272 INSECTS AFFECTING VEGETATION 



The injuries for which the species is responsible are done by the 

 adult or beetle, and so far as is known by the writer, the larva, though 

 it feeds in the fruit of the rose, does no harm to the bushes in any 

 way. The principal injury accomplished by the beetle is done by 

 boring small, deep holes into the buds. Many holes are often bored 

 into a single bud. Though such a bud may open, the resulting rose 

 is of no value. Other buds cease to develop when eaten into and soon 

 wither and dry up. The beetles also bore holes into the stems of the 

 roses at right angles to the axis. Buds affected in this way wilt, and 

 hang from the stems, and later dry. 



We have not been able to see any particular significance in the 

 boring of holes into the stems, though when we began the studies it 

 was thought possible that the buds were caused to wilt and dry for 

 the purpose of preparing a suitable food for the young. Though 

 very many such buds have been broken open and examined, we have 

 never found a larva feeding in one. 



The injuries are scarcely less serious and extensive than those 

 of the rose chafer, in the Eastern States, and a number of cases have 

 come under the writer's attention in which persons have given up an 

 attempt to grow roses on account of the injuries of this insect. We 

 have received no reports of injury by this insect on green-house roses. 

 The species is a native one and has been found by the writer on wild 

 roses far into the mountains in Montana. 



The beetles appear on the bushes early in June and continue 

 until the latter part of August. The eggs are deposited in various 

 places. Most of those found by the writer were in the buds, either 

 in the unexpanded petals or in the young fruit. One egg was found 

 in the tender extremity of a new cane and one in a Cynipid gall. In 

 all cases the eggs were found in the holes made with the beak, and 

 were placed well down in the holes, below y the surface. They are 

 semi-transparent and almost colorless. The eggs hatch in a few days, 

 probably about a week or ten days. We have never been able to find 

 larvae except in the rose hip or fruit, and this is doubtless the normal 

 place for their development. 



They feed upon the seeds which fill the greater part of the cavity 

 of the fruit. The fleshy coating of the fruit is not eaten so far as we 

 have observed. Examination of a fruit containing a nearly full- 

 grown larva shows a part or all of the seeds excavated to mere shells 

 and the body of the larva buried in a mass of waste and excrement. 

 Such a fruit shows a blackened scar on the side which marks the spot 

 where the parent beetle bored in to deposit the egg. The larva or 

 grub is yellowish white with a rosy tint and instead of being straight 

 has the back arched. It has no legs. In many cases hand picking is 

 all that is necessary to get relief from the injuries caused by this 

 insect. 



In a previous paragraph we have mentioned the fact that when 

 disturbed the beetles drop to the ground. Taking advantage of this 

 one can catch the beetles by holding a hand, or better, a pan contain- 

 ing kerosene underneath and causing the beetles to drop. Under 

 some conditions hand picking is a futile measure. When the cul- 



