| QUEENSLAND |
BUREAU OF SUGAR EXPERIMENT STATIONS
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY
. BULLETIN No6.,.. .
The Cane Grubs of Australia
PART II.
Being a continuation of the results
of investigations as commenced in
Bulletin No. 2
By
A. P. DODD
Assistant Entomologist
BRISBANE
By Authority: Anthony James Cumming, Government Printer
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QUEENSLAND
BUREAU OF SUGAR EXPERIMENT STATIONS
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY
v BULLETIN No: Ga).) <-:
The Cane Grubs of Australia
PART II.
Being a continuation of the results
of investigations as commenced
in Bulletin No. 2
By A. P. DODD
Assistant Entomologist
UG ey
Brisbane :
By Authority: Anthony James Cumming, Government Printer
Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations,
Brisbane, 30th November, 1917.
The Under Secretary,
Department of Agriculture and Stock,
Brisbane.
Sir,—I have the honour to submit for publication Bulletin No. 6 of
the Division of Entomology of the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations
entitled ‘‘ The Cane Grubs of Australia,’’ by Mr. A. P. Dodd. This is a
continuation of Bulletin No. 2 by Girault and Dodd. It has been revised
and corrected by Dr. J. F. [lingworth.
I have, &c.,
HARRY T. EASTERBY, General Superintendent.
Approved:
E. G. BE. Scriven,
Under Secretary.
‘Ghe Cane Grubs of Australia
iis Gio sae aaa
By A. P. DODD
Part I.—Descriptive Matter.
The following table is a recapitulation of Girault and Dodd’s, with
the addition of several new species, the omission of several others, and
the correction of some wrongly-given characters; also changes have been
made in the order of the table and the mutual relations of the species,
the breeding of many hitherto unconnected larve establishing their
relationships. The larve omitted in this present table are Nos. 364, 349,
539, and 607; of these No. 364 belongs to the Coprides, and No. 349 is
the Lueanid, Cladognathus torrensis Deyr. The added larve are
Lepidiota caudata, Lepidita sp. No. 683, Lepiliota sp. No. 615, Lepidiota
sp. No. 10, Anoplognathus sp. No. 686, Isodon puncticollis, and No. 625,
Of the larva: whose identity have been established through breeding,
No. 377 is Lepidiota rothet, No. 89 is Anomala australasiae, No. 646 is
Heteronyx sp., No. 609 is Epholcis bilobiceps, Nos. 587 and 650 are
species of Haplonycha, No. 678 is Semanopterus depressiusculus, and
No. 576 1s Horonotus optatus.
In Girault and Dodd’s table, p. 4, hne 11 from bottom, it is stated,
‘second lobe of abdominal segments 2-6 smallest, longest at the meson,’’
and this statement occurs also in the description of Vylotrupes austra-
licus; in all the species the incisions of the abdominal segments are
similar, the second lobe of segments 2-6 disappearing laterally but at the
meson is as long or longer than the first or third. In the description of
Calloodes greyanus, p. 12, a sentence reads, ‘‘Cervix unarmed, also the
segmental convexities’’; this should be ‘‘Cervix unarmed, also the
segmental sutures.’’ The shape of the mandibles, used in the descrip-
tions of the various Lepidiotas, is a variable character and on which no
reliance ean be placed.
<
Four sub-families of the Scarabeidze are represented in this present
table, viz., the Cetonides, Melolonthides, Rutelides, and Dynastides; the
two species of the Cetonides are at once eliminated; those representing
the Melolonthides are then separated, the species of Lepidiota being
divided from their smaller relations; the species of the Rutelides and
Dynastides also split into two natural groups.
TABLE TO THE LARV4# (based on Stage III. examples).
(1) Body short and stout, the head much narrower, not conspicuous, partly retracted,
the legs small os ae ai ve “ae sn Bt Site = (2).
Body not short and stout, the head not much narrower, conspicuous, not retracted,
the legs not small ote sic Bic a Sc Se ae = (5),
Zz The Cane Grubs of Australia.
(2) Venter of abdomen at apex with a narrow elliptical path, open posteriorly, and
bounded on either side by a row of about fourteen short stout black sete ..
= Cetonid sp. No. 46.
Venter of abdomen at apex with a naked elliptical central space without special
delimiting sete .. K. is She sie = Cacachroa decorticata.
(3) Latero-cervical shield reaching farther ventrally than thoracic peritreme ; apex
of abdomen ventrad always with a naked path bounded by definite sete,
or with a definite formation of sete ; head always smooth or practically so ; -
mandibles always without a small tooth just laterad of the retinaculum = (4).
Latero-cervical shield not reaching farther ventrally than thoracic peritreme ;
apex of abdomen ventrad without a naked path bounded by definite sete
(except in one instance) ; head sometimes smooth, sometimes strongly punctate
or transversely wrinkled ; mandibles sometimes with a small tooth just laterad
of the retinaculum ore ow: ai Sc ee ae ae = (14).
(4) Anal orifice forming a straight, or nearly straight, transverse slit, without a
channel joining it at meson from venter; size medium to very large (in a
single case small but the stage of the larva isnot known) .. Bae == (5).
Anal orifice triangular, the apex posteriorly; with a median channel joining its
apex from the venter ; size very small to medium-small .. a =P)
(5) Anal path with one convex row of delimiting set ; size medium a = (6).
Anal path with one straight row of delimiting sete ; size variable ae S(T:
Anal path with three or four rows of delimiting sete ; size medium large a(S)
(6) Setze bounding anal path about twelve on either side, these not dense or dark,
meeting or nearly meeting across the path .. ye = Lepidiota rothei.
Setze bounding anal path twenty on either side, these dense and dark, plainly not
meeting across the path 2% ae 06 = Lepidiota sp. No. 215.
