84 



to those originally collected for breeding. Westwood, in his c Modern Classification of 

 Insects,' (vol. 1, 238), states respecting the larva of an allied species (A. obscurus) which, 

 in Europe, feeds upon the roots of wheat, rye, oats, barley and grass, that according to 

 Bjerkander, a Swedish naturalist, 1 it is five years in arriving at the perfect state.' Cur- 

 tis, in his 'Farm Insects,' (page 16,), makes a similar statement upon the same authority, 

 and adds that those which he had himself fed for ten or twelve months scarcely increased 

 in size during that time. As already stated, however, I am of opinion that our species is 

 by no means so long lived, but that it attains maturity in three years, a period quite long 

 enough, the agriculturist must think, in which to inflict damage upon the crops." 



Fig. 53 shews the larva or worm magnified to about twice its natural size, and Fig. 

 54 the chrysalis under and upper side, also magnified — the hair line between them gives 

 the natural size. 



The perfect beetle is about seven-twentieths of an inch long, the body black, punc- 

 tured with minute dots, and covered with very short hair, the head is large and black, the 

 antennae and feet reddish. 



Adelocera is a genus comprising rather large beetles of a roughish, and often frosted, 

 or rusty, appearance. Their larvae feed in decaying wood and are generally found upon 

 stumps, trees or fences. 



The last genus which I shall mention here, viz. : — Pityobius, is remarkable from 

 having twelve-jointed antennae, which in the males are beautifully bi-pectinate ; that is 

 they have on each side spines, or branches, projecting from the joints. There are only 

 two species known in Canada — P. anguinus and P. Billingsii — and the beetles are exceed- 

 ingly rare, while but little is known of their habits. 



P. anguinus "is of a dull black colour, with short brown hair." P. Billingsii (named 

 after its discoverer, the late Mr. Billings, of Ottawa), has rich and rather glossy black 

 elytra, longitudinally lined, and wider than the thorax. The head and thorax are also 

 deep black but are roughened ; the legs and under parts are less black. The head is 

 nearly square above ; the eyes are very prominent, being far more conspicuous than in 

 any other of our elaters, which I have seen. 



The specimen now before me is about one and a quarter inches long and is decidedly 

 the handsomest click-beetle in my collection. It is probably the second specimen captured 

 and the only one now in a Canadian collection. The larva of this beetle lives in decay- 

 ing wood, for I found a pupa almost in the heart of an old rotten log, two years ago. 

 Unfortunately the wood in which I kept it was allowed to become too dry, and in conse- 

 quence the elytra never expanded properly and the specimen was destroyed. 



Let me conclude with a few words of advice, which have often been spoken by others, 

 but which will bear repeating. Every farmer and gardener will consult his best interests 

 by paying close attention to all the insects which he finds about his land, and by striving 

 to learn something of their habits. When a strange insect or larva is discovered, 

 endeavour to place a specimen in the hands of the nearest entomologist, who will be always 

 glad to inform you whether its habits are injurious or beneficial to plant-life, or, if they 

 are unknown to him, to try and find out what they are. 



THE PLUM CUBCULIO (Conotrachelus nenuphar). 

 By B. Gott, Arkona. 



[Figure 55 represents this insect in its various stages, a the larva, b the chrysalis, c 

 the perfect beetle all magnified. The hair lines at the sides shew the natural size.] 



For some considerable time past I have closely watched the operations of this 

 familiar insect, and my only apology for bringing again this hackneyed theme to the 

 notice of the public, is that the growing importance of the subject appears to demand it. 

 I purpose to shew in this paper that our fruit is at present in more danger from the 

 depredations of this insect, than from any other single enemy operating on it. Not- 

 withstanding all that has been said and written about this pest, - and the good advice 

 which has been given for its destruction, yet comparatively little is done systematically 



