The Small Chafer. Anisoplia horticola. Curtis. Phyllopertha horticola. Kirby.

Fig. IX.

1, A. Agricola, mag.; 2, natural length. 3, A. Horticola, nat. size; 4, larva, nat. size.

This is a much smaller species of the same family (Melolonthidæ) as the cockchafer. Being so much smaller it escapes attention comparatively, yet it is very injurious to vegetation, and is especially troublesome in grass land and cultivated crops, working in the same manner as its larger congener. It feeds upon the leaves of forest trees and fruit trees, and upon the blossoms of apple and other fruit trees, in its perfect state; while in its larval state it attacks roots, tubers, and stems just below the ground. Köllar says that insects of a closely allied kind—Anisoplia agricola (1 and 2)—are found sometimes singly and sometimes three or four together, sitting on the ears and gnawing the still soft grains of rye or of wheat, which is still more to their tastes.^* In the last summer it was reported that these insects had been seen upon wheat ears near Huntingdon, in exactly the state described by Köllar, and in the last few seasons complaints of injury to grass land have been made from various parts of the country, and grubs sent for examination which were undoubtedly those of this insect. In this year quantities of these chafers have been seen together upon various crops in Cheshire and Lancashire.