(7) Size very large ; width of head 12 mm. ; epicranial sclerite finely densely rugose
or coriaceous ; anal path rather short, with about fourteen sete on either
side, these meeting across the path .. ae .. = Lepidiota sp. No. 45.
Size medium large ; width of head 6 mm.; clypeus and adjacent portion of epi-
cranial sclerite finely rugose ; anal path with about thirty-six seta on either
side, these stouter, adjacent, and darker ae .. = Lepidiota sp. No. 615.
Size large ; width of head 9mm. ; clypeus and epicranial sclerite finely alutaceous ;
anal path with about twenty-six sete on either side, these shorter, not adjacent,
and less dark ae =e ee ae as .. = Lepidiota albohirta.
Resembling Stage I. albohirta but the anterior margin of the epicranial sclerite
has a row of fine sete ; setz delimiting anal path not very fine and small
= Lepidiota sp. No. 10.
(8) Delimiting area of setz of anal path rather kite-shaped, prolonged anteriorly,
with one of its rows produced anteriorly as far as apex of scattered setz
about it; sete inside epicranial sclerite (not including those along anterior
margin) 8-14 on either side ; width of head, 7-5 mm. = Lepidiota sp. No. 683.
Delimiting area of sete of anal path not kite-shaped, nearly ovate, not produced
anteriorly as far as apex of scattered sets about it, with about fifty sete on
either side ; setze inside epicranial sclerite (not including those along anterior
margin) 6-9 on either side ; width of head, 6-5 mm. = Lepidiota frenchi.
Delimiting area of sete of anal path shaped as in frenchi, with about forty sete
on either side; the margins of the naked path quite straight ; setw inside
epicranial sclerite (not including those along anterior margin) 4-5 on either
side; width of head, 7.5mm.. .. a8 5 .. = Lepidiota caudata.
Delimiting area of sete of anal path as in caudata, but the margins of the naked
path distinctly convex ; setz inside epicranial sclerite (not including those
along anterior margin) two on either side ; width of head, 6 mm. oe
= Lepidiota sp. No. 666,
(9) Apex of abdomen ventrad with a fiat curved transverse bow of seta, with a
naked path distad of it .. o% “ ai he 56 son! == (10)-
Apex of abdomen ventrad with a V-shaped row of setie, the apex proximad.
The Cane Grubs of Australia. 5
Size moderately small ; set in V very fine, not dense ; epicranium wholly naked ;
second antennal joint with one seta dorsad and one ventrad, the antennz
otherwise naked .. é¢ eee ae i ie aS = No. 653.
Apex of abdomen ventrad with a Y-shaped row of set, the shaft double, ae a
== (1).
Apex of abdomen ventrad with a curved U of rather dense sete, this open
posteriorly Bio a a oy a oe se ee = (LZ):
(10) Size very small ; width of head, 2 mm. ; setz in anal bow 20-24, close, rather
fine, the scattered seta proximad of this in two irregular rows ; second antennal
joint with one seta; epicranial sclerite with a single seta on either side of
meson in centre, otherwise naked 3 ate .. = Epholcis bilobiceps.
Size larger ; width of head, 3-15 mm. ; set in anal bow eighteen, longer, stouter,
darker, and close together, the scattered sete proximad of this in about
four irregular rows ; second antennal joint with two set ; epicranial sclerite
wholly naked os ae ae Si ar ae af = No. 625.
(11) Epicranial sclerite without sete ; second antennal joint with one seta at base
ventrad, antennz otherwise naked.
Shafts of the Y parallel, the sete scattered, about fifteen on either side, the
shafts and branches shorter ; size small ; width of head, 2-25 mm. -:
= Heteronyx sp. No. 646.
Shafts of the Y diverging posteriorly, the sete rather dense, about twenty
on either side, the shafts and branches shorter ; size larger ; width of head,
3:50 mm. ar au Se a Be 5. x! = No. 667.
(12) Anterior margin of epicranial sclerite with one seta only on either side of meson,
the row behind this consisting of two sete on either side of meson.
Anal row of sete in a broad horseshoe, no longer or as long as its greatest
width, the sides slightly converging posteriorly, the sete very distinct
and closely set together a sk = Haplonycha sp. No. 650.
Anterior margin of epicranial sclerite with a row of sete, behind this with a row of
scattered seta... ave Fc ac Bic ae are -. = (13).
(13) Anal row of sete in a broad horseshoe, wider than long, the sides converging
and nearly touching posteriorly, the setze longer and denser = No. 671.
Anal row of sete not so rounded anteriorly, its sides not converging posteriorly,
distinctly longer than its greatest width, the seta shorter and less dense :
' = Haplonycha sp. No. 587.
(14) Head always more or less smooth, never strongly transversely wrinkled or
punctate .. Ri ce as ee 3 eo As .. = (15).
Head strongly punctate, in one case transversely wrinkled : ee lot.
(15) Apex of abdomen ventrad with a short narrow obscure naked path bounded by
about fourteen fine short non-adjacent setw on either side ; pronotum divided
into three lobes.
Pubescence of thorax dorsad very sparse ; first antennal joint without setx,
the second with four, the third with two .. = Anomala australasie.
Apex of abdomen ventrad without a naked path bounded by definite sete ; pro-
notum divided into two lobes .. 4 Be - a = =—1GL6):
(16) Cervix and segmented sutures armed more or less with fine black teeth or set ;
apical antennal hardly as long as the penultimate, the antennz wholly naked
= (17).
Cervix and segmental sutures naked ; apical antennal joint longer than the penulti-
mate, the second with three setx Ap 23 Bi Pi ie = ((jlt})),
(17) Size smaller; width of head, 5:25 mm.; pubescence distinctly sparser, also
teeth in cervix and segmental sutures; mandibles without a tooth just
laterad of retinaculum .. “0 ce = Anoplognathus sp. No. 686.
