70 DR. HARRIS'S REPORT. April, 



commonly called, is also a diurnal Melolontha. It is exclusively an 

 American insect, and presenting peculiarities in its structure and 

 form widely distinct from other species of the genus, has very prop- 

 erly been referred to a sub-genus,* of which, till lately, it was sup- 

 posed to be the on\y species. The rose-chaffer is the Melolontha 

 subspinosa^ of Fabricius, by whom it was first described in the year 

 1731. The meaning of the specific name given by Fabricius is, 

 somewhat spinous^ because the thorax of the insect presents that ap- 

 pearance, in consequence of the blunt spine or tubercle which arms 

 each side. It has since received several other names ; but that 

 given by the first describer, having the priority, must be retained. 

 From my communications to the Massachusetts Agricultural Society, 

 in 1826, and from the remarks of Dr. Greene, published in the JNew 

 England Farmer, and since confirmed by my own observations, I shall 

 be able to present a complete summary of the most important facts 

 relative to the economy of this insect. The most remarkable of its 

 habits are its voracity and its salaciousness. It attacks, without 

 much discrimination, almost every tree, shrub, and plant, such as the 

 oak, elu), cherry, and apple trees, the rose, sumach, and elder bushes, 

 the grape-vine, and even herbaceous plants, particularly the conmion 

 white weed, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum. Generally, during the 

 day time, we find these insects paired, the male holding the female 

 closely embraced, even when not in coitu. The male is readily dis- 

 tinguished by the greater length of the legs, and the elongated, point- 

 ed extremity of the body. The rose-chaffers make their appearance 

 during the second week of June, or about the time of the blossoming of 

 the damask rose. They do not attack the cinnamon rose, and are often 

 seen on the elm and oak, before they appear on the garden or wild 

 rose. Their numbers are rapidly augmented for several days, and, 

 as different individuals appear in succession, the whole duration of 

 the species is found to extend even to 30 or 40 days. In three weeks, 

 the eggs of the female becoming mature, she enters the earth and de- 

 posits them at the depth of from one to four or more inches, accord- 

 ing to the nature of the soil. The males and females then die, the 

 former above, and the latter either beneath or above the surface of 



^Macrodactylus, Latr., Stenothorax, mihi. There is a much larger species quite commou 

 in Carolina. 



