264 THE SUGAR BEET. 



classification is given, the object of wiiich is to enable 

 the reader, if desired, to obtain further information. 

 We will not give an anatomical description of these 

 insects, as it would have but little interest, but only 

 an idea of the habits of each, and the method proposed 

 and adopted for their destruction. 



Insects. — They all, without exception, belong to one 

 of the three great classes of entomology : Cleoptera, 

 Diptera, and Lepidotera. 



The first mentioned comprises those having a hard 

 substance on their backs, and which are commonly 

 called beetles. The habits of these are the best known? 

 and they are the grea,test agricultural enemy. The 

 most destructive of all is the Melolontha vulgaris, or 

 cock-chafer (belonging to the eighth family — Melon- 

 thidse — of the Petalocei-a ; the last mentioned being the 

 second family of Lamellicornes, which is the second 

 division of Chilognathomorphia, the latter being the 

 third tribe of Pentameria.^) These cock-chafers are 

 not of the most beautiful, their color being either dark 

 or light brown, having their bodies covered with minute 

 scales. (See fig. 64.) 



Habits. — The Melolontha vulgaris makes its first 

 appearance either about the 1st of April or the 1st of 

 May, according to the weather and temperature. 



' The above classification is the one adopted by Westwood. In Blanchard 

 the new French classification is given which places the above as belonging 

 o the twenty-seventh family (Scarbeii) and third tribe (Melolonthides). 



