ENTOMOLOGY. 567 



The liom-btig or stag-beetle is au example of this class. The spotted Pelid- 

 nola, however, a large, broad, oval, glo.ssy, yellowish browu beetle, with six 

 black spots ou the wiug-covers, is sometimes very injurious to the foliage of 

 the grape-viue. Harris states that the only method of destroying them is to 

 pick them ofi' by hand and crush them under foot ; this should be done early 

 in the morning when the beetles are somewhat torpid, as if disturbed in the 

 middle of the day they are apt to fly away. 



We now come to a family of beetles which are very injurious to the farmer, 

 as destroying the roots of his gi-aiu and grass when in the larva state, and also 

 devouring the foliage of his fruit and shade trees in the perfect or beetle state. 

 These are the true leaf-eaters or May beetles. The larvae live under ground 

 for three years, (some authors state even longer,) feeding upon roots and veg- 

 etable matter, and are fat, clumsy, greasy-looking grubs, yellowish white in 

 color, with a yellowish browu head, and six legs. They generally lie coiled 

 up in a semicircular shape, and have a large swollen hinder extremity. 

 Harris states that "the crow devours not only the perfect insect, but the larva," 

 (sometimes called by the farmers the white grub,) "for which purpose it is 

 often observed to follow the plough." Mr. Bartlett, from personal experience, 

 states "that their instinct also enables the crow to find tue grub when deeply 

 imbedded in the soil, and has seen the holes from which the larvae had been * 

 taken by this bird." Jays also feed upon them; the night-hawk, whip-poor- 

 will, and domestic poultry destroy vast numbers of the perfect beetles ; and 

 amongst animals, hogs, weasels, rats, skunks, moles, and field mice also feed 

 upon them in the larva or perfect state. Kollar states that "breaking up the 

 ground in warm weather, when the grubs are not deep under the surface, is 

 the surest means of destroying the larvae of an allied species found in Europe." 

 The American Agriculturist also mentions an accidental experiment in which 

 ploughing early in the autumn destroyed the grub-Avorm, and suggests that 

 the fiekls might be turned over in February if the weather permit. A foreign 

 journal, speaking of a grub having similar habits, states that "a farmer mixed 

 with tli<e seed a quantity of guano equal to about one hundred weight to the 

 acre of land to be sown, and sowed by hand the seed thus prepared ;" the land 

 thus treated did not suffer from their attacks, whilst other fields without the 

 guano were very much injured. Dr. Fitch says "It is not probable that any 

 substance can be applied of sufficient power to kill the grubs without also in- 

 juring the vegetation," and suggests that if the grubs are very numerous the 

 patch infested should be converted into a hog pasture. 



As regards the best means of destroying the perfect May beetle, Harris rec- 

 ommends shaking the trees early in the morning over a cloth spread upon the 

 ground underneath the tree, as the beetles at that time do not attempt to fly ; 

 after which they may be scalded and given as food to swine. Air. Bartlett 

 suggests that "as they have a great penchant for lighted lamps and candles, 

 fires should be lighted up in the fields in the -evenings, into which the beetles 

 would fly and be thus destroyed ;" this remedy, hoAvever, was tried by a friend 

 and found not to be very successful. 



The rose beetle is becoming exceedingly numerous, and in some places where it 

 was previously almost unknown is now very destructive to the grape-vine. The 

 female lays about 30 eggs in the ground ; the larvae feed upon tender roots, and in 

 the autumn or beginning of winter descend deeper to pass the cold weather in a 

 semi-torpid state. The perfect insect appears above ground in JMay and June ; it 

 destroys the foliage of fruit and forest trees, vegetables, grass, corn, and, in fact, 

 almost any vegetable substance in the shape of flowers or leaves. As the larvae re- 

 semble those of the May beetle in their habits, the same remedies might be appited, 

 but as yet no special remedy has been recommended for destroying them in this 

 stage of their existence. With regard to the rose beetle in its perfect or winged 

 state, Harris recommends hand-picking or shaking them into tin vessels con- 



