THE PARASITES OF POPILLIA JAPONICA 53 
more abundant than elsewhere in Japan. Here agriculture is not so 
intensive, waste lands are more extensive, and sod or pasture lands 
in which Popillia breeds are not uncommon. Food plants suitable 
for the adults, however, are no more abundant here than in the south. 
The foregoing points have been considered for the reason that they 
are thought by some to be the chief factors influencing the distribution 
of Popilha: but the writers are of the opinion that this insect is more 
abundant in the north because it is by nature a species which has 
become adapted to a northern habitat. At Tokyo and Yokohama, 
where sod lands have been artificially produced in lawns and golf 
links, Popillia does not increase and take advantage of these breeding 
grounds. 
In Chosen agricultural conditions, although similar to those of 
Japan, are not so intensive. The outstanding feature in that country 
is the lack of forests. As a result of this forest destruction vast 
mountain areas have lost their soil and support no vegetation. In 
the lowlands grasses grow in all the waste places and in these areas 
the Chosen species of Popillia are commonly found. 
THE SPECIES OF POPILLIA IN CHOSEN 
Of the five or six species of this genus said to occur in Chosen only 
three are common and widely distributed. 
POPILLIA ATROCOERULEA Bates 
During the season the first species of Popilha to appear is P. 
atrocoerulea. This is a large species measuring from 11 to 13 mm. in 
length. It is entirely dark blue and has lateral tufts of white hairs 
on the abdominal segments. A common variety of this same species 
has the basal half of the elytra marked in deep chestnut brown. 
The first beetles appear about the first of June and all disappear 
by .the end of the month. They are most abundant about the time 
of full bloom of the Chosen chestnut during mid- June. 
Only a few individuals have been reared through their life cycle. 
^gg laying is largely in grasslands, and the duration of the stage 
averages 12 days. There are three larval instars, the winter being 
passed in the third stage. 
The chief food plants of this species are the flowers of the Chosen 
chestnut (Castanea crenata), leaves of the goumi bush (Elaeagnus 
umbellata), and the leaves of both wild and cultivated grape, the 
nonpubescent races being more readily eaten. These beetles have a 
strong tendency to feed on flowers, and are very destructive to 
roses. 
POPILLIA CASTANOPTERA Hope 
This species is second in seasonal occurrence. It is a small beetle 
8 to 10 mm. in length, with the thorax bright metallic green and the 
elytra bright chestnut brown. 
This is an abundant species and is found from late June to mid- 
August. The larvae inhabit sod lands. Hibernation takes place 
in the third and final instar. 
The important food plants of the adult are red straw (Galium 
verum) , both leaves and flowers, leaves of Quercus serrata, a number 
of species of smart weed (Polygonum spp.), leaves and flowers of 
chestnut (Castanea serrata), leaves of goumi (Elaeagnus umbellata), 
and wild and cultivated grapes. 
