16 Farmers’ Bulletin 1261. 
Judging, however, from related species the larvee must be closely 
similar, except for their smaller size, to the white grubs, or May 
beetle larvee, not only in general appearance but more or less in 
habits also. 
CHARACTER OF INJURY. 
When present in groves, these beetles may be found attacking all 
portions of the blossom spike, in many instances completely strip- 
ping the spikes of the individual blossoms (fig. 11). Often the 
beetles will com- 
pletely girdle the 
spike and frequently 
cut it off as with a 
knife. Usually the 
beetles confine their 
attacks to the more 
tender floral parts, 
destroying the indi- 
vidual floral clusters 
about the spikes. 
The writer observed 
that during the day 
numerous freshly in- 
jured floral spikes 
could be found, but 
the presence of the 
destructive pest 
causing the damage 
could not be detected 
about the bloom or 
anywhere on the 
trees. It was ob- 
served, however, that 
Fic. 11.—The blossom Anomala: Showing characteristic = 
jovi ) rees nu- 
Stripping of the blossom spikes by the adult beetles. below the tre 
merous small holes . 
were present in the soil. Upon examination it was found that in 
the soil at a depth of from 1 inch to 2 inches a considerable number 
of small beetles were present in a quiescent stage as if playing 
possum. After a few minutes’ exposure to the light the beetles be- 
came active and immediately dug their way into the soil. Various 
groves were visited during the dusk and evening, when it was ob- 
served that the beetles, found in the soil during the day, were present 
in great numbers feeding upon the blossom spikes. In other words, 
the adult beetles are nocturnal in their feeding habits, 
