THE LAM ELL I CO RN BEETLES. 



959 



wool" and "breast. 



They 



Fig. 373. Lachnostema fusca Froh. 1. pupa, in its earthen cell; 2, 

 larva; 3. 4, beetle, side and back views. (After Riley.) 



generic name Lachnostema, meaning 

 are abundant every- 

 where in early summer, 

 hiding by day and be- 

 ginning to fly at dusk, 

 when they settle upon 

 the foliage of low shrubs 

 and trees, especially 

 those of lawns and other 

 grass-covered areas, to 

 which they often do 

 much damage by de- 

 vouring the leaves. The 

 best method of collect- 

 ing them is to go out 

 with lantern and um- 

 brella just after dusk 

 and beat the branches 



upon which they are feeding. In this way hundreds or even thou- 

 sands can be collected in a single evening. If the damage to shrubs 

 or small trees is too great the beetles may be easily gathered by 

 shaking them onto sheets. 



The larvae of the May beetles are those large, bulky forms com- 

 monly known as ' ' white grubs. ' ' (Fig. 373. ) They often do much 

 damage to the roots of grass, corn and allied plants. Lawns and 

 strawberry beds are sometimes wholly ruined, the grubs gnawing 

 off every root at a certain depth. Living as they do, underground, 

 they are very difficult to combat. If the field is badly infested ani 

 not in cultivation, hogs may be turned in to root them out, as they 

 are very fond of the grubs. Fall plowing turns out pupse and re- 

 cently matured beetles and greatly lessens the damage to corn and 

 other crops the ensuing year. In lawns and small areas of grass 

 lands a kerosene emulsion, washed down by an abundance of water, 

 often destroys many of the larvae. 



On account of the great similarity in form, color and size, the 

 May beetles are difficult to determine, and for a long time were 

 often jumbled together in collections without specific names. How- 

 ever, Dr. Horn, in his Revision, furnished tables by which, with a 

 little patience and close observation, the males can be readily recog- 

 nized. The females are more difficult and can only be determined 

 by careful comparison with the males, which they most resemble. 



[61—23402] . „ 



