



The grubs are sometimes very hurtful to roots of trees. In 

 1882 I had a report from Mr. T. J. Turnbull, agent to the 

 Earl of Shaftesbury, relatively to the very serious injury 

 caused by Cockchafer grubs to young seedling Firs. In this 

 case the young plants, which were about 10 or 12 inches high, 

 were being destroyed by the gnawing of the grubs removing 

 the bark in large patches from the main root. It was 

 observed that thousands of the Fir plants had been destroyed 

 by the grubs in the previous year, and they appeared likely 

 to do as much in the season then present. Mr. Turnbull also 

 remarked that " they did not seem to inhabit the black sandy 

 soil, but made their home in the stronger clay loam." This 

 preference of special soil has also been observed in clearing 

 Chafer grubs from roots of Coffee-trees in Ceylon ; the 

 diggers, on being asked why they did not search, considered 

 the nature of the soil a sufficient reason, and it appeared to 

 be so. 



Whether it would be worth while to clear out the grubs 

 by hand in infested young nurseries would be for the 

 owners to settle ; but there appears to be no other remedy 

 excepting taking care that Rooks or others of the various 

 kinds of insect-eating birds, which will eagerly devour the 

 grubs wherever they find them, should not be driven off. 



From the circumstance of the Cockchafer grubs feeding 

 amongst roots and giving no signs of their presence till the 

 fading of the attacked plant draws attention to the injury 

 going forwards, it is difficult to find any remedy, excepting by 

 means of the insectivorous birds, which appear to have an in- 

 stinctive knowledge of the position of the larva below the 

 surface. 



Where infested Grass-land has to be broken up, or other 

 land which has been infested is bare of crop, ploughing or 

 well breaking up the surface to a depth that will reach the 

 grubs, and turning on pigs to follow the plough is a good 

 plan. 



Hand-picking by children is of use, but probably in the 

 fields the pigs would be the better helpers. Their instinct and 

 fondness for the grub makes them hearty and well-qualified 

 searchers. 



Wild birds, such as Rooks, before mentioned, and Sea 

 Gulls, should on no account be driven off. The Black-headed 

 Gull follows the plough in the same manner as the Rooks, 

 and feeds on Cockchafers both in the grub and beetle stages ; 

 the Common Gull will go for miles inland to follow the plough 

 in search of insects and grubs ; and the Nightjar, by " feeding 

 almost entirely on Cockchafers (and moths) " during the 

 morning and evening hours, is also of great service. Also, on 



