38 



in the conitields the beetles do not feed on the youno- corn plants to 

 any extent, but on seedling weeds. They have been observed repeat- 

 edly to leave corn plants and crawl here and there on the ground until 

 finding a seedling weed, when it would be eaten down close to the 

 ground. 



The first signs of injury to corn were observed May 2, when numer- 

 ous wilted buds were discovered in a low plat of corn on a low situation 

 on the farm. Larva? found at this date were most of them about one- 

 third grown; two were found, however, almost, if not quite, full grown. 

 The two weeks of hot and dry weather following this date caused a 

 general wilting of plants badly injured in the crown, and frequent 

 examinations of the roots of infested plants were made. It soon 

 became apparent that a rather small proportion of the larv« among 

 the roots of plants attacked the crown, causing the death of the plant; 

 but that, probably in the majority of cases, the larvae fed on the roots 

 or on the outside and under the stem at the origin of the roots. Rarely 

 were the roots channeled out longitudinally, but more usually eaten 

 into or eaten quite off. On the side of and below the stem of a corn 

 plant in four or five leaves channels or grooves may ])e eaten, the 

 larvaj not attempting to bore into the heart. Where such is the mode 

 of attack, the outer leaves are likely to appear more or less j^ellow or 

 rusty in blotches, or even yellow and dry. When the roots onl>' are 

 attacked ))ut little injury seems to result to the corn; in fact, many 

 of the most thrifty plants pulled up and examined had as many as 

 five and six full-grown larvae among the roots. In a word, larvte were 

 found quite generally among the roots of most plants on low soils, as 

 many as three to six to each hill, and in a relatively small proportion of 

 cases were plants attacked at the crown, causing the usual wilting of 

 the l)ud. 



The first pupa found in the field was May 8. On May 10 a rather 

 extended search proved them to he quite numerous. The first beetle 

 of the new brood was ol)served May 12, from which date they have 

 become increasinglj" abundant. At this writing, June 12, beetles are 

 quite abundant, feeding mainly on the blossoms of various cucur])its. 



The last stragglers of the over-wintered brood had disappeared l)v the 

 last week in May. The broods are thus seen to overlap somewhat, but 

 it is likely that these stragglers passed the winter as larva? or pupa^, 

 completing their development in the spring. 



Beetles have been observed feeding on the foliage of the following 

 plants: rye, oats, alfalfa, corn, crimson clover, currants, gooseberry, 

 and such garden a egetaliles as beans, beets, squash, cantaloupes, water- 

 melon, cabbage, Irish potatoes, turnips, tomatoes, and on the flowers 

 of apple, pear, quince, plum, peach, and cherry. In fact, the beetles 

 seem to be practically omnivorous. Larvte have been found on the 

 roots of corn, rye, Bronvus imiloide^s^ and garden beans. On this latter 

 crop considerable injury was done, larvae boring into the stem and 



