BEETLES. 



57 



Fig. 39. 



had gathered eighty bushels of these obnoxious crea- 

 tures, but still his farm for the season was destroyed. 

 At the close of the fourth year these larva construct 

 for themselves large oval cocoons, having first descended 

 to the depth, it is said, sometimes of five or six feet 

 below the surface of the ground. 



These cocoons are of an oval form, of considerable 

 bulk, and are constructed with a good deal of ingenuity, 

 and reference to comfort, being wove of silk and lined 

 with the same. 



Fig. 39 shows the section of one 

 of these cases with the worm in it. 

 The covering of this chrysalis is so 

 Ithin and transparent that all parts 

 lof the Insect may be seen through 

 'it. In the month of February the 

 perfect Insect rends its envelope, 

 and emerges from it, though still 

 several feet under ground. It is now yellowish, soft, 

 and weak, but gradually acquires strength and firmness, 

 and begins slowly to make its way towards the surface. 

 This however, it does not reach until May, when it is 

 not uncommon to find these yellowish bugs, as they are 

 called, just under the surface, and about which time they 

 assume their new and elevated condition as inhabitants 

 of the air. 



Fi g- 40- The Cock-chafer, is a 



strong Insect of a yellow- 

 ish brown color ; antennae 

 largely club-shaped ; feet 

 armed with sharp claws, 

 and the body somewhat 

 hairy. Fig. 40 represents 

 this Insect of the natural 

 size. 



During the day these Beetles remain motionless, some- 

 times concealing themselves under the bark of trees 

 and about fences ; but on the setting of the sun they 

 issue forth from their hiding places to feed on the leaves 

 of various trees, and sometimes their numbers are such 

 as to do as much mischief in their perfect state, as they 

 did when in that of the larvae, devastating whole forests 



