OF THE FAEM AND GAEDBK. 73 



Some species are such general feeders that, in group- 

 ing insects according to the plants to which they are in- 

 jurious, it becomes difficult to place them. The corn- 

 grower, the vegetable gardener, the grower of small 

 fruits, the owner of lawns and pastures, and even the 

 nurseryman, may each at times properly look upon the 

 White Grub as his worst insect enemy. The Cut-worms 

 and Wire-worms, though less generally destructive, are 

 injurious to very unlike plants, while the False Wire- 

 worms are in this country, especially, known for the in- 

 jury they have done to lilies, carnations, and to the potato 

 crop. We place these general feeding insects here, for 

 convenience, and shall refer to them in treating of the 

 plants to which they are especially injurious. 



THE WHITE GRUB. 

 {Lachnosterna fusca, Frohl). 



Perhaps no destructive insect is better known than 

 this in its larval as well as in its perfect state, by those 

 who live in the country, yet comparatively few are aware 

 that the frequent White Grub and the familiar May-bug, 

 or June-bug, or Dor-bug, are different forms of the same 

 insect. In the months of May and June, attracted by 

 the light, these beetles often make their way into the 

 house, and by the noise they make in buzzing about and 

 knocking themselves against the walls and ceiling, often 

 alarm nervous persons. The few that thus enter the 

 dwelling are merely indications that vast swarms are 

 upon the trees at no great distance without. Unlike 

 some beetles, this is a voracious feeder in its perfect state, 

 and is destructive to trees, sometimes completely denud- 

 ing them of their foliage, without the cause being dis- 

 covered, as the beetle is active only at night. Fruit and 

 4 



