Vol. XXvi] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 53 



New Fragments on Some Well-known Insects (Col., 



Orth., Hem.). 



By A. A. GIRAULT, U. S. Nat. Mtis., Washington, D. C. 



THE METMMD OF HANDLING AND REARING SCAKAI-.AKIDAK OF 



THE TROPICS. 



The so-called white grubs of North America ( larvae of 

 Lachnosterma spp.) are well known to entomologists of the 

 United States, and it is notorious that the larvae are exceed- 

 ingly difficult to rear and that they require very careful hand- 

 ling in confinement. Indeed it may be stated that rather pro- 

 longed efforts have been made in some places to rear the insects 

 both indoors and out, but without notable success. Recent 

 experience with larvae of the same family (but of various 

 genera) in North Queensland has inclined me to think that the 

 failure to successfully handle them in North America was due 

 rather to the spirit than to the substance, though I may be 

 mistaken. The larvae I have in mind all feed upon the roots 

 of various grasses and upon sugar cane. They do not differ in. 

 structure from those of LacJuwstcnia yet they are very hardy. 

 For instance when obtaining material for the laboratory, we 

 simply go out with a small satchel full of empty tin boxes 

 (ordinary pipe tobacco boxes of the market) and dig around 

 in various places with a small handpick ; or else follow a plow- 

 man. The larvae obtained are placed into the boxes which are 

 filled with soil and brought back. When convenient, say the 

 next morning, they are transferred to pots, boxes and glasses 

 filled with soils of various kinds and thus kept until maturity. 

 Some remained in bare earth for months and throve, and they 

 certainly extract nourishment from the soil like earthworms. 

 Others are fed upon the roots of corn sprouted in the cages 

 while others again are placed with decomposing vegetable mat- 

 ter upon which they thrive. Their growth is very rapid. Thus, 

 merely handling them is impunitive. There is a big advantage, 

 however. The life cycle is only about one year, and larval 

 growth seems to occur the first three or four months following 

 hatching, so that thereafter they can stand any amount of 



