7s 



THIRD ANNUAL REPORT 01? 



u 



[?ig.34.] 



&^ 



having; the 

 of a pure 



ces are exceptional; and it usU 

 ally occurs in such small num- 

 bers, and is so Large and clumsy, 

 that it can not be considered a 

 very redoubtable er.e ny. 



Its larva has, for a number of 

 j\ :» w *l years been known to feed on 



the decaying roots of different 

 trees, but was first described by 

 me last September.* It is a 

 large clumsy grub (Fig. 34, a) 

 e 5 ^ bearing a close resemblance to 

 l he common White Grub of 

 our meadows, and it differs 

 from that species principally 

 in being less wrinkled, and in 

 chitinous covering (or skin, so-called) more polished and 

 white color, and in the distinct heart-shaped swelling 

 above the anus (Fig. 34, d). Towards the latter part, of June I 

 have found this larva in abundance, in company with the pupa 

 (Fig. 34, I), in rotten stumps and roots of the Fear. In pre- 

 paring for the pupa state, the larva forms a rather unsubstantial 

 cocoon of its own excrement, mixed with the surrounding wood. The 

 pupa state lasts but from eight to ten days, and the beetle (Fig. 34, c) 

 is found on our vines during the months of July, August and Septem- 

 ber. It is not yet known how long a time is required for the develop- 

 ment of the larva, but from analogy we may infer that the insect 

 lives in that state upwards of three years. 



This beetle was named about a century ago by Linnaeus who met 

 with a specimen in the magnificent collection of shells and insects 

 belonging to Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden. It occurs throughout 

 the States and Upper Canada, and is even met with in the West 

 Indies. It flies and feeds by day, and is most abundant during the 

 months of July and August. The wing-covers are of a slightly metal- 

 lic clay-yellow color, with three distinct black spots on each, and the 

 wings themselves are dark>brown inclining to black; the thorax is 

 usually a little darker than the wing-covers, with one spot each side; 

 the abdomen beneath, and legs, are of a bronzed-green. It is easily 

 kept in check by hand-picking. 



Pelidnota punctata, Linn. — Larva (Fig. 34, a) — Length 2 inches; clumsy, moving on the 

 side. Head, bright chestnut-brown, smooth, rounded, with a short, impressed, longitudinal 1 i r ; <- 

 on the top, and three shallow impressions in front; epistoma trapezoidal and darker: labrum 

 rough, irregularly punctate, and '>eset on thn margin with a few stiff rufous hairs ; antennae (Fig. 

 34, e) as long as epistoma and labrum together, 4-jointed exclusive of bulbus or tubercle in which 

 thej are inserted; joints cylindrical, proportioned in length a? 2, 6, 4, 1, the terminal joint being 

 often a mere bud ; mandibles strong and black, with three denticulations at tip, and a very slight 

 portion: maxilla; brown and subcylindrical on outside, angulated on inside, 

 an inwardly-curved corneous tooth, and each furnished 



tocth at inner bassi 



bearing two lobes, each terminating; 



See American Entomologist and Botanist, Vol. I, p. 295. 



