78 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO GARDEN AND ORCHARD CROPS. 



trees had been killed and were being destroyed at that time. Fort 

 McPherson stands at a distance of less than a quarter of a mile from 

 the wooded portion of the cemetery, and is surrounded by freshly 

 plowed and graded grass land, affording the most favorable condi- 

 tions for the breeding of Lachnosterna. In all there were about 400 

 trees upon the knoll about the fort. Mr. Rhodes stated that they 

 were first attacked in 1892, and that that year about 200 trees were 

 injured beyond recovery and had to be replaced. The following year 

 injury was such as to necessitate the resetting of 150 trees. The out- 

 look in 1894 was similarly unfavorable. Many of the infested trees 

 showed plainly the ravages of the May beetles, their work being partic- 

 ularly evident toward the tops of certain trees. In very many instances 

 in addition to gouging out portions of the leaves these beetles had 

 amputated the tenderest leaves from the petioles or footstalks. One 

 form of injury particularly noticeable was the gnawing off of the 

 opening leaf buds. 



By digging around the soft earth about the base of the worst in- 

 fested saplings, a considerable number of the beetles were secured. 

 Under one little tree of about two years' growth that was badly defoli- 

 ated no less than twenty individuals were taken. The beetles were 

 most numerous within a few inches of the base of the tree, and had 

 burrowed beneath the ground to a depth of only a half to an inch in 

 most instances. 



June 17, 1896, a number of specimens of the larvae were received 

 from Mr. B. Clark, Perulack, Ya., with the report that the species was 

 ■ destructive to the roots of the grapevine in that vicinity. 



In 1897 larvae were received from the Franklin Davis Nursery, of 

 Baltimore, Md., with the statement, made under date of May 13, that 

 they were very destructive to strawberry plants, cutting frequently 

 from six to ten plants in one place. June 11a larva was received from 

 Mr. S. H. Derby, Woodside, Del., who stated that the species was 

 doing much damage to the roots of strawberry. July 15 we received 

 another sending of larvae from the Franklin Davis Nursery Company, 

 all of about two years 7 growth, with the information that they were 

 playing havoc with strawberry plants. August 5 Hon. George B. 

 Keezell, Keezelltown, Ya., sent specimens, with the accompanying 

 statement that they were extremely numerous that year and doing 

 great damage to corn. A letter by the writer in reply, containing a 

 somewhat detailed consideration of the remedial treatment used against 

 "white grubs," was published in the Bockingham Begister, of Har- 

 risonburg, Ya., for August 27, 1897. 



During 1898 the beetles of this species were reported, May 3, to be 

 injurious to young birches in the District of Columbia and to young 

 English walnut trees in the suburbs. May 23 Mr. B. S. Lacey sent 

 specimens, with the information that 110 of the beetles had been 

 captured on a single English walnut on his place near Washington, 

 D. C. They had not troubled either pecans or native walnut trees. 



