ATTACKING THE LEAVES. 281 



an eighth of an inch in diameter, of a yellowish-white color, 

 with a tinge of blue towards the hinder extremity, which is 

 thick, obtuse, and rounded ; the head is pale red and horny, 

 and there are a few short hairs scattered over the surface of 

 the body. In October the larva descends below the reach of 

 frost, and passes the winter in a torpid state; in the spring it 

 approaches the surface and forms for itself a little oval cell 

 of earth, within which it is transformed to a pupa during the 

 month of May. 



In form the pupa bears some resemblance to the perfect 

 insect, and is of a yellowish-white color, its whole body being 

 enclosed in a thin film that wraps each part separately. In 

 June this filmy skin is rent, when the enclosed beetle with- 

 draws its body and limbs, bursts open its earthen cell, and 

 forces its way to the surface of the ground, thus completing 

 its various stages within the space of one year. 



Although these insects have many natural foes, such as 

 carnivorous ground-beetles, insectivorous birds, domestic 

 fowls, toads, etc., they often need the intervening hand of 

 man to keep them within due bounds. When numerous, 

 they may be detached from the vines with a sudden and 

 violent jar, falling on sheets spread below to receive them. 

 They are naturally sluggish, do not fly readily, and are fond 

 of congregating in masses on the foliage they are consuming, 

 and hence in the morning, before the day becomes warm, they 

 can be easily shaken from their resting-places, collected, and 

 burnt, crushed, or thrown into scalding water. This insect 

 is very partial to the Clinton grape, and, where this is to be 

 had, will congregate on it in preference to other varieties, a 

 peculiarity which may be made use of by planting Clinton 

 vines as a decoy, and thus materially lessening the labor 

 involved in the destruction of the beetles. 



