4 Farmers’ Bulletin 1257. — 
Middle Western and Eastern States, and is present in South America 
and Central America. 
NATURE OF INJURY. 
The beetles attack all portions of the blossom spike, and in many 
instances not only completely strip the spikes of the individual blos- 
soms (fig. 2), but also cut or girdle the spike. Usually, however, the 
beetles confine their attack to the more tender floral parts, destroying 
the individual floral clusters about the spikes. 
The beetles have been observed feeding upon avocado bloom, when 
blossoming has coincided with the appearance of the swarms. They 
have also been noted feeding extensively in bean fields in southern 
Florida, the plants becoming practically defoliated. In the Middle 
West this beetle has been recorded as infesting a variety of crops, 
often to their serious injury; in Ohio, as stripping the leaves from 
plum and pear trees; in Illinois, 
as defoliating cherry trees; and 
in Kansas as injurious to wheat 
and other grains, feeding on the 
heads when the grain is “in the 
dough.” 
LIFE HISTORY. 
During the day numerous 
freshly eaten floral spikes were 
found on mango trees in groves, 
but the presence of the destruc- 
tive pest causing the damage 
Frc. 1.—The blossom anomala: Aduit es could ot, bend evel ayes 
Much enlareed: bloom or anywhere on the trees. 
Below the trees numerous small 
holes were present in the soil, and upon examination of the soil to a 
depth of from 1 to 2 inches a considerable number of small beetles 
were found in a quiescent stage, as if “playing possum.” Upon 
short exposure to the light the beetles became active and immediately 
started to dig their way into the soil. During the evening great 
numbers of the same beetles were found busily at work among the 
trees in a grove, feeding on and flying about the blossom spikes. 
After a period of several weeks the beetles usually disappear. Up 
to the present time the writer has been unable to locate the larva of 
this species and nothing is known of its habits. Judging, however, 
from similar species, the larva form, except for its smaller size, is 
similar to white grubs, or May-beetle larve, not only in general ap- 
pearance but more or less in habits also. The larve probably will 
be found feeding on the roots of some plant or on decomposing veg- 
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