THE GREEN JUNE BEETLE. 17 



June 29, 1916, a single adult was captured at Norfolk, Va. By 

 July 10 numbers were observed flying around hedges and lawns. 



By August 8 the beetles were observed at Portsmouth, Va., in large 

 numbers. They disappeared about September 20. In 1916 Mr. 

 J. E. L. Lauderdale observed adults at Baton Kouge, La., feeding on 

 the juices of corn. They were observed between July 8 and Septem- 

 ber 19, none being found after September 22, occurring in greatest 

 numbers in August. On August 4 Mr. F. B. Milliken, Bureau of 

 Entomology, observed the beetles at Wichita, Kans., feeding on egg- 

 plant in the early morning, making large ragged cavities in the sides 

 of the main stems or branches. 



During the next five years, up to 1922, few complaints of injury 

 were received aside from the normal number to lawns and golf links, 

 these emanating from Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, 

 southern Pennsylvania, and New York. Injury to celery and en- 

 dive, resulting in a loss of more than 40 per cent of the crop which 

 might have been due to this insect, was reported at Sunbury, Pa., 

 but without specimens. Complaints of injury in gardens were re- 

 ceived from Louisiana in 1919, one correspondent at Amite stating 

 that for six years his garden had been almost ruined from this cause. 



Beetles Entering Beehives. 



During July, 1903, the senior author's attention was called to 

 great numbers of dead beetles of Cotinis nitida, found under the 

 entrances to beehives on the grounds of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture, where the living beetles were quite a nuisance. There were 

 considerable numbers of them endeavoring to obtain entrance to 

 the hives, and they occupied the attention of a number of the 

 bees that were as intent on preventing their entrance as the beetles 

 were on getting into the hives. On account of the hard exterior 

 coating of this insect the bees' stings did not appear to penetrate 

 until perhaps after a great many attempts. The beetles were per- 

 sistent, but very slow and sluggish, and under the circumstances it 

 can readily be imagined that an appreciable amount of honey that 

 might have been produced was lost through the distraction of the 

 attention of the bees to the intruders. The beetles appeared to be 

 utterly unaware of their danger and as stupid as the Scarabaeidae 

 are generally accredited with being, at least when not in flight. 



LIFE HISTORY AND HABITS. 



In the vicinity of Norfolk, Va., the beetles make their first appear- 

 ance about the middle of June, reaching their height in numbers 

 by the middle of July and continuing numerous until the middle of 

 August, disappearing about the first week in September. 

 186606 ° —22— Bull . 891 2 



