INJURIOUS AND BENEFICLIL INSECTS. 247 



As regards the time and mode of laying the eggs, we quote 

 from Dr. Lockwood as follows : "On the evening of the 13th 

 June last we caught in the drug-store, Keyport, whither they 

 were attracted by the profusion of light, four CofaJjms, repre- 

 senting both sexes. These were taken home and well cared 

 for. On the IGth a pair coupled. A jar of earth was at once 

 provided, and the beetles placed on top of the dirt. In the 

 evening the female burrowed and disappeared. Near mid- 

 nisrht she had not returned to the surface ; next morning she 

 had re-appeared. The earth was then very carefully taken 

 from the jar, and, as removed, was inspected with a glass of 

 wide field but low power. Fourteen eggs were found, not 

 laid (as we expected) in one spot or group, but singly and at 

 difierent depths. I was surprised at their great size. Laid 

 lengthwise, end touching end, two eggs measured very nearly 

 three-sixteenths of an inch. They were hke white wax, semi- 

 translucent, in form, long-ovoid and perfectly symmetrical. 

 On the 13th of July one had hatched; the grub was well 

 formed and very lively. Its dimensions were about five-six- 

 teenths of an inch in length and about three-thirtieths of an 

 inch in thickness. It was a dull white, the head-plate pre- 

 cisely that dull yellow seen in the adult grub, the legs the 

 same color, and the extremity of the abdomen lead-color, the 

 skin being transparent. For food, a sod of white clover (tri- 

 folium repens) was given them, roots downward, knowing 

 that the young larvse would come upward to eat. They were 

 then left undisturbed until August 19th, when the sod Avas 

 removed, and it was found that the grubs had eaten into it, 

 thus making little oval chambers, which were enlarged as the 

 eating went on. They were carefully picked out and a fresh 

 sod of grass and clover supplied. They had now grown five- 

 eighths of an inch in length, preserving the same colors. 



It is quite possible that a few of the eggs escaped me in the 

 search. I am of opinion, however, that from fifteen to twenty 

 is the average number laid by one beetle. In short, the in- 

 sect lays her eggs in the night, probably not more than twenty. 

 The hatching of these required in the present instance twenty- 

 seven days. It must be remembered that a large portion of 

 this time was remarkably cold and wet. It is almost certain 

 that with favorable thermal conditions this might be lessened 

 fully seven days. 



