THE GREEN JUNE BEETLE. 37 



BIRD ENEMIES. 



Of bird enemies one of the most important is the common crow 

 blackbird or purple grackle (Quiscalus quiscula). In the case of 

 this bird 75 stomachs were examined and found to contain the green 

 June beetle, and in several instances 7 or 8 were found in a single 

 stomach. The constantly increasing numbers of this bird on the 

 grounds of the Department of Agriculture where the grubs of this 

 species were formerly very abundant has undoubtedly been one of 

 the causes of the insects' decrease. Robins and crows frequent the 

 same locality and have undoubtedly helped toward the same end. 



Domestic ducks, according to Davis and Luginbill (45, p. 22), 

 have been observed to seek the grubs eagerly, but, as a rule, gather 

 only those which are on or near the surface of the ground. Chickens 

 occasionally follow the plow and destroy these insects ; but, so far as 

 we know, domestic fowls are of very little value in the control of 

 this pest. 



During July, 1882, Mr. John D. Wilkins, Selma, Ala., observed 

 that the mocking bird (Mimus polyglottos) , the blue jay (Cyanocitta 

 cristata), and cardinal grosbeak (Cardinalis cardinalis) were feed- 

 ing on the beetle of this species. The kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 

 and cardinal grosbeak have been recorded by the Biological Survey 

 as enemies of this species. The robin (Planesticus migratorms) and 

 the yellow hammer or flicker (Colaptes auratus) have been observed 

 attacking the grubs. Other species of birds which have been found 

 by the Biological Survey to feed on either larvae or adults include 

 the woodcock (Philohela minor) , broad-winged hawk (Buteo platyp- 

 terus) , screech owl (Otus asio), pileated woodpecker (Phloeotomus 

 pileatus), red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) , 

 chuck- will's- widow (Antrostomus carolinensis) , nighthawk (Chor- 

 deiles virginianus) , crow (Corvus Irachyrhynchos) , red-winged 

 blackbird {Agelaius phocniceus), crow blackbird (Quiscalus quis- 

 cula), loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) , catbird (Dumetella 

 carolinensis) , brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), and wood thrush 

 (Hyloclchla mustelina). 



METHODS OF CONTROL. 



FOR THE BEETLES. 



Remedial measures against the adults of the green June beetle 

 have been tried, usually without success, by entomologists and 

 other practical workers. In 1899 Dr. A. L. Quaintance, of the 

 Bureau of Entomology, when working in the South ? used poisoned 