Size larger ; width of head, 6-5 mm. ; pubescence distinctly denser, also teeth in
cervix and segmental sutures ; mandibles with a small tooth just laterad of
retinaculum ay ae Be Se .. = Anoplognathus boisduvali.
6 The Cane Grubs of Australia.
(18) Size larger ; width of head, 6 mm. ; mandibles without a tooth just laterad of
retinaculum on sc ae 36 56 .. = Calloodes greyanus.
Size smaller; width of head, 4:5 mm.; mandibles with a tooth just laterad of
retinaculum Fa 36 ate > aie 5c = Repsimus ceencus.
(19) Head strongly transversely wrinkled sc e4 .. = Horonotus optatus.
Head punctate aa ae 56 ae a0 5c oe ee —a(20))s
(20) Second lobe of anal segment dorsad with most of its surface, raised and bounded
by an oval suture ; epicranial sclerite with a row of sete near its anterior
margin, and sete scattered over its surface ; second antennal joint with two
setae Ea Bs we be oe =f HG silo — info Ws
Second lobe of anal segment dorsad plain; epicranial sclerite wholly without
sete ; antennze wholly naked .. a st 25 2 oe - = (21).
(21) Peritremes not distinctly open ; legs not distinctly increasing in size ; whole
body with very dense pubescence ; latero-cervical shield with at least several
setw along its margin ; size very large ae = Xylotrupes ausiralicus.
Peritremes distinctly open ; legs distinctly increasing in size ; body with much
sparser pubescence, quite sparse on thorax dorsad ; latero-cervical shield with
one or two sete only along its margin ; size medium to medium large = (22).
(22) Sete at apex of abdomen ventrad in about eight irregular rows longitudinally
and transversely ; width of head, 4 mm. ae .. = ILsodon puncticollis.
Sete at apex of abdomen ventrad denser, in about twelve irregular rows longi-
tudinally and transversely 3 sc ot ze a (23) s
(23) Epicranial sclerite well separated from the clypeus ; latero-cervical shield with
two set, one each on anterior and posterior margins ; second antennal joint
not twice as long as greatest width ; thorax dorsad with more sete ; width
of head, 4:25 mm. aes 556 Sc = Semanopterus depressiusculus.
Epicranial sclerite not well separated from the clypeus ; latero-cervical shield with
one seta only, on its posterior margin ; second antennal joint over twice as long
as greatest width ; thorax dorsad with less sete ; width of head, 6-10 mm.
= Dasygnathus australis.
THE PUPi.
No attempt has previously been made to separate the pupx of the
various species, but Girault has deseribed those of Lepidiota albohirta,
Anoplognathus boisduvali, and Cacachroa decorticata, in full. The table
herewith given makes an effort to distinguish the species by recognisable
characters, and also to place them, as far as possible, in their relations
to each other; this has not always been effected, for though the various
Melolonthides fall into a natural grouping, the Rutelides and Dynastides
are not readily separated. Nineteen species are listed, being the pupex of
the more common soil-inhabiting scarabeid grubs of the Cairns district.
Closely allied adults would appear to have closely allied pupx and larve ;
for example, note the species of Lepidiota, where this hypothesis is seen
to be very true.
TABLE TO THE PUPAL.
(1) Cremaster bearing two sharp spines os 6 eK oe ee = (23)
Cremaster unarmed .. 56 Be “x oe is ae ie = (10).
(2) Clypeus bidentately emarginate ; size small.
Intermediate tarsi not attaining apex of elytra, the posterior tarsi a little
shorter than their tibie ; elytra not attaining apex of wings 5A
= Epholcis bilobiceps.
Clypeus straight or nearly .. oe a4 te nas ae a = (3).
(3) Posterior tarsi longer than their tibia ; size moderately small. . Si = (4).
Posterior tarsi distinctly shorter than their tibia ; size large to medium = (6).
The Cane Grubs of Australia. TT
(4) Abdomen dorsally not strongly convex ; elytra extending to apex of wings.
Intermediate tarsi attaining apex of wings ai = Heteronyx sp. No. 646.
Abdomen dorsally strongly convex ; elytra not extending to apex of wings == (GF
(5) Intermediate tarsi attaining apex of wings : = Haplonycha sp. No. 587.
Intermediate tarsi shorter, not attaining apex of wings = Haplonycha sp. No. 650.
(6) Outer edge of anterior tibiee without teeth ; spiracles not raised or prominent.
Abdominal segments 3-6 ventrally with a small triangular transverse slit with
serrated margins, the one on the third segment smaller; ridges of
abdominal segments 2-6 dorsally acute; longitudinal path of irregular
striz on dorsal segments 7-9 of abdomen rather broad, narrowed at base,
with about 20 fine striz at its widest part ; medio-dorsal line of abdominal
segments 1-6 plainly visible .. pt os .. = Lepidiota albohirta.
Outer edge of anterior tibiae with two or more teeth ; spiracles raised and prominent
= (7).
(7) Abdominal segments 3-6, or at least 4-6, ventrally with a small triangular trans-
verse mark; medio-dorsal line on abdominal segments 1-6 more or less
distinct .. as ae of or hs Be ae sie = ((t3))).
Abdominal segments 3-6 without any distinctive marking ; medio-dorsal line on
abdominal segments 1-6 indistinct Sis ee as & ae = (9).
(8) Longitudinal path of strie on abdominal dorsal segments 7-9 rather broad,
somewhat narrowed at base, with about 30 striz at its widest part ; third
tooth on anterior tibiz obsolete.
General color deep orange ; abdominal segments 2-6 dorsally more rounded,
their medio-dorsal line thick and very distinct ; median marks on venter
present on abdominal segments 3-6 and very dark = Lepidiota sp. No. 215.
General color golden-yellow ; abdominal segments 2-6 dorsally less rounded,
their medio-dorsal line fine and not very distinct ; median marks on venter
present on abdominal segments 4-6 and not very dark = Lepidiota rothei.
