FOREWORD. 



The title of this jiaper indicates a tremendous subject, a fact all 

 the more patent when one realises that the grubs of fully 50 species of 

 Scarabaeids have been taken in the canefields of Australia. Fortunately, 

 the great majority of these are held in check by natural controls, only 

 a few species becoming so abundant as to menace the sugar industry. 



The writer undertook an investigation of these pests, in June 1917, 

 being located at Meringa in the Cairns district. North Queensland. 

 Already, during the preceding six years, considerable life-history work 

 had been carried on by the Division of Entomology of the Bureau of 

 Sugar Experiment Stations, the results of which had been recorded in 

 the first six ])ulletins. Hence w^ith this substantial groundwork it was 

 possible to begin field experimentation at once. 



Primarily, our attention has been given to the most serious of all 

 cane-pests, Lepidodcrma alhohirtum, a species extending right up and 

 down the coast of Queensland. Therefore, except wherei othermse 

 mentioned, the following notes and descriptions refer only to this species. 



It gives me pleasure to express my appreciation of the tremendous 

 amount of tedious, painstaking life-history work which was done before 

 I took up the investigation, by A. A. Girault, A. P. Dodd, and E. Jarvis. 

 Furthermore, I wish to render an especial acknowledgment to ]\Ir. Dodd, 

 who has assisted me loyally in every possible way, often working early 

 and late in order to accomplish results. He has also collaborated in 

 this paper, writing the sections under his name. Then, too, all of the 

 drawings, except where otherwise stated, have been made by Mr. Jarvis. 

 And, finally, I must note the cordial assistance of both the millers and 

 growers, who have spared no efforts to facilitate the investigation. 



