38 



part of May. In April, when the ground is being plowed or spaded, 

 often hundreds of them are cast out already in, the perfect state, but 

 then they are of a pale creamy color. They usually emerge from the 

 ground about dusk in the evening, and as soon as their wings are suf- 

 ficiently dried take to flight, which often continues until late in the 

 night, and if caught at this time and examined they will be found 

 paler than I have described them. Sometimes they move in large 

 swarms or bodies making a buzzing noise as they pass along just over- 

 head. 



Their term of life in the perfect state is short, not extending more 

 than two or three weeks; having paired they deposit their eggs in or 

 near the ground and die. Yet when they appear in large numbers, 

 as is sometimes tne case, they prove quite destructive to fruit and 

 ornamental trees by denuding them of their leaves, and as they hide 

 during the day and feed at night, the agriculturist is often at a loss 

 to divine the cause of the injury. The eggs of this species are glob- 

 ular in form; a little less than one-tenth of an inch in diameter, of a 

 clear watery color ; and, according to Riley, are deposited between 

 the roots of grass enclosed in a ball of earth ; others contend that the 

 beetle deposits them in the ground. 



It is in the grub state that they prove mo*t injurious to vegetation, 

 attacking the roots of various useful plants, especially grass, which 

 is often severed beneath the surface to such an extent that the sward 

 may be turned up like a carpet. Wheat, corn, strawberry plants, 

 nursery stock, and even young trees also suffer from their attacks. 

 As a usual thing they appear in considerable numbers in a locality 

 for a year or two, but when they arrive at the perfect state disap- 

 pear and are not troublesome again for several years. 



As a general rule they trouble corn, wheat and nurseries most 

 where these are put in ground which for some time previous was in 

 grass. 



Neither this nor any of the allied species appear to be subject to the 

 attacks of any true parasites ; but they are eaten by certain carniver- 

 ous animals, as the skunk, raccoon, etc. ; domestic fowls greedily de- 

 vour them, as also do certain birds ; the predacious ground-beetles also 

 prey upon them ; each, in this way, aiding in keeping them in check. 

 Prof. Riley is inclined to believe that a certain digger-wasp (Tiphia 

 inornata — Say) is a genuine parasite on these insects, which he thinks 

 attaches an egg to the grub, from which, in a short time, is developed 

 a larva that attaches itself to the white-grub, and finally destroys it. 

 The larva of this wasp forms a small egg shaped cocoon, which varies 

 in length from half to three-quarters of an inch, and is a pale brown- 

 ish or buff color. Last season (1875) I received several of these co- 

 coons from Iowa, accompanied by specimens of Legyrus gibboms, a beetle 

 somewhat similar in appearance to the May beetle, and belonging to 

 the same group. The person who sent them inquired what relation 

 the one had to the other, as the one appeared to be plentiful where 

 the other was abundant. 



This wasp varies in length from a little less than half to three-fifths 

 of an inch, and is of a jet black color ; the wings smoky or dusky. 



The grubs of May beetles are also sometimes destroyed by a parasitic 

 cryptogamic plant or fungus which grows out from one or both corners 