(9) Ridges of abdominal segments 2-6 dorsally much rounded ; stria in dorsal path
not more than eight Ke i. Ps oe = — Lepidiota sp. No. 683.
Ridges of abdominal segments 2-6 dorsally much rounded ; third tooth on anterior
tibize obsolete ; dorsal path of strie rather broad, with about tw enty strize ;
spines on cremaster rather long and stout’ .. .. = Lepidiota caudata.
Ridges of abdominal segments 2-6 dorsally subacute ; third tooth on anterior
tibiz small but distinct ; dorsal path of strie rather narrow, with about twelve
strie ; spines on cremaster short oy ve ale = Lepidiota frenchi.
(10) Sutures between abdominal segments 1-6 or 7 dorsally without transverse carinz
enclosing a cleft or sulcus; cremaster carinated dorsally along its apical
margin ; latero-posterior angles of pronotum projecting into the elytra ;
pronotum with a hump near latero-posterior angle |§ = Cacachroa decorticata.
Sutures between abdominal segments 1-6 or 7 with transverse darkened carine
enclosing a cleft or sulcus ; cremaster not carinated dorsally along its apical
margin ; latero-posterior angles of pronotum not a cc into ‘the elytra,
no hump near these latero- -posterior angles .. F BTC eG 1))e
(11) Male with a distinct projection in centre of pronotum ; both sexes with a pro-
tuberance on the head ; male legs longer than those of the female ; anterior
tarsi almost attaining apex of intermediate tarsi, the anterior tarsi in both
sexes as long as their tibixw ie 4 ale = Xylotrupes australicus.
Male without a distinct projection in centre of pronotum; the male sometimes
with a protuberance on the head ; male legs not longer than in the female ;
anterior tarsi distinctly shorter than their tibie, and not nearly attaining apex
of intermediate tarsi bg ve oe oes af: se f6) SCE)
(12) Intermediate and posterior tarsi as long as their tibiz.
Latero-posterior pronotal angles subrounded ; pronotum at meson of posterior
margin with a pair of small raised tubercles ; seventh abdominal segment
dorsally not raised ; male without a projection on the head
= Anomala australasie.
Intermediate and posterior tarsi shorter than their tibie es Sie = 6)
8 The Cane Grubs of Australia.
(13) Pronotal angles subacute ; males without a projection on the head = (14).
Pronotal angles broadly rounded... oe 56 a te ee eho) =
(14) Ninth dorsal abdominal segment with a distinct median groove
= Repsimus ceneus.
Ninth dorsal abdominal segment with a faint median groove at base only
= Anoplognathus boisduvalt.
(15) Cremaster from dorsal aspect divided as two small semi-acute projections
= Isodon puncticollis.
Cremaster from dorsal aspect more or less divided but not showing two smail
projections ame ays Ab af a6 e ot: ee — 1G):
(16) First dorsal abdominal segment depressed below the metanotum, the seventh
not raised like the sixth, the ninth with a median carina ; pronotum in the
male on two planes os Se 56 58 .. = Horonotus optatus.
First dorsal abdominal segment not depressed below the metanotum, the seventh
raised like the sixth, the ninth without a median carina ; pronotum in the male
convex, not on two planes aE; eee #3 on ae ot SIT):
(17) Legs longer, the intermediate tarsi nearly attaining apex of elytra, the posterior
tarsi attaining the ninth abdominal segment or a te
= Semanopterus depressiusculus.
Legs shorter, the intermediate tarsi not nearly attaining apex of elytra, the posterior
tarsi attaining the fifth abdominal segment .. = Dasygnathus australis.
ANOPLOGNATHUS Sp. No. 686.
See table of species. Body more or less wholly white.
ISODON PUNCTICOLLIS Macleay.
Distinctly smaller than Dasygnathus australis, Stage III. being more
nearly equal in size to Stage IT. of that species. Head of a lighter colour ;
pubescence throughout generally finer. In most specimens examined, the
mandibles bore no small tooth just laterad of the retinaculum, but this
character was found in one specimen; thus the character is variable, at
least in this species, though it has not been found so in any other case.
Stage I1J.—Width of head, 4 mm.
Stage I1.—Width of head, 3 mm.
Stage [—Width of head, 1-75 mm.
DASYGNATHUS AUSTRALIS Boisd.
The supposed Stage II. larva on which the deseription is based in
Bulletin No, 2, is evidently a different species, possibly a Stage ITT. larva
of Isodon puncticollis.
Stage [11.—Width of head, 6-10 mm.
Stage I1.—Width of head, 3-50 mm.
LEPIDIOTA Sp. No. 45.
There may be as many as eight sete on the first antennal joint, and
three on the second, the first of these long, the second and third short
(albohirta may have a second short seta) ; there are about three irregular
rows of set anteriorly of the anal path, which has up to sixteen
delimiting sets on either side.
Stage IT.—Width of head, 6-25 mm.
The Cane Grubs of Australia g
LEPIDIOTA Sp. No. 615.
See table of species. Second antennal joint with three setx, the first
with six.
Part II.—Scientific Data.
The data given'in Bulletin No. 2 was finished at the end of August,
1914; since then a great deal of work has been carried on, along the lines
followed in the former investigation, and much additional information
has been gathered, although much more has still to be learned of many
of the species. No collecting has been done outside the Cairns district,
and almost all our records are from the vicinity of Gordonvale.
With regard to the life eycle of the species, Lepidiota albohirta,
L. rothei, Cacachroa cdecorticata, Anomala australasiae, and probably
Dasygnathus australis, Semanopterus depressiusculus, and Haplonycha
sp., No. 650, have a one-year life cycle ; most of the others take two years.
