157 



CHAPTER XII.— INSECTS ATTACKING ROOTS. 



Western Tkn-Lixkd .Ii"ne Bug [Pohiiihiilhi ihiciitliiuiilin. 



Tlic liii-vu of this insert, wliicli is a hii'se wliite iinili, is a lia<l pest on 

 nian.v plants, amongst wliic-Ii are strawljerries. In its larval stage it attacks 

 the roots of plants, ver.v soon killing them, by stripping off the bark from 

 woody plants antl biting off tlie root below the erown of strawberries and 

 such plants. 



Dc-fcriiition. 



The perfect beetle, like its prototype, the Jlay Bug or June or Dor Bug 

 of the East ( Larhiiovtcniii fiixcd. Frohl), has a disagreeable habit of coming 

 through ojien windows and buzzing about, luiocking themselves against walls 

 and ceilings, aud sometimes against one's face, which it strikes with cou- 

 siderable force. The beetle is about one inch and a .[uarter long, with a 

 thick round body, half an inch or more iu diameter, of a light brown colour, 

 with eight white longitudinal stripes running the whole length of the wing 

 covers, and two short ones : the breast is covered with a brownish down aud 

 the abdomen has three transverse stripes. The larva is about two inches 

 long, with a thick body and brown liead. 



As iu the case of the Black Vine Weevil, a frequent ch:\nge of the l)eds is 

 to be recommended as lieing the most efficacious remedy. It also resembles 

 the last-uamed in-sect iu its injurious habit, both in the larval and perfect 

 stages. Naturally, on .■iciount of the nocturnal feeding lialiit of the beetle 

 and the underground habits of the larva, it is a <liffieult insect to control. 

 Iteferring to the June Bug. Saunders says : — 



■■ It is very ditticidt to reach the larvre underground with any remedy 

 other than digging for them and destroying them. Hogs are very fond of 

 them, and. when turned into places where the grubs are abundant, will root 

 up the ground aud devour them in immense quantities. Tliey are likewise 

 eaten by dimiestic fowls and insectivorous birds; crows especially are so 

 partial to them that they will often lie seen following the iilough, so as to 

 pick out these choice morsels from the freshly-turned furrow." 



White GRuns (Luehiioxtcnia fiisca. Froli.) 



l/^,„.;,-.— White (irulis are the larva' of the May Beetles or .Tune Bugs, 

 so called from their great abundance in May and .June, when they may be 

 found iu large numbers flying around trees and bushes, showing particular 

 preference for certain kinds, as willows, oaks, a.shes, plums, maples and 

 lilacs. The eggs are deposited in the ground, one to three inches below the 

 surface, and hatch in from ten to eighteen days. The larva> feed on roots 

 during the remainder of the season and burrow very deeply into the ground 



