366 



the Diabrotica, and one of the well-kaowu App le pest, the Imbricated 

 Snout beetle {Epicevrus imbricatus) were found. A number of speci- 

 mens of a plant-feeding bug {Euthoctha galeator) were observed pierc- 

 ing and sucking the juice of the tender terminal growth of the plum 

 trees, causing the attacked portion to wither or " blight." This bug- 

 was supposed by Mr. Bowers to have caused the defoliation of his trees, 

 and while this of course could not be the case, the very injurious habit 

 of this insect, as noted, is worthy of record here. The ground beneath 

 the injured tree was seen to be covered with dark colored excrements 

 of some large beetle, probably of the May Beetle {Laclinosfenia sp.) ; and 

 an examination of the soil about the trees showed numbers of these 

 beetles concealed near the surface. The orchard was again visited af- 

 ter dusk, between 8.30 and 10, and these beetles were then found feed- 

 ing on the trees in great numbers, thus removing any doubt as to the 

 authors of the injury. As many as seventy-five were taken from a sin- 

 gle small-sized tree, and on others already defoliated beetles were found 

 clustered about the twigs gnawing at the petioles and bark. The com- 

 mon May Beetle, L. {fusca) arcuata Smith, was found to largely predomi- 

 nate ; other species of Lachnosterna were associated with this common 

 form, but in much fewer nnmbers. The determination by Mr. E. A. 

 Schwarz of a considerable quantity of beetles collected as they occurred 

 on the trees, here given, will indicate the comparative abundance of the 

 different species. 



y , ( 1(J1 i $ i 



Lachnosierna arcuata < i-o r, n \ 313 



diibia 2(J(J 2 



fraterna < . p >o 



hirticula < ,., „„ /24 



tristis < r.r^^/15 



9 9 9 



Mr. Bowers states that the injury of the present year, while more se- 

 vere, is not different from that of last year, and also that he then saw 

 similar excrements about the defoliated trees. This would indicate 

 that the May beetle may be charged with a considerable portion of the 

 last year's injury; the attacks of the Diabrotica later in the season 

 only aiding in the work of destruction, although Mr. Alwood's obser- 

 vations as reported in our previous article are not to be discredited. 



The smooth-leaved sorts of Plums and Cherries were this year, as 

 also last, especially attacked. The Apple and Pear trees, among which 

 the others were planted, were, however, uninjured. The first mentioned 

 trees in the following list were most severely attacked ; those marked 

 with a star were injured the previous season also. Plums — German 

 Prune,* Shropshire Damson,* General Lee,* Green Gage, General 

 Hand, White Egg, Wild Goose; Cherries— ijow Wood,* Black Tarta- 

 rian, N'apoleon Bigarreau. The Hansel Raspberry was also attacked 

 both years. The May Duke Cherry and Weaver Plum were untouched. 