Around Gordonvale, Dasygnathus australis is the earliest species to
pupate and emerge, followed by Lepidiota albohirta and Anoplognathus
boisduvali, with most of the others coming next in a bunch; Lepidiota
sp., No. 215, would appear to be last. In the jungle lands of the Babinda
Mill area emergence is generally earlier.
The tables of the larve have been compiled from material gathered
from August, 1914, to January, 1916; no collecting was done in July,
1915. The season 1915, on account no doubt of the unusual warmth
of the months July and August, was much earher as regards the trans-
formation of the pupa and adult, and had rain fallen emergence would
probably have been some weeks earlier. In September and October, 1914,
larve was very much more plentiful than in the corresponding months
of the following year.
LEPIDIOTA ALBOHIRTA Waterhouse.
THE Eaa.
Numerous females were kept separately in confinement, and given
fresh food continuously; many did not deposit eggs, but the following
separate numbers were obtained :—12, 13, 14, 20, 10, 15, 12, 13, 10, 12,
20, 14, 14, 25. Searching in the fields resulted only in one record, 13
eggs being found at a depth of five inches directly under a cane-plant in
red voleanic soil.
THe LARVA.
In 1916, the earlest Stage I. found in the fields was on January
- 14th; in 1915, the first was obtained on January 4th, by the latter half of
Iebruary most had entered Stage II., but the last Stage I. was taken
on March 26th; the first Stage I]. was found on January 16th, the Stage
predominated in February and March, and the last occurred on May
29th. The earliest Stage III. was observed on February 12th in alluvial
clay loam, on the 15th in dark loam, and on the 23rd in red voleanic, but
the Stage did not predominate until April. In 1914, a few larve
remained in October, and the last record, of one pupating, was made on
November 16th; in 1915, the last Stage III. was found on September 18th.
The long period during which the adults emerged in the 1914-5 season,
no doubt, would account for the correspondingly long period during
which Stage I. and IT. were to be found.
10 The Cane Grubs of Australia.
During the past sixteen months collecting by following ploughs
resulted as follows :—September 144, October 25, November 1, December
0, January 20, February 299, March 707, April 600, May 453, June 192,
August 23, September-December 0. The figures for voleanic and dark
and light loam soils are nearly equal.
The species was not abnormally abundant in 1915, and on the whole
canefields were fairly free from its depredations, but there were instances
of unusually severe attacks on individual farms. For example, the estate
of Greenhiils, where the open volcanic soils seem to give ideal conditions
for the larve, suffered to an extreme extent, and hundreds of acres of
cane was completely killed; in the jungle lands of the Babinda Mill area
serious damage was caused in several cases.
Digging in soil in jungle, Babinda, 21st September, 1914, produced
a single Stage ITT. larva.
THE PUPA.
In 1914 the majority of the larve pupated during September; in
1915 pupe were not uncommon during the latter half of August. An
exceptional record is of a larva placed in confinement on April 13th, that
pupated on May 30th. September and October, 1914, were remarkable for
the large number of pup ploughed up; thus in September 140 pup
were obtained from 86,480 yards plough furrows, in October 331 pup
were obtained from 110,840 yards plough furrows. The comparative
shallow depth at which the pupw were found (less than eight inches)
may be accounted for by the frequent showers during August and
September keeping the soil moist.
Many pup taken from canefields on September 9th commenced
emerging on October 2nd and continued until November 2nd, giving the
maximum duration of the pupal stage as 54 days. The last pupa to
emerge was on November 20th.
THE ADULT.
In 1914 the first unemerged adult was ploughed out on September
16th in red voleanice canefield, but further specimens were not obtained
under October 2nd, and by October 25th were not common; in 1915, an
adult was ploughed out on July 20th, again on August 21st, and were
rather plentiful by the end of September.
There appears to have been no general emergence in 1914, this being
spread over several weeks. The first beetle flew to light on November
13th; on November 17th a few were noticed in a banana plantation on
the banks of the Mulgrave River, and within the next weeks were
plentiful in this locality (within the immediate vicinity of Gordonvale
emergence occurs here first, that is from the alluvial loam canefields on
the right bank of the Mulgrave River) ; on December 13th occurred the
first emergence of any magnitude, and subsequently freshly emerged
beetles were noted until nearly the end of January; on February 2nd a
considerable emergence was reported from Aloomba; by February 16th
beetles were very scarce, and the the last seen was on the 20th. On
January 28th ploughing in a dark volcanic canefield yielded adults, ova,
Stage I. and IL. larvie, and on February 20th ploughing in yellow clay
loam fallow land produced an adult, Stage I., 11., and ITI. larve.
In 1915 an emergence occurred from the alluvial loam canefields on:
November 19th, a general emergence took place on December 4th except
The Cane Grubs of Australia. 5
from the red voleanice canefields at Meringa where emergence occurred
on December 12th; by the end of December beetles were comparatively
few, and had practically disappeared by the middle of January. In this
season the species remained an abnormal period in the ground before
emerging ; thus by September 30th adults were found plentifully in their
pupal cells in the red volcanic soils, but emergence in this locality was
not until December 4th, or over nine weeks from the date of trans-
formation; this was no doubt due to the unusual season, the warm
months of July and August causing the early transformation to the pupa
and adult, while the absence of rain prevented emergence (the first rain
fell on November 17th). It would seem that no emergence can happen
until rain has moistened the soil.
The greatest length of life, adults from forest confined with food.
was 30 days, and thus a month is the general limit. Our results show
that the female lives longer than the male.
In Bulletin No. 2, p. 33, it is stated—‘‘No food is eaten during the
day, the beetles remaining hanging to the hidden and protected sides of
the leaves.’’ Feeding may continue into the morning up to 10 o’elock,
and in the latter part of the afternoon especially if the day is cloudy.
