108 



They have a disagreeable odor and a dark oil, which is un- 

 pleasant unless they are cooked. Spraying with arsenate of 

 lead will help to check them or drive them away, and some of 

 our common birds, such as the purple grackle or crow-black 

 bird and the starling are their worst enemies, also the kingbird, 

 catbird and brown thrasher and thrush will eat them. Toads 

 also are valuable as they catch them before they can do any dam- 

 age or lay any eggs. ]\Ioles and skunks also feed on the grubs. 



i^ mmw^» 



60 bushels caught in one day in August in one orchard. 



The eggs are laid in the ground during the mating or breed- 

 ing season, which lasts from the middle of June until the 

 middle of October, and the grubs, like those of the June beetle, 

 feed on the roots of grasses and other plants, doing a great deal 

 of damage to lawns and golf greens. Poisoning of the soil with 

 carbon-disulfide is often done to prevent this. 



All the students of the high schools in New York City and 

 adjacent territory may help in this crusade if they will, by 

 catching and killing the beetles. Search while the sun shines, 

 preferably in the early afternoon, drop them into a cup of 

 kerosene and give them to your friends as specimens, so as to 

 teach others to recognize them. 



The Japanese Beetle Laboratory at Moorestown, New 

 Jersey has issued a card for distribution showing the beetle 

 enlarged and colored, and circulars of information may be had 

 on application to the Department of Agriculture of the State 

 of New Jersey at Trenton which will supply copies on request. 



Elizabeth G. Britton. 

 New York Botanical Garden. 



