70 DR. HARRIS’S REPORT. April, 
commonly called, is also a diurnal Melolontha. It is exclusively an 
American insect, and presenting peculiarities in its structure and 
form widely distinct from other species of the genus, has very prop~ 
erly been referred to a sub-genus,* of which, till lately, it was sup-- 
posed to be the only species. The rose-chaffer is the Melolontha 
subspinosa, of Fabricius, by whom it was first described in the year 
1781. The meaning of the specific name given by Fabricius is, 
somewhat spinous, because the thorax of the insect presents that ap- 
pearance, in consequence of the blunt spine or tubercle which arms 
each side. It has since received several other names; but that 
given by the first describer, having the priority, must be retained. 
From my communications to the Massachusetts Agricultural Society, 
in 1826, and from the remarks of Dr. Greene, published in the New 
England Farmer, andsince confirmed by my own observations, I shall 
be able to present a complete summary of the most important facts 
relative to the economy of this insect. The most remarkable of its 
habits are its voracity and its salaciousness. It attacks, without 
much discrimination, almost every tree, shrub, and plant, such as the 
oak, elm, cherry, and apple trees, the rose, sumach, and elder bushes, 
the grape-vine, and even herbaceous plants, particularly the common 
white weed, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum. Generally, during the 
day time, we find these insects paired, the male holding the female 
closely embraced, even when not in coitu. The male is readily dis- 
tinguished by the greater length of the legs, and the elongated, point- 
ed extremity of the body. The rose-chaffers make their appearance 
during the second week of June, or about the time of the blossoming of 
the damask rose. They do not attack the cinnamon rose, and are often 
seen on the elm and oak, before they appear on the garden or wild 
rose. ‘Their numbers are rapidly augmented for several days, and, 
as different individuals appear in succession, the whole duration of 
the species is found to extend even to 30 or 40 days. In three weeks, 
the eggs of the female becoming mature, she enters the earth and de- 
posits them at the depth of from one to four or more inches, accord- 
ing to the nature of the soil. The males and females then die, the 
former above, and the latter either beneath or above the surface of 
*Macrodactylus, Latr., Slenethorax, mihi. There is a much larger species quite common 
in Carolina. 