Among farmers and other residents one often hears the remark that the
beetles are best collected in the early hours after daybreak, as later on
they are not to be found; about daybreak the beetles leave their exposed
positions and shelter under the leaves, or if the tree be without much
shelter, they may fly to some thickly foliaged tree where they may be
found in clusters in well-sheltered positions; sometimes, however, they
remain feeding until the heat of the morning affects them, and in such a
ease if the feeding-tree be nearly bare they find such shelter as there is,
under the branches for example.
Excessive heat may affect the beetles; during the last few days of
December, 1914, and first few days of January, 1915, an extreme heat-
wave prevailed, the shade temperature reaching as high as 103° Fahr.;
in the middle of the day numbers of beetles were observed flying in the
forest; being watched, they were found to alight on the trunks of the
larger trees, on the side sheltered from the sun; scores were seen on a
single tree, ning the trunk for from 3 to 50 feet.
Cane leaves are occasionally eaten but not to any extent.
LEPIDIOTA Sp. No. 688.
THE LARVA.
This species has been confused with frenchi in Bulletin No. 2; the
Cooktown supposed Stage I. and II. frencht belong to this species; unfor-
tunately the Stage III. larve from the same locality had been discarded
and could not be re-identified.
Stage I. at Cooktown February 2nd, 28th; Stage II. February 8th,
March Ist. At Gordonvale Stage II, has been taken on the following
dates:—April 7th, 13th, 28th, May 7th, 9th, 18th, August 19th. Stage
III. in November and December were in their first year’s development,
moulting from Stage IT. in October; like frenchi the species has a two-
year life eyele.
The larve are not plentiful; during the past sixteen months
collecting by following ploughs has resulted as follows:—September 1,
12 The Cane Grubs of Australia.
October 3, November 17, December 4, January 10, February 1, March 0,
April 9, May 5, June 0, August 1, September-November 0, December 51
larve:; the 51 larve in December were from one field. Of these larvae
93 were from loam soils and 8 from voleanic, which would show that the
former kind of soil is preferred.
THE PUPA.
A Stage III. larva confined on December 22nd, pupated on October
31st and emerged December 7th, giving the length of the pupal stage as
37 days. Another Stage III. larva confined on December 4th was
pupating on August 31st, and pupated on September 11th.
THe ADULT.
Mr. A. M. Lea, to whom specimens of frenchi and this species were
sent for determination, states, in letter, 26 1v. 15, ‘‘I cannot find any
specific distinctions between, these specimens; those of No. 683 (C. 156)
appear to be simply large females, or possibly they belong to a large race
of the species.’’ The larva and pupa both differ from frenchi; the adults
are certainly very similar, but No. 683 is distinctly larger, of a deeper
colour, the legs are of a deeper colour, and the posterior tarsi are shorter
in relation to their tibiae; the species are no doubt different.
In confinement an adult emerged from the pupa on December 7th,
another on October 18th. A single beetle flew to light on December 14th,
1914, and this is our sole record. Several were received from Mr. F. P.
Dodd, of Kuranda, who stated that they swarmed not unplentifully at
that place in December.
LEPIDIOTA FRENCHI Blackburn.
THe LARVA.
In 1915 the first Stage I. was found on February 3rd, in March
they were very abundant, in April only a few were observed, and the
last was noticed on May 21st; in 1916 digging at base of cane-plants
yielded the first Stage I. on January 11th. The earliest Stage II. was
on March 10th, and by the end of the month the majority had
entered that Stage. In 1914 the first Stage II. entered Stage III. on
October 29th; in 1915 the earliest was on September 26th, obviously a
very early record and possibly exceptional; most of the larvee enter Stage
III. during the end of October and through November, a few remaining
until December, and even later; of four Stage II. found by digging at
base of cane-plants in red voleanie soil, 14th January, one entered
Stage III. by the end of the month, the others are still in Stage II. now
(February 7th) ; the soil in this field had been in a very dry condition
previously, and this may have retarded the growth and development of
the larve. Breeding-cages containing Stage II. confined in May and
June when examined on November Ist showed mostly Stage III., a few
Stage IT., in cells. It is a question whether the moulting would take
place in cells in the fields; however, since very few larvee were present in
October, reappearing at the end of November and through December, it
would seem that they seek a greater depth and thus escape the plough.
Stage IIT. are very plentiful in December, January, and February, less
so in March and April, and by May and June are seldom encountered ;
as they are about full-grown by February, it is probable that they finish
The Cane Grubs of Australia. 13
feeding by the end of that month and go deeper into the ground, possibly
entering cells (it is known that the larva enter cells as long as four
months before pupating), and hence are rarely ploughed out.
In the relative abundance of the species this comes an easy second,
with 21-28 per cent. of the total. The larve are distributed over the past
sixteen months as follows:—September 28, October 3, November 41,
December 90, January 69, February 129, March 371, April 188, May
187, June 169, August 16, September 7, October 16, November 16,
December 304. The numbers from forest and fallow lands and canefields
are—77,045 yards plough furrows yield 496 larve, forest and fallow
lands; 412,285 yards plough furrows yield 1,138 larve, canefields; or
proportionately nearly 70 per cent. from the forest and fallow lands.
The figures from volcanic and clay and dark loam soils show a rather
greater proportion from the clay and dark loams.
The unusually large emergence of beetles in the 1914-5 season was
succeeded by a corresponding large number of larve. In December-
February, 1915-6 season, several cases came under notice where this
species was causing direct injury to the cane; in one of these cases, in
new forest land, second year under cultivation, young first ratoons, the
cane was turning yellow and dying in some instances, and twelve stools
picked at random yielded the following larve—2, 0, 1, 0, 3, 4, 5, 5, 0,
2, 0, 3; ina second case, in old red voleanie soil, ratoon cane stools pulled
up yielded 8, 9, 4, 10, 6, 4, 8, and the roots of the plants showed direct
injury.
THe Pupa.
