Appendix Entomology of the Rose. 369 



work, the mortar having been hollowed out for the purpose. The bees throughout the early 

 summer frequented the plants in the neighbouring greenhouses, entering by the doors and 

 side-lights when open, and carrying away large quantities of foliage, which was fovind most 

 neatly rolled into its various positions when the nest was laid bare. 



Amongst COLEOPTEROUS insects the first that claims our attention, no less on account 

 of its size and brilliancy of colour than from the extent of its depredations, is the Rose 

 Beetle (Cetonia aurata). Few English beetles can boast of more beautiful or effective colours 

 than those with which this insect is adorned. The head, thorax, and wing cases are of a 

 bright golden green ; the thorax is covered with tiny punctures, which are also to be ob- 

 served on the wing cases, but the latter possess in addition several larger irregularly shaped 

 rust-coloured marks. The wings themselves are quite transparent and pale brown in colour. 

 The underside of the body is greenish bronze colour; at the sides and under the head it is 

 very hairy, as are also the legs at their base. In colour the legs resemble the body. Ilj, is 

 about three-quarters of an inch in length. It may often be observed flying round a Rose 

 flower in the bright glare of a summer sun, and on such occasions is a beautiful and con- 

 spicuous object, but it is still oftener to be found buried in the flower, either tearing the 

 petals or devouring the anthers and pollen, thus preventing the perfecting of the seed. In 

 addition to the Rose, this beetle is said to have also a liking for the Pseony. The larva 

 lives underground, feeding usually upon decayed or decaying vegetable matter, and it is 

 therefore in the perfect state that this species is injurious. The beetle is common in most 

 localities throughout the summer, and would seem to have a predilection for white or pale 

 coloured Roses, for what reason it is diffcult to guess unless it revels in the perfume in 

 which pale Roses are often richer than their darker brethren. 



In England the mischief done by the larva of the common Cockchafer or May-bug (Melo- 

 lontlia vulgaris) is chiefly confined to pastures, where indeed the havoc they occasionally 

 cause, either directly or indirectly, is very considerable. In France, however, they are very 

 destructive in Rose gardens. Kirby and Spence, in their " Introduction to Entomology," 

 mention the case of M. Vibert, who was forced to abandon his nurseries at Chenevieres- 

 sur-Maine on account of the attacks made on the roots of the plants by this larva, which in 

 two years destroyed 100,000 Rose trees. We have also witnessed in various parts of France 

 no inconsiderable amount of damage caused by this insect, and the same species is very 

 noxious to various annuals in the seed farms of central Germany, where they are so numer- 

 ous that we were informed a man can collect and destroy them in affected districts at the 

 rate of 800 a day. They live underground, attacking and devouring the roots of the plant, 

 thus ensuring it a certain death. They are dirty-white in colour. The perfect insect is too 

 well known to need description. 



Mr Westwood, in "The Gardeners' Magazine of Botany," mentions two other Coleopterous 

 insects which prey upon the Rose. The first of these is Balaninus brassicce, a small weevil, 

 which he describes as feeding on the petals of the flower, riddling them with small holes. 

 It is from one-seventh to one-sixth of an inch in length, black in colour, with the underside 

 of the body white and the legs black. It is a very common species. 



The second beetle mentioned by Mr Westwood is Meligethes ceneus. This he has observed 

 in the act of biting off and devouring the pollen of the flower. It is much smaller than the 

 last named, barely one-twelfth of an inch in length. Its body is dark green, antennae black, 

 fore legs reddish, hind legs black. It is common everywhere. 



It is a matter for congratulation to the Rosarian that amongst the two orders STEGOPTERA 

 and NEUROPTERA no species of insects are to be found which can be classed amongst those 

 injurious to the Rose, and amongst ORTHOPTERA the only species is the Mole Cricket (Gryl- 

 lotalpa vulgaris). This insect is only met with in the south of England, and there never in 



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