DESTRUCTIVE ANIMALS, BIRDS, INSECTS 115 



Coleoptera (Beetles). 

 The Cockchafer (Melolontha vulgar is). 



This beetle is common in our woods, and does damage in 

 forest nurseries. It is a large reddish- brown beetle, about 

 one inch in length ; it appears in April and May, and lays 

 eggs in the ground, preferring bare loose soils, such as ground 

 recently dug. The grubs hatch out from four to six weeks 

 afterwards, and live in the ground three or four years, eating 

 the roots of plants. The grub is a large white curved one, 



Fig. i . Melolontha vulgaris, Fabr. 



a Imago (male). b Antenna of male with 7 lamellae. c Antenna of 

 female with 6 lamellae. d Grub. e Pupa (ventral surface). 



and is often found while digging nursery ground, or when 

 taking up turf. The perfect beetle flies off to the surrounding 

 woods and does some damage by eating the leaves of broad- 

 leaved trees. It is, however, in the grub stage that the worst 

 damage is done, as a few grubs in a seed-bed will bite off the 

 roots of many plants, which droop and die. The roots of all 

 species are eaten. The only effective protective measure 

 against this pest is to persistently collect and destroy all 

 grubs found in the nursery whenever any part is being dug 

 over. If they get into a seed-bed this will be suspected, as 

 seedlings here and there will droop, and if pulled up will be 



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