Few larve were kept for rearing purposes, and little data is avail-
able as to pupation. Pupe were taken from our rearing cages on
November 2nd, 12th, and 28th; one that pupated on November 3rd
emerged on December 9th, giving the duration of the pupal stage as
36 days.
THE ADULT.
In confinement the first adult emerged on December 9th.
In the 1914-5 season vast numbers emerged; the first emergence was
recorded on December 28th, and during the week following thousands
were flying and swarming at dusk in eanefields. The flight commenced
earlier than with albohirta, and lasted for about twenty minutes; after-
ward mated pairs were found attached to cane leaves, but the great
majority had betaken themselves to the neighbouring forest where the
humming of their flight was audible among the tree tops until 8 p.m.
when observations were discontinued. Later, on January 23rd-31st,
another large emergence occurred, the beetles being present in the same
fields as during the earler emergence, and enormous numbers were
swarming over the grass plots in the township, hundreds of mated pairs
being observed clinging to fence posts, wire fencing, low shrubs, &e.;
after the end of January only a few beetles were present, and by
February 10th they had disappeared. An adult was ploughed up on
February 23rd, another on March 10th. In the 1915-6 season, the species
was not nearly so plentiful; a few were first observed on December 8th,
and again on the 10th, emergence being general by the 15th. In all the
swarming noticed, mating occurred almost invariably within three feet of
the ground, and when mating in company with rothet and No. 215, these
latter species were always at a greater height.
14 The Cane Grubs of Australia.
The only food plants known are the bloodwood (Eucalyptus sp.)
and Moreton Bay ash (EHucalyptus tessclaris). The beetles do not remain
on the feeding-trees during the day; probably they re-enter the soil, and
in this habit are followed by rothei and others; in fact, of the species of
Lepidiota the only one to remain among the foliage in the day time is
albohirta.
LEPIDIOTA ROTHEHI Blackburn.
THE LARVA.
Stage I. has been recorded on March 28th; Stage Il. on April 7th,
13th; May 7th, 9th, June 9th. In October, 1914, and less so in September
and November Stage III. larve were plentiful, but in the following
season were comparatively scarce ; in October, 1914, 328 larvee were taken
from one field, the crop cane and weeds, the soil verging from yellowish
loam to voleanie. Omitting these larvz the numbers from voleanie and
loam soils are 19 and 209 respectively, the species being very uncommon
in true voleanic soils. Full-grown Stage III. larve remaining after the
middle of December invariably proved to be attacked by a Dipterous
parasite. The life cycle lasts one year.
Tue PupPaA.
In confinement, the larve pupated during the latter half of
November and first half of December. In the fields two pupx were
found on November 26th. The pupal stage is of about 24 days’ duration.
THe ADULT.
The first adult emerged from the pupa in the first week of December.
In 1914-5 season, the first emergence took place on December 28th, the
beetles swarming plentifully on that date and for several days after-
wards; in the 1915-6 season, a single beetle was noticed on December
11th, and a general emergence occurred on December 19th. The species
swarms around shrubs or even tall trees; when swarming in company
with frenchi they were not found mating among the cane but on low
trees in the adjoining forest.
LEPIDIOTA Sp. No. 215.
THe LARVA.
Stage II. has been found on the following dates:—April 30th,
September 4th, 19th, 27th, October 29th, November 5th and 16th;
Stage III. on January 18th, February 5th, March 10th, 15th, 26th,
April 2nd, September 3rd, 7th, 11th, 19th, 23rd, October 2nd, 5th, 28th,
November 20th. In confinement, several Stage II. confined in September
and October were still in that Stage in January; another confined on
September 19th entered Stage IIT. on October 17th; still another confined
on September 27th entered Stage III. January 4th-20th. Thus, unlike
its ally rothei, this species has a two-year life eyele.
Twenty-six larve were obtained during September-November, 1914,
and only eight subsequently. The number from volcanic and loam soils
is about equal, but proportionately to the length of plough furrows
nearly 92 per cent. are from forest and fallow lands.
The Cane Grubs of Australia. 15
Tur PupPA.
In confinement the first pupa was noticed on December 3rd, and the
remainder throughout that month. In four records kept, the duration of
the pupal stage was from 27-30 days.
THe ADULT.
Mr. A. M. Lea of the South Australian Museum, to whom specimens
were sent for determination, states, in letter 26 Iv. 15—‘‘These agree
closely with our co-type of Lepidiota rothei and are certainly that species.
The four specimens of No. 215 differ from the four specimens of rothei
sent, in being larger, more shining, abdomen more rotund and more
sparsely clothed, and in the deeper notch to the clypeus, but these are all
possibly sexual differences. Without being absolutely certain as to the
mating of the sexes of both forms, it would be inadvisable to deseribe
No. 215 (C. 187) as a new species, or even as a variety.’’ There is not
the shghtest doubt that the species are distinct, the larva, pupa, and
adult all showing well-marked differences, and moreover the life cycle of
this species is two years, of rothei one year.
The first adult emerged from the pupa on January Ist, thence
throughout that month, the last being reared on January 24th.
In 1915, the first emergence occurred on January 25th, after heavy
rain, thousands of beetles swarming over a grass plot in the township, in
company with frenchi, and this continued for several nights, numbers of
mated pairs being found clinging to leaves of shrubs at a height varying
from 4-10 feet; general swarming ceased by February ist, but a few
mated pairs were obtained until February 14th. On the first night of
the emergence many were attracted to artificial lights,ebut none were
present on the subsequent nights of the swarming. In the 1915-6 season,
no large emergence was observed; a few flying on January 21st being the
only record.
This species is thus the last of the Lepidiotas to emerge.
LEPIDIOTA Sp. No. 45.
THe LARVA.
