THE BEETLES: ORDER COLEOPTERA 



133 



of many plants. They finally change to pupae in earthen 

 cells and generally change again to adult beetles in late 

 summer or autumn. The beetles remain in the soil until 

 the following spring. 



The white grubs have many enemies among birds and 

 wild animals, such as foxes and skunks. These natural 

 enemies are the most potent means of keeping them in 

 check in regions where the grubs become destructive. 

 The killing of the adult beetles by attracting to lights or 

 collecting in other ways will often become necessary. 

 This is a case, however, where concerted action by aU the 

 farmers of the community is exceedingly desirable. , 



Another vexatious member of this great family of bee- 

 tles is the so-called Rose Chafer or Rose Bug. This is 

 one of the most destructive enemies of fruits. The 

 brown'beetles appear in vast swarms early in sum- 

 mer, when the wild roses are in blossom. They 

 feed upon the leaves and flowers of a great vari- 

 ety of fruit and ornamental plants, such as apples, 

 pears, plums, peaches, roses, raspberries, straw- 

 berries, blackberries, and grapes. They often do serious 

 damage to the grape crop by eating the blossoms. The 

 beetles remain active two or three weeks. During the 

 latter part of this period, the eggs for a new brood are 

 laid in the ground. The insect chooses for this purpose 

 open fields and meadows having a sandy soil. About a 

 fortnight later, the eggs hatch into small grubs that feed 

 upon roots of grasses. These grubs become full grown, or 

 nearly so, during the summer and early autumn. On the 

 approach of winter, they burrow deeper, and the following 

 spring again work their way upward near the surface. 

 Here in earthen cells they change to pupae, and emerge a 

 month later as fully developed beetles. 



