336 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



this insect, proposes protecting plants with millinet, and says 

 that in this way only did he succeed in securing his grape- 

 vines from depredation. His remarks also show the utility of 

 gathering them. ' Eighty-six of these spoilers,' says he, ' were 

 known to infest a single rose-bud, and were crushed with one 

 grasp of the hand.' Suppose, as was probably the case, that 

 one half of them were females; by this destruction, eight hun- 

 dred eggs, at least, were prevented from becoming matured. 

 During the time of their prevalence, Rose-bugs are sometimes 

 found in immense numbers on the flowers of the common white- 

 weed, or ox-eye daisy, (Chrysanthemun leucanthemum^) a worth- 

 less plant, which has come to us from Europe, and has been 

 suffered to overrun our pastures, and encroach on our mowing 

 lands. In certain cases it may become expedient rapidly to 

 mow down the infested white-weed in dry pastures, and con- 

 sume it, with the sluggish Rose-bugs, on the spot. 



" Our insect-eating birds undoubtedly devour many of these 

 insects, and deserve to be cherished and protected for their ser- 

 vices. Rose-bugs are also eaten greedily by domesticated fowls ; 

 and when they become exhausted and fall to the ground, or 

 when they are about to lay their eggs, they are destroyed by 

 moles, insects, and other animals, which lie in wait to seize 

 them. Dr. Green informs us, that a species of dragon-fly, or 

 devil's needle, devours them. He also says that an insect, 

 which he calls the enemy of the Cut-worm, probably the larva 

 of a Carabus or predaceous Ground-beetle, preys on the grubs 

 of the common Dorbug. In France, the Golden Ground Bee- 

 tle (Carabus auratus) devours the female Dor, or Chafer, at 

 the moment when she is about to deposit her eggs. I have 

 taken one specimen of this fine Ground-Beetle in Massachu- 

 setts, and we have several other kinds, equally predaceous, 

 which probably contribute to check the increase of our native 

 Melolonthians." 



