INSECTS. 81 



THE IULE8. 



consumes vegetable substances in a state of decomposition ; the 

 wireworm subsists on living roots in healthful vigor. 



MAY-BUGS. Among the tree-beetles those commonly called dors, 

 chafers, May-bugs, and rose-bugs, are the most interesting to the 

 farmer and gardener, on account of their extensive ravages, both 

 in the winged and larva states. Besides the leaves of fruit-trees, 

 they devour those of various forest-trees and shrubs, with an avidity 

 not much less than that of the locust, so that, in certain seasons, 

 and in particular districts, they become an oppressive scourge, and 

 the source of much misery to the inhabitants. . 



The May-beetle is our common species. It is of a chestnut" 

 brown color, smooth, but finely punctured, that is, covered with 

 little impressed dots, as if pricked with the point of a needle ; each 

 wing-case has two or three slightly elevated longitudinal lines ; the 

 breast is clothed with yellowish down. The knob of its antennae 

 contains only three leaf-like joints. Its average length is nine-tenths 

 of an inch. In its perfect state it feeds on the leaves of trees, par- 

 ticularly on those of the cherry tree. It flies with a humming 

 noise in the night, from the middle of May to the end of June, and 

 frequently enters houses, attracted by the light. In the course of 

 the spring, these beetles are often thrown from the earth by the 

 spade and plow, in various states of maturity, some being soft 

 and nearly white, their superabundant juices not having evaporated, 

 while others exhibit the true color and texture of the perfect insect. 

 The grubs devour the roots of grass and of other plants, and in 

 many places the turf may be turned up like a carpet in consequence 

 of the destruction of the roots. The grub is a white worm witn a 

 brownish head, and, when fully grown, is nearly as thick as the 

 little finger. It is eaten greedily by cro\vs and fowls. The beetles 

 are devoured by the skunk, whose beneficial foraging is detected is 

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