\\t mmim\ mniomU^hi 



Vol. XXXVI. LONDON, MARCH, 1904. No. 3 



THE METAMORPHOSES OF .EGIALITES. 



BY H. F. WICKHAM, IOVV\ CITY, IOWA. 



Within the past few weeks I have received from the Rev. J. H. Keen 

 a number of fresh specimens of larvae and pupse of ^gialites Ca/i/oniicus, 

 Mots., or as it has been called for years, At. debiiis, Mann. These had 

 been taken by Mr. Keen somewhere in the vicinity of his home at 

 Metlakatla, B. C., and were especially welcome to me since they gave an 

 opportunity for the study of the early stages of a beetle whose position has 

 always been considered problematical. 



An account of the habits of the beetles has been published by Mr. 

 Keen in the Canadian Entomologist, (Vol. XXXV., p. 125), showing 

 that they live in crevices of shaly rocks along the sea shore, and that 

 they are active all the year round. The larvae and pupse are found in 

 July and August. My series shows larvc^e of various sizes from half 

 to full grown, and they differ not at all in general appearance. The 

 following description is made from a full-grown individual, which had 

 been preserved in spirits. • 



Form elongate, subparallel, moderately convex, upper surface 

 alutaceous and rather finely rugulose, naked excepting a few inconspicu- 

 ous setse, lateral segmental prominences membranous, each with a long 

 bristle. Colour above brownish with a distinct olivaceous tinge, head, 

 thorax and terminal abdominal segments sometimes a trifle darker, middle 

 of the back with a longitudinal pale line. Under surface light yellowish, 

 the segments with indistinct longitudinal and oblique dark markings, 

 head fuscous beneath, lower side of pygidial processes castaneous. 

 Length about 73,^ mm., width about 13.3 mm. 



Head subquadrate, about i J/^ times as broad as long, widest slightly 

 behind the insertion of the antennae, sides slightly and scarcely percepti- 

 bly arcuately narrowed to the base, vertex with a rather well-marked 

 subtriangular chevron, the apex of which is directed backwards. Frontal 

 margin oblique at sides. Labrum free, margin bristled, 



