Vol. XXV] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 5 



half a mile back from the bluffs. Two or three were found 

 that had their openings in the face of the cliff. These sloped 

 back and did not conform to the normal burrow. It was often 

 noted that these larval colonies were situated near some larger 

 hole, as that of the field mouse or badger. 



FEEDING HABITS OF AMBLYCHILA LARVAE. 



Careful observations were made in Wallace County in early 

 Aug. of the habits of a colony of six larvae, and upon two, 

 singly located, but conveniently near. The colony of six is 

 figured in PL II, Fig. 13. One of the other solitary ones is 

 shown in PI. II, Fig. 14. The larval holes were on a level spot 

 on the top of a twenty-foot cliff of sandy clay and a few feet 

 from its brink. The said cliff defined the river bed and was at 

 that time 300 feet from the flowing stream and extended for 

 some distance along its side. 



Observations were begun August gth, shortly before sun- 

 down. The colony was roughly sketched and each hole num- 

 bered. When we arrived no larvae were at the surface, but at 

 about dusk, cautiously, one by one, the brown "traps" were set, 

 only to drop out of sight at the first disturbance. 



One came near the top and, by taking a half turn, the 

 mandibles scraped dust down upon the "trap" which made it 

 more deceptive than ever. 



A lantern was lighted and placed within a foot of the colony, 

 but seemed not to disturb it. A beetle of the genus Trox was 

 placed over the hole of No. 4. It was seized and dragged part- 

 ly out of sight but as promptly brought up, lifted from the 

 ground, and by a flip of the head, cast clear of the hole and 

 the trap again set. A mantid (Litaneutria) was offered and 

 seized by this same larva. This was at 7.41 P. M.. 



Number 2 took a moth offered from the forceps. Number 5 

 accepted a fly. Number 3, the largest of all the colony, was 

 located in a hole, the mouth of which was one-half inch above 

 the surrounding ground and close against the roots of a grass- 

 clump. This larva greedily took a beetle of the genus Lach- 

 nosterne. The last one in the colony fairly jumped at an ant- 

 lion adult offered it and drew it into its burrow with lightning 



