56 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
WHITE GRUBS AND JUNE BEETLES 
Lachnosterna species 
The extremely severe injury to grassland, corn, potatoes and 
strawberries last spring was, with very little question, the outcome 
of a great abundance of May or June beetles in IgIT. The large, 
brown or dark brown, blundering beetles partly defoliated many 
forest trees and were so numerous then 
as to make nuisances of themselves by 
invading lighted rooms. The insects 
soon disappeared but evidently not till 
after millions of eggs had been deposited 
in the grasslands as shown by severe and 
extended injuries caused by the grubs. 
Collections made in May and June 1911 Fie 4 A comercnmriee 
show that Lachnosterna gran- or June beetle, Lachno- 
das Sima Ie fusca Eroh,, LL. hairti- sterna, fusca, natu 
cola Knoch and L. hirsuta Knoch $i7¢ (original) 
were the species most abundant, while the usually rare Poly- 
phylla variolosa Hentz. was reported very common at 
Schenectady. 
Characteristics. ur native species are brown or dark brown, 
stout beetles ranging from one-half of an inch long in L. tristis 

Fabr. to an inch long in L.grandis. Our more common form 
is L. fusca Froh., a species of average size and measuring 
about three-quarters of an inch in length. A study of this genus 
shows there is a large number of very similar species which are 
separable only with difficulty. The light brown Polyphylla 
variolosa Hentz. is more slender 
| than the typical Lachnosterna and 
easily recognized by the light yellowish 
brown, irregular mottlings. A com- 
mon and closely allied form is the 
spotted grapevine beetle, Pelid- 
nota punctata Umm, casiy 
recognized by its brick red color 
and the strongly contrasting six 

Fig. 5 Spotted grapevine 
a circular spots on the wing covers. 
beetle (original) 
The goldsmith beetle, Cotalpa 
lanigera Linn., is another allied form readily distinguished 
by its similarity in structure and the brilliant golden color. There 
