426 



Insect Pests. 



Life-Histoi;y. 



The lieetle is olilong, pitchy, clothed with light Ijrown and ashy 

 pubescence, closely covered with brown and pale yellowish-ljrown 

 scales, which give the elytra a tessellated appenrence, with punctate 

 lines or stria^, the punctures with scales on each which make them 

 seem ocellated, the rostrum short and spatulate, the thorax granulated 

 (very coarsely in the centre); the legs are red or reddish-brown 

 with black tarsi. Thei'e are no ^vings. In length it varies from \ 

 to A inch. 



It appears in May and soon commences its work upon the caues. 

 It remains hidden under clods of earth and under the bottom leaves 

 during the day and only crawls over tlie plants at night. The habit 

 of falling to the ground at the least jar, noise or light, of a night, 



/•'. E.lcnhil. 



1, lldoiin 



l'\t:. -JsO. — FKUIT TKEE ' ITIOEH VXrHI. 

 «■/,/'»■ /p,;,.;./-;V„x,/x ,■ 1', O. Elliot! us : S. 



is very marked in this species. When the earth is moved durin,<;- 

 the daytime they roll on to their backs, and (i«-ing to the venter 

 being dhll earthy coloured it is then extremely difficult to see them, 

 as they remain quite motionless until they' think the danger is 

 passed. 



At the end of summer the beetles lay their eggs on the ground, 

 and in a week or ten days the larv;e hatch out and commence to 

 feed upon the r(jots of various plants. The grubs are ^\-hite to dull 

 creamy-yellow, ipiite footless, curved and with a much wrinkled 

 skill which is slightly hairy, the head is distinct and brown. Thev 

 remain feeding on roots all the winter and in spring turn t.i pallid 

 pupa' m the soil, from which tlie adults emerge in I\Iav. The larva 

 IS rather fat and about I inch long. They feed nu a varietv of plants, 

 not only ras].berry and otlier laish fruit, but various pot plants, 

 hops and innumerable \\-eeds Inriu llieir liill uf fare. 



