40 INSECTS INJURIOUS IN 1902. 
LAWNS INJURED BY GRUBS. 
Lachnosterna rugosa, Melsh. 
“What shall I do for my lawn?” is a somewhat common ques- 
tion here on the part of citizens, who see dead patches appearing 
in the green grass about their houses. These patches of sod have 
been killed and loosened from the underlying earth by the “White 
Grub,” larva of the above named beetle. 
LIFE HISTORY. 
Both beetle and larvae are shown, much Se in the pho- 
tograph facing this page. 
The egg is laid amongst the roots of the grass. The grub 
requires more than a year to attain its growth and at approach 
of cold weather is said to burrow quite deeply, beyond the reach 
of frost. As this would take it some six feet or more below the 
surface in this State, I have doubts of the accuracy of this state- 
ment. The pupal stage is passed under ground. The Beetle flies 
at night, for the most part, burying itself just below the surface 
toward morning where it passes the day to emerge again in the 
evening. Since it is principally males which are attracted by 
lights, lantern traps are not particularly useful as a measure. 
against this pest. 
My attention was first called to its presence about June 16, 
by noting the appearance of the lawn in front of the horticultural 
building at the Experiment Station, where I am told it causes 
trouble every year. I at once endeavored to find some means of 
combating it. The grass was drenched with kerosene emulsion, 
one part of emulsion to six of water. This injured the grass 
without killing the grubs. One part of emulsion to ten of water 
was tried with the same results. Tobacco water was also tried, %4 
pound of stems steeped in one gallon of water was used without 
injuring either the insects or grass. Finally I turned to bi- 
sulphide of carbon with better results. I found that one ounce 
of bisulphide of carbon placed in a quite shallow pan and put 
under a tight box whose cubic capacity was 3458 inches, said 
box having been inverted over a dead patch of grass, killed all 
the grubs in the patch in three hours without in the slightest way 
