6 Bulletin of the New Tobk State Museum. 



about eight-tenths of an inch in length. Its wing-covers are 

 shining and smooth, with the exception of two or three slightly 

 elevated lines on each, and numerous minute impressed dots. The 

 short antennae terminate in three yellow leaflets or plates. 

 The breast is covered with fine, glossy, yellowish hairs, from which 

 it (together with the other species of the genus) owes the generic 

 name of Lachnostema, signifying loooUy -breasted. The legs are 

 tawny yeUow, with black^upon the joints. In the accompanying 

 figure it is shown in a side and back view in 3 and 4 



The Whete Gbub. 

 The larva may be. characterized as a large white, soft grub, with 

 some scattered fine hairs, a flattened, brownish or 

 light mahogany colored head, with six distinct, rather 

 long legs on the front part of the body (the first 

 three rings), and the hinder portion of the body con- 

 siderably the thickest, as shown in the accompanying 

 figure. When taken from the ground, it usually 

 assumes a curved form, its head and terminal end 

 white grub^ nearly meeting. When full-^own it is almost the 

 size of a man's little finger. In the preceding figure, at 2, it is 

 represented as lying within a cavity made by it in the ground, 

 while feeding upon the roots of its food-plants. 



There are several other " white grubs," similar to this ia general 

 appearance, but as they have habits in common, to a great extent, 

 it is not necessary, except where observations are desired for 

 scientific uses, that they should be readily separable. From a 

 very similar species,^however, which occurs in manure, it is impor- 

 tant that it may be distir^uished, lest proper manuring should be 

 withheld, through'fear that the May-bug would be conveyed with 

 it The May-bug grub does not occur in manure, as its food con- 

 sists of living vegetable matter.* The grub which is frequently 

 found abundantly ia dung-hiUs, and may be met with under the 

 droppings of cows in fields, is exclusively a dung feeder. It is 

 known in some localities as the " muck-worm." Its scientific desig- 

 nation is Ligyrus relictim Say. The following features, by which the 

 two may be separated, have been pointed out by Mr. Walsh. In 



* The grub appears not to be exclusively a vegetable feeder, for it has 

 been observed feeding on the eggs of the Rocky Mountain Locust, Calop- 

 tenus spretus (Riley, in Rept. Commis. Agricult. for 1883, p. 17i). 



