126 TREE WOUNDS AND DISEASES 



usually pretty abundant, and does most damage 

 by eating the leaves of the sycamore, beech, 

 oak, cherry, and many other trees. It will 

 also eat the roots of most young trees, but 

 those of pines in particular. The insect is 

 about i inch long, and of a chestnut-brown 

 colour on the upper part of the body, while 

 the head and sides are of a bronzy green, and 

 thickly covered with yellowish-white hairs. 



In April and May the eggs are laid in a 

 hole in the ground about 5 inches deep, and 

 the grubs are hatched in July. They are of a 

 dirty-white colour and much wrinkled. In 

 this state they, however, do but little harm ; 

 but, after having changed their skins and re- 

 mained in a torpid state during winter, come 

 to the surface in spring and eat the roots of 

 almost any plant that comes in their way. 

 They again burrow deeper at the approach 

 of winter, coming to the surface in spring, 

 and, when full-grown, are about i inch 

 long, and almost ^ inch in diameter. The 

 perfect insects do not live more than about 

 twelve days, and are easily known by their 

 heavy, awkward flight towards the evening. 



