CHAPTER V. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE GRAINS AND GRASSES. 



Ukder the above head several common insects which 

 are injurious to almost all of the grains and grasses may 

 be conveniently grouped, thus distinguishing them from 

 those which affect a few or an individual species. 



White Grubs {Lachnosterna spj^.). 



Of all the insects attacking cereal crops none are 

 better known than the so-called "white grubs/^ I say 

 " so-called," for the Englishman has styled this larva the 

 "cockchafer grub," the Frenchman calls it " ver blanc," 

 and the German has named it the "engerling," while 

 here in America the adult beetles are known both as May- 

 beetles, June-bugs, and dor-bugs, and when flying in the 

 windows and buzzing around the ceilings are often termed 

 " pinching-bugs." In Europe white grubs have long been 

 recognized as one of the agriculturist's worst insect foes, 

 and their depredations were noted in this country as early 

 as the middle of the seventeenth century. • 



Life-history. — As for most of our grain insects, grass 

 land is their favorite haunt, and the female beetle usually 

 lays her eggs in old meadows, though not infrequent!}^ in 

 corn land. The eggs, which are glossy white, about one 



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