POLYPHYLLA VARIOLOSA. 
33 
Phylhpliaga pilosicollis (Fig. 13) of Knocli, or tlie htiiry- 
necked leaf-eater, is a small chafer, of an 
oclire-yellow color, with a verv hairy tho- 
rax. It is often thrown out of the ground 
by the spade, early in the spring; but it 
does not voluntarily come forth till the 
«/ 
middle of May. It measimes half an inch 
in leno;th. 
o 
Hentz’s 3Ielolontha variolosa^ (Fig- 11), 
or scarred iMelolontha, differs essentially 
from the foresoino; beetles in the structure 
of its antennas, the knob of which consists 
of seven narrow, strap-shaped ochre-yellow 
leaves, which are excessively long in the 
males. This fine insect is of a licrht brown 
color, with irregular whitish blotches, like 
scars, on the thorax and wing-covers. It 
measures nine tenths of an inch, or more, 
in length. It occurs abundantly, in the month of July, at 
Martha’s Vineyard, and in some other places near tlie coast; 
but is rare in other parts of Massachusetts. 
The foregoing ^lelolonthians are found in gardens, nur- 
O O ^ 7 
series, and orchards, where they are more or less injurious 
to the finiit-trees, in proportion to their numbers in different 
seasons. They also devour the leaves of various forest-trees, 
such as the elm, maple, and oak. 
Omaloplia^ vespertina (Plate II. Fig. 14) of Gyllenhal, and 
sericea of Illiger, attack the leaves of the sweetbrier, or sweet¬ 
leaved rose, on which they may be found in profusion in the 
evening, about the last of June. They somewhat resemble 
the May-beetles in form, but are proportionally shorter and 
[4 Melolontha variolosa. This insect belongs to the genns Polyphylla, proposed 
by Dr. Harris, and now adopted by all entomologists. — Lec.] 
[5 Omaloplia. The species here mentioned, with all the other allied American 
species, belong rather to Serica of M’Leay, than to true Omaloplia, which is thus 
far confined to the other continent. — Lec.] 
6 
Fig. 13. 
Fig. 14. 
