The "White Geub of the May Beetle. 7 



the latter species, there may be seen on its back through its semi- 

 transparent skin, along the entire length of the body, a lead-colored 

 line, denoting its intestinal canal filled with the black dung upon 

 •which it has fed. In the true white grub, the L. fusca larva, it is 

 only near the terminal end of the body that it shows a lead-colored 

 appearance, because it is only at this portion of the canal that the 

 roots upon which it feeds have become digested and converted into 

 a dark-colored excrement (Practical Entomologist, i, 1866, p. 60). 



The Egg. 



"The eggs are white, translucent, spherical, with an average 

 diameter of 0.09 inch. They are deposited between the roots of 

 grass, and are inclosed in a ball of earth before deposition, as the 

 cavity is sufficiently large for the egg to roll about in." (Riley, 

 Fifth Report, 1873, p. 55.) 



It would appear that the above is given from the personal obser- 

 vations of Prof. Riley, or upon reliable information communicated 

 to him r If this be so, then the following statement communicated 

 to the Country Gentleman, of August 27, 1874 (p. 547, c. 4), can not be 

 accepted : " Two years ago, I repeatedly saw in a garden the female 

 depositing her eggs while flying — just at dusk — an inch or so above 

 the ground: These eggs were polished white, as large as pigeon- 

 shot, and dropped singly. This is in contradiction to the ' authori- 

 ties,' for it is stated that the female digs again into the ground and 

 deposits about thirty eggs in one hole " (T. J. Burrill, Champaign, 

 111., professor of botany in the Illinois Industrial University). 



Beyond the above, I have no knowledge of any publication of 

 observations upon the egg-laying of this species, the construction 

 of the ball of earth in which the eggs are said to be first inclosed, 

 or the manner of its burial. How the ball-making and its burial to 

 a considerable depth, in sod, can be accomplished by the aid of feet 

 so seemingly unfitted for such operations is incomprehensible to me. 



Injurious Character of the Insect. 

 The May-beetle may with propriety be named among our most 

 injurious pests. It has attained the unenviable notoriety of being 

 pronounced " one of the very worst and most insidious of the 

 farmer's foes." If a list of our insect enemies were arranged in 

 the order of relative importance, this species would, I think, find 

 place among the first twenty. It is a native species, and very early 



