44 The Bullethst. 



discussion of the insect. ^ 



I §1^1 A 



Fig. 14. — Sugar-cane Beetles. A row of the adult insects, natural 

 size. See also figure on front cover of this Bulletin (original). 



The complete life-history of tliis insect does not appear to be known, 

 the laying of the eggs, appearance of grown larvae, and methods of pupa- 

 tion, all being unsettled points. Most of the observations that have been 

 made on the insect have been made in Louisiana and Mississippi, and 

 here the habits and life-history might be slightly different. If the larva 

 lives on the roots of the sugar-cane in Louisiana, it may live on roots of 

 grasses, as Dr. Credle intimates, or sorghum-cane, some species of wild 

 reed or rush, or perhaps on corn itself, in this State. As to its being 

 primarily a dry- weather insect, as intimated by Dr. Credle, the natural 

 habitat of the insect in the low cane-lands of Louisiana would seem to 

 show that if anything it should prefer a damp climate. Observations 

 made in Mississippi seemed to show it to be worse in wet lands, and this 

 would seem to be a natural occurrence. In June, 1886, Mr. G. W. Smith- 

 Vaniz, of Canton, Miss., in writing to the U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture at Washington, sent eggs found in soil near corn where the beetles 

 were at work, and which were similar to eggs dissected from the bodies 

 of female beetles. Mr. Smith-Vaniz also hatched out young larvse ; but 

 there the observations seem to cease. 



We have in our collection one specimen of the adult beetle which was 

 taken at Gastonia, Gaston County, on May 30, 1902. 



As to the possibilities of this insect becoming a regular and 

 serious com pest in this State, it seems reasonable to infer that its in- 

 juries will probably be confined chiefly to the eastern part of the State, 

 in what is commonly known as the coastal region, and its outbreaks, 

 however serious at times, will probably be of irregular and infrequent 

 occurrence. How long it has already been in the State no one can tell 

 with certainty. The injury to cotton and potatoes, as reported by Dr. 

 Credle, is probably unusual and occurs only when the beetles are ex- 

 ceedingly abundant. 



REMEDIES. 



Late planting, liberal fertilization, and cultivation are the only palli- 

 atives that we can suggest which are at all certain to yield results. It is 



'An article on this insect from which this account is largely drawn fother than our 

 own notes and observations) was published by Dr. L. O. Howard, U. S. Entomologist, in 

 Insect Life, Vol. 1, pp. 11-13, 1889. 



