204 



AN ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 



seen hundreds of them flying about among half a dozen plum- 

 trees, apparently injuring nothing but possibly themselves. 

 Their larvae, however, feed on grass roots and are often trouble- 

 some on lawns. They are quite large creatures and very hairy, 

 with a fashion of travelHng on the back instead of the legs, when 

 removed from their congenial soil. Heavy top-dressings of 

 kainit and tobacco have proved about as effective as anything in 

 dealing with these insects, though on a small scale the kerosene 

 emulsion diluted ten times, and then washed into the soil by rain 

 or frequent waterings, has proved effective. On any large area 



Fig. 194. 



AUorhma nitida.—a, larva ; b, pupa; c, adult ; d iog, structural details of larva. 



this process would probably be too expensive. The species is 

 more common southward, and is more likely to become trouble- 

 some on lawns, in parks, and in gardens than in the field. 



To this same group belongs the "Indian QoX-oma.,'' Euphoria 

 iiida, which is one of the earliest of our Eastern beetles, flying 

 in April or May over sandy or bare spots, close to the ground. 

 At this time it is sometimes found on flowers, but remains only 

 a few days. In early September a new brood appears, and this 

 is occasionally troublesome, the beetles eating into ripe fruits or 

 into corn. They have never yet appeared in such numbers, 

 however, as to make remedial measures necessary. 



Taken as a whole, the LamelHcorns contain no directly bene- 

 ficial insects, and the white-grub larvae are in many cases injurious 

 when they feed on the roots of cultivated plants. Where a 

 variety of cultivated crops follow each other, there is little chance 

 for their excessive development, and frequent rotation is there- 

 fore indicated, with as short a period in grass as may be. As 



