UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



mA BULLETIN No. 891 



s^^'^fLru 



Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology 

 L. O. HOWARD, Chief 



SUSr&JL 



Washington, D. C. 



PROFESSIONAL PAPER 



July 28, 1922 



THE GREEN JUNE BEETLE. 1 



By F. H. Chittenden, Entomologist in Charge, nnd D. E. Fink, Entomological 

 Assistant, Truck Crop Insect Investigations. 2 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction 



Classification 



Descriptive 



Technical description 



Distribution and injurious occur- 

 rence 



Nature of injury 



Page. 

 1 



2 

 3 



4 



Page. 



Life history and habits ■_ 17 



History and literature 28 



Control by natural agencies 31 



Methods of control 37 



General summary 48 



Literature cited 49 



INTRODUCTION. 



The green June beetle is one of the best known of Southern 

 insects and is quite common in the Eastern States from New Jersey 

 and southern Illinois southward. It occurs also somewhat commonly 

 on Long Island, in southern Connecticut, and in the neighborhood 

 of New York City. Injuries by this insect were at one time errone- 

 ously believed to be practically confined to the beetle, since the larvae 

 feed normally and largely on humus or mold, or soil rich in decaying 

 vegetable matter, and in stable and lot manure. 



The beetles injure fruits of various kinds, including grapes, 

 peaches, raspberry, blackberry, apple, pear, quince, plum, prune, 

 apricot, and nectarine, and frequently obtain nourishment as well on 

 the sap of oak, maple, and other trees, and on the growing ears of 



1 Cotinis nitkla L. (formerly known as Allorliina nitida) ; family Scarabaeidae, order 

 Coleoptera. 



- Investigations of the life history and habits have been conducted by the junior author 

 in tidewater Virginia, and by the senior author in the District of Columbia and near-by 

 points in northern Virginia. Similar investigations have been conducted by Mr. J. J. 

 Davis, Bureau of Entomology, at Louisville, Ky., La Fayette, Ind., and elsewhere, and by 

 Mr. Philip Luginbill, Cereal and Forage Insect Investigations, at Columbia, S. C Many 

 of the notes on injuries and habits made by these observers have been used in the prepa- 

 ration of this publication. 



186606°— 22— Bull. 891 1 



