REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I9T4 21 



A scrutiny of this tabulation shows that in Albany and Rensselaer 

 counties, L . f u s c a Froh. and L . fraterna Harr. were about 

 equally abundant and far outnumbered other species so far as average 

 grasslands are concerned, the first-named being much more numerous 

 than the other. In Westchester county L. hirticula Knoch. 

 appears to be the most abundant, L . f u s c a Froh. and L . m i c a n s 

 Knoch. ranking in the order named. The swarms of May beetles 

 at Hollis were mostly L . f u s c a Froh., though there was a goodly 

 number of L. hirticula Knoch. in the collection sent, which 

 was probably representative. A late June collection at Orient 

 gave practically no L . f u s c a Froh., a number of L. hirticula 

 Knoch., many L. tristis Fabr., and a number of L . d u b i a 

 Sm., the last ranking second in the point of numbers from a pre- 

 sumably representative collection. The totals clearly show a large 

 predominance of L . f u s c a Froh. with L. hirticula Knoch. 

 coming next and closely followed by L . fraterna Harr. and 

 L. tristis Fabr. This data agrees fairly closely with the estimate 

 of these species for New Jersey, published by the late Doctor Smith 

 in 1909. The other species mentioned in this tabulation are of minor 

 importance. 



An examination October 5th of grassland near oaks which were so 

 badly injured last June that their owner, Mr F. B. Smith of Scho- 

 dack, feared that he might lose his trees, disclosed an interesting 

 condition. On digging at the base of one oak, a number of dead 

 beetles as well as several grubs were found, while representative 

 square feet of apparently good sodland 100 and 150 feet from trees 

 were found to contain 10 and 13 grubs each. Portions of the field 

 showed an excellent growth of grass, indicating a satisfactory start 

 after mowing, while in other parts there was almost nothing green. 

 An examination of the latter areas showed that most of the grass 

 roots had already been destroyed. The young grubs, then only 

 one-fourth to one-half of an inch long, were found mostly in and 

 about the roots of the grass an inch to two inches below the surface, 

 while an occasional specimen had worked its way down to a depth 

 of approximately three inches. It is possible in this way to gain a 

 very definite idea of white grub conditions, and if this be done early 

 enough, it would frequently be possible to handle this land in such a 

 way as to secure a good crop in spite of the pests. 



Habits of beetles. They begin to appear above ground from the 

 early part to the middle of May and remain abroad till the latter 

 part of June, feeding upon the leaves of various trees and shrubs at 

 night and retiring to the shelter of grass and grain fields for the day. 