A Stage II. larve was found by digging in a garden, Kuranda, 10th
July, 1915; it had moulted to Stage III. by July 20th. Ploughing in a
yellow clay loam canefield, Harvey’s Creek, 13th September, 1915, pro-
duced a Stage Il. and a Stage III. larva. Digging caneholes, six inches
deep, in recently cleared jungle land, vellow clay loam, October 12th,
1914, resulted in the finding of another Stage III. larva.
Thus it is evident that the species frequents the jungle lands,
LEPIDIOTA FROGGATTI Macleay.
Two adults caught at lights in a dwelling on a cane-farm, jungle,
Harvey’s Creek, 12th December, 1914.
LEPIDIOTA Sp. No. 615.
Three larve, probably in Stage III., found by digging in almost pure
sand, bed of Mulgrave River, 27th August, 1915. The larve were not
bred to maturity.
16 The Cane Grubs of Australia.
LEPIDIOTA Sp. No. 10.
These are the supposed Stage I. larve of albohirta from soil near
roots of cane, Finchhatton, Mackay, 17th October, 1911, mentioned in
Bulletin No. 2, p. 21, with a footnote calling attention to its being a
distinct species.
LEPIDIOTA CAUDATA Blackburn.
THE LARVA.
Common in the jungle canefields in the Babinda Mill area, where it
is probably as plentiful as albohirta, and no doubt causes as much
damage, but very little data relating to the species have been gathered.
The Stage IJ. and III. larve from Babinda, mentioned in Bulletin No. 2,
p. 36, as frenchi, were this species.
The stages have been found on the following dates:—Stage IL,
January 27th, September 28th; Stage III., January 28th, September
10th, 27th, October 12th. Like frenchi, Stages II. and III. are found
throughout the year, and the species has a two-year life cycle. Stage ITI.
larve found on September 28th had recently moulted from Stage II.
The species is without doubt a native of the jungle lands. Digging
eane-holes in yellow clay loam, recently cleared jungle, produced Stage
ILI. larve in their second year of development and pupx, on September
28th ; thus the land was uncleared at the time of egg-laying and for twelve
months afterwards. The records from the Babinda district are all from
yellow clay loam, but no collecting has been made in other soils. The
species has also been taken in cultivated and garden fields not uncom-
monly at Kuranda.
THe PupPA.
Pupx have been obtained on the following dates:—September 10th,
28th, October 12th, November 16th, in natural habitats at a depth of not
more than six inches.
THE ADULT.
A cage containing Stage III. larve placed there on February 11th,
when opened on the 15th September, contained freshly-emerged adults.
Beetles have been noted on the wing on the following dates:—September
10th, 29th, October 10th, 12th, December 5th. The September records
are early and few emerge in that month; thousands emerged on October
10th; and on December 5th a number were observed swarming and
mating, evidently a fresh emergence. Nothing is known as to the habits
of the adults, but the species appears to feed on the foliage of jungle
trees at night and to hide in the day.
The unemerged adult has a distinct bluish gloss on the elytra.
ANOPLOGNATHUS Sp. No. 686.
THe LARVA.
Found in the jungle cane-lands of the Babinda Mill area where it is
by no means common. Stage III. larve have been obtained on the
following dates:—September 10th, 21st, 28th, October 12th, all from
yellow clay loam. e to}
similar situation on February 25th emerged on March 12th.
THe LARVA.
Stage I. larve have been collected on December 21st, February 21st,
April 8th. Larve hatched on February 10th were still in Stage I. by
March lith. The Stage III. found in November and December had
recently moulted from Stage IT. On December 26th Stage II. were
obtained that had just moulted from Stage I.
Collecting by following ploughs during the last sixteen months has
resulted as follows:—September 78, October 16, November 4, December
7, January 2, February 14, March 172, April 181, May 138, June 44,
August 53, September 1, October 15, November 13, December 3, larvxe;
or 741 larvee out of a total of 7,678, that is 9-65 per cent.
It falls fourth in the list; in canefield collections it is fourth, in
forest and fallow lands third; in voleanic soil collections it is third also,
and in clay and dark loams fourth. In confinement they are very
susceptible to attacks of the Metorrhizium fungus.
Tor ADULT.
In 1914 the first adult was observed on November 15th, and by
November 21st were throughout the forested areas; in 1915 the first
recorded date was November 23rd, and a few were noted through the
forest on December 2nd, The species has not seemed as plentiful by far
as in former years. At Babinda, 1915, adults were noticed on October
13th; this district is purely jungle and there is no forest for miles.
B
18 The Cane Grubs of Australia.
A further food-plant must be recorded; on 21st January, a number
ot beetles were found feeding on the tender foliage of young bloodwoods ;
a fire had previously spread through this locality, and the beetles were
no doubt attracted by the extreme tenderness of the young leaves, as
ordinarily this is not a food-plant.
CALLOODES PUNCTULATUS Oll.
The adults of this species are not uncommon in the jungles of the
Cairns district. One food-plant only is known, a shrub or small tree
with dark green rough leaves; large numbers of the beetles collect on one
tree and quickly defoliate it; they remain on the upper surface of the
leaves in the day time, and a sharp jar causes them to fall to the ground.
On November 25th, eighteen males, thirteen females, were placed in
a cage for breeding purposes; from these eighty-eight eggs were obtained,
which produced seventy-two larve ; the young larve were placed in damp
sifted soil in a flower-pot, but all died within a month.
No. 658.
A single supposed Stage II. larva of this species was found in a
collection from roots of native grasses, rich black loam soil, Cooktown,
9th March, 1914.
No. 625.
A single larva from under roots of Imperata grass, black loam soil,
foot of Mount Pyramid, Gordonvale. This is the sole record.
CETONID Sp. No. 46.
A single larva in Stage III. was obtained by digging in an alluvial
sandy rubbish heap, banks of Mulgrave River, 16th November, 1914; it
had pupated in an earthen cocoon by December 3rd.