254 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., 'if) 



July 20 6 eggs August i 2 eggs 



July 21 3 eggs August 3 i egg 



July 23 9 eggs August 5 I egg 



July 24 3 eggs August 15 4 eggs 



July 26 6 eggs August 18 6 eggs 



July 28 5 eggs August 20 7 eggs 



July 30 5 eggs August 23 2 eggs 



August 25 2 eggs 



Total 62 eggs 



On August 27th this female died. The six eggs laid July 

 2Oth were buried in some moist soil in a jar to hatch, and July 

 26th four coal-black larvae with yellowish red beads and black 

 antennae made their appearance. These larvae were quick of 

 motion ; fed freely on the stale beef ; rarely entered the soil, 

 but usually could be found close together under the dry leaves. 



Moulting occurred twice before they entered the soil to 

 pupate ; the first time July 3Oth, the second time August 3rd. 

 When moulting the exuviae split at head and thorax and the 

 insects crawl out, leaving the cast skins much resembling dead 

 larvae. 



During the afternoon of August nth two of the larvae en- 

 tered the soil to transform and the two remaining out were 

 acting very strangely. They would dash frantically across the 

 jar in which they were kept, suddenly stop and curl up on 

 their sides, lie so a second, then roll over on their backs, then 

 up and dash away again. These actions were repeated many 

 times showing the unrest at the time this transformation was 

 about to begin. 



As an experiment, we dropped a few drops of water upon 

 them, which seemed to have a soothing effect, as they lay 

 quietly as if appreciating it. During the night, they, too, en- 

 tered the soil. August i8th we uncovered them and they were 

 unchanged in form but were pure white in color. Three of the 

 four larvae developed, coming out of the soil as adults August 

 28th, 2Qth and 3ist, respectively. 



In this instance, the period of incubation was six days ; the 

 larval period sixteen days ; the pupal period from seventeen to 

 twenty days. 



The young beetles ate very little at any time, and during the 



