26 BULLETIN 891, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICr/LTURE. 



Experiment No. 5. — A small lot of larvae was separated from the 

 main lot and placed in another jar with a large tuft of grass, roots, 

 and all the grass blades, and treated in the same manner, but the 

 roots were not materially affected. This experiment suggests that 

 there can be no doubt whatever that larvae feed, to a certain extent at 

 least, on vegetation, and that this is done when they come to the 

 surface of the earth, which they so frequently do at night, particularly 

 after rainy spells. It also suggests that ordinary poisoned baits of 

 grass or other vegetation strewed about the lawns and golf links 

 where these insects are so injurious would be a more or less effective 

 remedy, as the insects feed enough so that if the vegetation were 

 well poisoned and strewed in such manner that it would attract the 

 larvae for protection as well as food beneath, they would eat enough 

 to be killed. 



Experiment No. 6. — Still another experiment was made with about 

 half as many larvae, which had been kept without food for several 

 days. A beet root and a small cabbage plant were placed in a jar so 

 that the leaves all projected. The beet was not touched the first 

 night, but five small cabbage leaves were dragged under the surface. 

 In each case the leaves were left and the stems were attacked first. 

 In the case of the fifth leaf the stem had been about half eaten and 

 dragged under. 



Experiment No. 7. — In a pot containing garden soil and a grow- 

 ing cucumber plant most of the larvae were found feeding on the soil. 

 One larva, however, was observed feeding amongst the roots of the 

 plant, many fibrous roots were broken, and others had been injured 

 by the larvae feeding upon them. 



HABITS OF THE ADULT. 



The beetles make their first appearance above ground during June 

 in the middle Atlantic region and not until July in the more northern 

 range of the species, the exact time being dependent on atmospheric 

 conditions, especially temperature. They gradually become more 

 abundant until August, after which time their numbers usually 

 diminish or at least become less noticeable. 



During their periods of abundance the beetles, according to Davis 

 and Luginbill (45 ), 12 appear about daybreak, the females appearing 

 first, at least relatively more frequently than the males, from day- 

 break until after sunrise. Shortly thereafter the females begin to 

 settle to the earth, often first searching for the exit of a burrow or 

 starting a fresh hole and then resting in the grass preparatory to 

 mating. By this time the males predominate, becoming relatively 



12 Observations were made at Louisville, Ky., except as noted and are substantially as 

 already published. 



