THE GREEN JUNE BEETLE. 21 



It is evident that a female after depositing a mass of eggs comes 

 to the surface to feed or to rest, later returning to the burrow (in 

 cages, only if the nest is not disturbed) to deposit other eggs, and 

 continuing this until the quota of eggs is deposited. Such are evi- 

 dently the natural field conditions. In confinement the females were 

 disturbed and new nests had to be constructed each time they desired 

 to oviposit. This probably accounts for the long period of egg laying 

 (nearly a month) as shown in the tables. 



LIFE HISTORY OF THE LARVA." 



When the embryonic larva is ready to hatch it causes the egg to 

 split transversely at a point where the head and anal end of the 

 larva touch within the egg. Immediately on freeing itself from 

 the eggshell it becomes quite active, crawling on its back as do the 

 older grubs when placed on the surface of the soil. In two instances 

 a recently hatched grub crawled at the rate of 15 inches a minute, 

 and nearly mature individuals travel over 2 feet a minute. 



The grubs grow very rapidly, feeding on animal manure and 

 similar decomposing matter, and their presence becomes more con- 

 spicuous daily. They are most noticeable in the late fall, and it is 

 at this time that complaints are most frequent. 



The first grubs hatch the first of August, and often by the middle 

 of that month they become noticeable in lawns and gardens. At 

 this time numerous young grubs will be noticed in the same areas, 

 as though they worked in colonies, which is to be expected, since 

 a number of eggs are laid close together. Later the larvae scatter, 

 and infestation of the lawn or garden becomes more or less uniform. 



The grubs have distinct open burrows which average 6 to 12 inches 

 in depth, although late in the fall they may reach a depth of a foot 

 and a half, and the surface hole is about the size of one's thumb. 

 The burrows usually go almost straight down, although there may 

 be lateral burrows, and during the day the grub is likely to be found 

 at the bottom. At night dirt is thrown out at the exit of their bur- 

 rows, the little mounds of earth thus appearing being from 2 to 3 

 inches in diameter and closely resembling ant hills, the particles of 

 earth being somewhat coarser, but not as coarse or pasty as is earth 

 excavated by angleworms or nematodes. 



Toward winter the grub usually deepens its burrows, and during 

 the colder months remains inactive at the bottom; but it is quickly 

 revived even during short periods of warm weather, and not infre- 

 quently continues its work on warm days. In fact, even as far north 

 as Louisville, Ky., the grubs are active during parts of the months 

 of January and February. 



As warmer weather returns in the spring the grubs likewise make 

 their normal reappearance, and after a short period of feeding be- 



