108 



BEETLE PEStfS. 



attacked, bajra (Pennisetum typhoideum) and other millets especially; 



there are also many cases o injury to garden plants 



and vegetable crops, the grubs living for choice in 



highly manured soil. Nurseries and especially man- 

 ured plots are usually full of the grubs, which may 



hatch from eggs laid there by the beetles, or may be 



put in with the manure if farmyard manure is used. 

 These grubs are difficult to destroy ; where it is 



possible, cultivation turns them out when birds then 



eat them readily ; flooding brings them up nearer the 



surface where they can be more readily turned out, but 

 never actually kills them or 

 exposes them. In hot 

 weather, anything that 

 tends to dry and heat the 

 surface soil drives the grubs 

 surface roots. Artificial manure such as kainit, 

 saltpetre, etc., can sometimes be used sparingly to 

 drive them down and a dressing of soot has much 

 the same effect. This is the only thing possible 

 when grass lawns are affected, though a liberal 

 watering with soapy water may do good. 

 The beetles destroy plants in a more evident manner, coming out 



at night in large numbers and stripping the plants, This is somewhat 



FIG. 228. 

 Cockchafer larva. 



down below the 



FIG. 229. 



Cockchafer larva, found in 

 the soil. 



FIG. 230. 

 Cockchafer Beetles citing a leaf. 



