JUNE BEETLE. A name in the Southern United States for a green and brown cetonian beetle (.tllorhina nit ida), also known as 'fig eater' (q.v.). The term is also occasionally ap plied in the North to the searab;rid beetles of the genus Lachnosterna, which, however, are more properly called May beetles. (See JUNE BUG.) The June beetle is a native of the Southern and Central United States, and in its adult condition feeds upon ripe figs, peaches, pears, plums, and small fruits, such as rasp berries and blackberries. It also feeds occasion ally on ears of corn, and sucks the sap exuding from wounds in the branches of trees. It is near ly as beautiful in color as some of the metallic Brazilian beetles which have been used in jewelry, and is a favorite plaything with children, who tic strings to the body and let the beetles fly with a humming noise. In its larval condition it. is a white grub, closely resemhling tile white
grubs of the Northern States, hut is not nearly so injurious. The white grubs of the 'Tune beetle live at or below the surface of the ground. and frequently occur in countless numbers in grass lawns, in strawberry and celery beds, and every where where the soil is very rich and the vegeta tion is Vign•olls. It is however, Wheth er they do any serious damage. Their normal food is decaying vegetation—soil hmmis. They may occasionally cut on' the root of a plant. hut are surely not especially injurious in grass lands. although of some damage to celery by soiling the stalks. Where June beetles are numerous and are damaging ripe fruit, they may he at tracted in numbers to a little heap of spoiled fruit which has been sprinkled with Paris green, and thus may be destroyed.