ENEMIES or THE SUGAK BEET. 265 



Strange to say, the heat of the day has a most sin- 

 gular effect, causing them to remain in a sort of a 

 trance state. After sundown their activity com- 

 mences, when they move in swarms, seeming to have 



Fig. 64. 



Melolontha vulgaris. 



but little control over their flying, and will strike any 

 object that happens to be in their way, and which 

 causes them to fall to the ground. After a few hours 

 of darkness they search for food, which is the leaf of 

 a plant or tree. "We have noticed that when they have 

 not at their disposal the leaves of the former, they will 

 fly in the direction of the woods. In this case their 

 destruction is impossible. They will remain during 

 the whole day on the leaf they so happen to find them- 

 selves on in the morning. After a given number of weeks 

 the male deems it his duty to fulfil his procreative 

 functions, which last from twelve to twenty-four 

 hours, after which he falls to the ground from fatigue 

 or exhaustion, and shortly after dies. The female, on 

 the contrary, seems to be full of life and activity, and 



18 



